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Table of Contents
Causes
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Treatment
Tips
FAQs
Though inconclusive,stressmay be a trigger that reactivatesshingles. Commonsymptomsinclude painful, tingling blisters that occur in clusters on your face or torso.
In the United States, about one out of three people will develop shingles in their lifetime. Getting theshingles vaccinecan reduce your risk of developing the condition.
Read on to learn more about shingles, including the cause, risk factors, and its relationship with stress.
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What Causes Shingles?
Risk Factors for Shingles
Shingles can develop in anyone who has previously had chickenpox. However, an increased risk for shingles is associated with immune system weakness and function.
Factors that influence your immune system and can increase your risk include:
The Link Between Stress and Shingles
Psychological stress is a possible trigger for shingles. Experiencing acute (short-term but significant) stress or chronic (long-term) stress has been shown to impact immune function. But it does not occur in the same way for every person.
Further, results from studies exploring the connection between stress and developing shingles have been mixed. Some studies reported higher rates of shingles following stressful life events, while others did not. Studies examining the impact of stress on the immune system and reactivation of VZV did not conclude a definitive relationship between the two.
Treatment for Shingles
Treatment for shingles is meant to reduce severity and duration of symptoms. It often includes:
Stress Management Tips
Stress can increase the risk for inflammation in the body. In turn, this can contribute to the development of disease and make other preexisting conditions worse.Taking action to better cope with stress reduces that risk.
Some short- and long-term stress coping strategies include:
How to Manage Stress
Summary
Psychological stress is thought to be a potential trigger for the reactivation of VZV in the body. However, research into whether stress triggers shingles is not conclusive. Stress can cause inflammation and worsen existing health conditions. Stress management strategies may help reduce the risk of negative health impacts.
A Word From Verywell
Though people with compromised immune systems are at a higher risk for shingles, anyone who has previously been exposed to VZV may develop it sometime in their life. Taking good care of your body is not only a healthy stress coping strategy, but it may also support your immune system. Further, getting vaccinations, such as theshingles vaccine(when recommended), is also a great way to reduce your risk of illness, complications, and can keep you healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
The virus itself is contagious but shingles can’t be transmitted to another person. Varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox. After chickenpox resolves, the virus remains in the body but becomes inactive. If it reactivates, it can cause shingles. During a shingles episode, you can transmit the virus to someone who hasn’t been exposed previously and it can cause chickenpox.Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors for Shingles
The virus itself is contagious but shingles can’t be transmitted to another person. Varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox. After chickenpox resolves, the virus remains in the body but becomes inactive. If it reactivates, it can cause shingles. During a shingles episode, you can transmit the virus to someone who hasn’t been exposed previously and it can cause chickenpox.
Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors for Shingles
People over the age of 60 are more likely to develop shingles. The risk increases as you get older and anyone who has previously had chickenpox is at risk for it.
Learn MoreWhat Shingles Looks Like
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).Barry R, Prentice M, Costello D, O’Mahony O, DeGascun C, Felsenstein S.Varicella zoster reactivation causing aseptic meningitis in healthy adolescents: a case series and review of the literature.Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 2020;39(9):e278-e282. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002759National Institute on Aging.Shingles.Morey JN, Boggero IA, Scott AB, Segerstrom SC.Current directions in stress and human immune function.Current Opinion in Psychology. 2015;5:13-17. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.03.007Harpaz R, Leung JW, Brown CJ, Zhou FJ.Psychological stress as a trigger for herpes zoster: might the conventional wisdom be wrong?.Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2015;60(5):781-785. doi:10.1093/cid/ciu889UpToDate.Patient education: shingles (beyond the basics).MedlinePlus.Learn to manage stress.MedlinePlus.Shingles.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Shingles: diagnosis and treatment.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).Barry R, Prentice M, Costello D, O’Mahony O, DeGascun C, Felsenstein S.Varicella zoster reactivation causing aseptic meningitis in healthy adolescents: a case series and review of the literature.Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 2020;39(9):e278-e282. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002759National Institute on Aging.Shingles.Morey JN, Boggero IA, Scott AB, Segerstrom SC.Current directions in stress and human immune function.Current Opinion in Psychology. 2015;5:13-17. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.03.007Harpaz R, Leung JW, Brown CJ, Zhou FJ.Psychological stress as a trigger for herpes zoster: might the conventional wisdom be wrong?.Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2015;60(5):781-785. doi:10.1093/cid/ciu889UpToDate.Patient education: shingles (beyond the basics).MedlinePlus.Learn to manage stress.MedlinePlus.Shingles.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Shingles: diagnosis and treatment.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).Barry R, Prentice M, Costello D, O’Mahony O, DeGascun C, Felsenstein S.Varicella zoster reactivation causing aseptic meningitis in healthy adolescents: a case series and review of the literature.Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 2020;39(9):e278-e282. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002759National Institute on Aging.Shingles.Morey JN, Boggero IA, Scott AB, Segerstrom SC.Current directions in stress and human immune function.Current Opinion in Psychology. 2015;5:13-17. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.03.007Harpaz R, Leung JW, Brown CJ, Zhou FJ.Psychological stress as a trigger for herpes zoster: might the conventional wisdom be wrong?.Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2015;60(5):781-785. doi:10.1093/cid/ciu889UpToDate.Patient education: shingles (beyond the basics).MedlinePlus.Learn to manage stress.MedlinePlus.Shingles.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Shingles: diagnosis and treatment.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).
Barry R, Prentice M, Costello D, O’Mahony O, DeGascun C, Felsenstein S.Varicella zoster reactivation causing aseptic meningitis in healthy adolescents: a case series and review of the literature.Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 2020;39(9):e278-e282. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000002759
National Institute on Aging.Shingles.
Morey JN, Boggero IA, Scott AB, Segerstrom SC.Current directions in stress and human immune function.Current Opinion in Psychology. 2015;5:13-17. doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.03.007
Harpaz R, Leung JW, Brown CJ, Zhou FJ.Psychological stress as a trigger for herpes zoster: might the conventional wisdom be wrong?.Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2015;60(5):781-785. doi:10.1093/cid/ciu889
UpToDate.Patient education: shingles (beyond the basics).
MedlinePlus.Learn to manage stress.
MedlinePlus.Shingles.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Shingles: diagnosis and treatment.
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