Helpful Tips from Your Friends at Wesley Enhanced Living

Of the many childhood diseases you may have incurred, chickenpox may be the most widely recognized. The itchy, blistering bumps would leave you continuously wanting to scratch, but after an outbreak, there was no concern for recurrence. Unfortunately, the chickenpox virus, varicella-zoster (VZV), never actually leaves your body, and can rear its ugly head in the form of a more painful disease called shingles later in life. In fact, about one in three people in the U.S. will develop shingles in their lifetime.

Take charge of your health even as you age so that you can reduce the risk of developing shingles. At the Wesley Enhanced Living’s retirement communities, we strive to assist our seniors in keeping a healthy lifestyle so that they can thwart many ailments that come with growing older. 

Simple Steps to Lessen Your Risk of Shingles

Shingles causes burning, itchy rashes and blisters generally on one side of your body or face. Other symptoms include fatigue, fever, headache, or an upset stomach. With age, comes a higher chance of developing shingles, but also the wisdom to avoid situations which could put you at risk for infection. Here are some simple steps you can start with today:

  1. Get the shingles vaccine. The vaccine is not 100% effective at preventing shingles, but it does significantly reduce your chances of infection. If you do still get the disease, it will be much less severe, and you may not face further ongoing complications, including the persistent pain of PHN (post-hertpetic neuralgia) which is a by-product of the disease. You can get the vaccine even if you do not remember having chickenpox. 
  2. Boost your immunity to the VZV virus if you’ve already had chickenpox. If you know someone who has chickenpox, you do not need to purposefully avoid them.  Exposure to the disease will help build immunity to the VZV virus and may prevent a shingles outbreak. This does not mean you should purposely seek out someone who is sick, but if you are around someone with chickenpox, you will be okay. If you have never had chickenpox, then you do not want to be around people with it, as you can catch it.
  3. Live a healthy lifestyle to maintain overall good health. Chickenpox is a virus that stays in your body after having had it. It can flare up in the form of shingles later in life. Strengthening your immune system by eating the right foods, exercising regularly, drinking plenty of water, and limiting stress, can significantly reduce your chances of getting the disease. 

Keep Shingles at Bay with Healthy Living at a Wesley Enhanced Living Community 

Better your overall lifestyle and stay fit and healthy when you move to a Wesley Enhanced Living community. We offer a variety of senior living options to fit your needs, including independent living and personal care. We also provide opportunities for physical, mental, and social growth to make this season of life the best yet. Stop in and see for yourself.

Wesley Enhanced Living provides high-quality senior retirement communities for you or your loved ones.  Contact one of our Philadelphia area locations and find out why our seniors love where they live. Our staff is happy to discuss your elder’s needs or your own, give you a tour and inform you of our range of services.