Š Berthoud Weekly Surveyor
October 6, 2011
Inside Warmth, hope & celebration......................2 Breast cancer..............................................4 Growing old is not for wimps......................6 Grief can change your world.......................8 Look what you just did!..............................10 I was afraid of that......................................11 Who wants a shot?.......................................12
Body/Soul 2011
Improve your strength health By Dr. Ross Armour The Surveyor When a physician recommends adding “strength training” to your daily routine, what generally pops to mind? A crowded gym full of complicated machines? Despite its reputation as a traditional male exercise, strength training is important for both men and women, particularly older adults, and can take place outside of the traditional gym. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the body loses one percent of muscle mass each year beginning at age 45, resulting in sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is the term used to describe the loss of muscle, strength and quality of tissue seen in older adults. Regular physical activity that includes strength training can help stave off two common hallmarks of aging: the loss of bone strength and muscle mass. Weight-bearing exercise uses gravity to strengthen bones and muscle, and slows the loss of minerals from bones. Strength training is proven to improve balance and agility and decrease the risk of falling. Women, who are more prone to lose bone mass after menopause, can particularly benefit from strength training, as it increases bone density which reduces the risk of fractures and osteoporosis.
Strength training can also help control weight, boost stamina, reduce the risk of heart disease, and manage chronic conditions such as arthritis and diabetes. Traditionally, strength training includes the use of free weights, resistance bands or weight machines to build muscles in the body and spine, but this is not the only way to strength train. Tai chi and yoga are also increasingly popular options for seniors. Tai chi is a low-impact, relaxing form of exercise. Meditative in nature, this exercise consists of a series of flowing movements that puts minimal pressure on joints and tendons. Older adults may be concerned with injury from falls, and tai chi is an excellent method to improve balance. In addition, tai chi can improve range of motion and flexibility and can even help control chronic pain. Yoga is an ancient practice that is becoming an increasingly popular exercise alternative for the older adult population as well. According to the American Senior Fitness Association, benefits of yoga, specifically for senior adults, are improved strength and improved quality of sleep, which can be a key factor in overall health. Older adults who have not tried yoga before may be reluctant to try traditional yoga “poses or postures,” as they may seem intimidating or pretzel-like. However, poses are modified for seniors of all levels of physical condition in some classes. Chair yoga, featuring seated exercises, can also be an alternative. Due to the strong mind-body connection of yoga, emotional health benefits are identified for all ages of yoga devotees. Simple everyday activities may also offer strengthtraining benefits. Activities such as walking, dancing and golfing all benefit the legs, hips and lower body and add up to overall improved strength health. Ross Armour, M.D. is a family practice physician at Berthoud Family Physicians. Body/Soul© is published in Berthoud, Colorado by the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor. The publishers reserve the right to edit, classify or reject any advertising or news copy. Liability for any newspaper error in an advertisement shall not exceed the cost of space occupied by error. The publishers assume no liability for any advertising which is not published for any cause. The publishers assume absolutely no obligation or responsibility for subject matter in copy placed by its advertisers or their agents. It is also understood that the advertiser and the agency placing such advertising jointly and severally agree to indemnify Berthoud Weekly Surveyor, LLC against all expense, loss or damage sustained by reason of printing such copy. Subscription rates are $32 per year to residents of the 80513 zip code and $40 per year to zip codes other than 80513.
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Body/Soul 2011
Warmth, hope and celebration By Kathleen Donnelly The Surveyor
Cancer. That word does not invoke the feeling of warmth, hope or celebration, but at the McKee Cancer Center these words are not only spoken, but felt by patients and the staff. The cancer center opened in 2002 and has provided a comprehensive treatment center where patients often return to visit, and fear of a disease is eased. “We take pride in our cancer center,” said Cindy McBlair, the McKee Cancer Center director. “Every place can have great technology and offer similar services, but what separates us is the team. We have an incredible team of doctors, nurses and other specialists that all have the same goal and focus, which is to treat the patient as a whole and anticipate the needs of a patient and provide for them.” At the center a patient can receive all of their care, from lab work to chemotherapy to radiation. Patients can gain valuable information about nutrition and have meetings with an oncology social worker. Therapy is offered in more forms than radiation and chemo, as the center offers a yoga classes, art and music therapy and canine therapy. The
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Courtesy photo
This image supplied by McKee Medical Center, shows the cancer center’s linear accelerator.
chemotherapy room overlooks the healing gardens. “We have patients come out and have lunch in the healing gardens,” said McBlair. “It is a wonderful place to
Body/Soul 2011 spend time with their families and relax under the willow tree, enjoy the waterfall, or even see wildlife. We have had foxes take up residency, and a pair of Canadian geese made their home in the healing gardens.” When strolling through the healing gardens, one might notice engraved pavers. The pavers are one way to remember loved ones and provide a donation to the cancer center foundation. This foundation provides necessities to patients on a limited budget. Some of the items are things such as groceries and prescriptions. A wig bank is also part of the cancer center, providing wigs at no cost from people who have donated them. The knitting club from Mountain View High School provides colorful hats. Patients have a cozy waiting area that includes a fireplace, a library, free brochures, and puzzles to pass the time. Artwork from the art therapy program is on display and rotated every six to eight weeks. A piece of stain glass artwork portraying the healing gardens is on display on the opposite end of the building near the radiation wing. “We provide warm blankets in the waiting area for the radiation patients and robes so that they can relax while they are waiting,” said McBlair. “Patients often form friendships as they wait for their turn. When their treatment is complete some patients have come back to visit, and we have celebrated birthdays and even a 65th wedding anniversary.” While every detail for a patient’s well-being and comfort has been thought through, the state-of-the-art equipment and research has brought in top doctors from around
the country, such as Dr. Elizabeth Ceilley, a radiation oncologist. Dr. Ceilley determines the treatment program for radiation. “We determine a treatment plan based on the type, stage and prognosis for the cancer,” said Dr. Ceilley. “Radiation is used sometimes after surgery or as an option so that a patient doesn’t need to be opened up and we can still treat the mass. We have cutting-edge equipment and offer image guided radiation, which means the radiation is more accurate and it spares tissues around the cancerous area and is safer at higher doses. I also like the fact that we are flexible and can see patients right away, because we understand that it’s urgent for a patient, both in the treatment and emotionally. If I need to talk to another doctor or admit a patient everything is here. The patient doesn’t need to ride in an ambulance to get to the hospital or drive somewhere else to get lab work done. I feel privileged to be here.” Once a patient finishes their treatment a celebration takes place. The patient is given a diploma and an angel pin and then they ring a bell that is inscribed “Hope hears the ringing bell even in the darkness.” “The celebration includes the patient bringing family and friends, and our therapist Deb is the celebration queen,” said McBlair. “We have a bubble machine and ring the bell because tomorrow is the first day that the patient will get their life back.” For more information on the cancer center visit www. bannerhealth.com or call 970-669-4640.
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Breast cancer By Dr. Bill Kleber The Surveyor I come from the philosophy that nothing is random and that there are causes for everything. When things seem to have no rhyme or reason it is simply because we are unable to understand the cause of the occurrence and we are not able to connect the dots. Breast cancer is so scary because in our minds the causes can be numerous and different for many women. The disease seems to strike for no known reason, and even people who should have few predisposing factors seem to develop the pathology. Opinions on detection and treatment vary and, at times, we don’t know what to believe. The one thing I am sure of is that this is not a one-sizefits-all problem. Some things are obvious; don’t smoke, limit alcohol, consider family history, perform self breast examinations, etc. These are things we can all agree upon. There are things that are controversial. In my clinic, women often want to discuss options other than a wait and see approach and mammography. Women often want to be as proactive as possible. Conventional and nonconventional options should be explained with the pros and cons, and the woman and her family should make the ultimate decision and feel comfortable with it. I advise my patients never to make any decision that they know in their hearts is contrary to their instincts. I’d like to share some thoughts on some alternative/ adjunctive approaches. Early detection is essential. One possible approach is thermography. Risk assessing thermal imaging is a non-invasive way to support early detection and, to some degree, prevention of illness. Mammograms and ultrasound study anatomy and
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structure, looking for masses and calcifications. Thermograms study the thermal activity associated with physiology and function. The severity of cancer is more dependent on cellular activity/ function than size. Thermography looks for thermal findings consistent with developing cancer, thereby supporting early detection. It is believed that some breast cancers can take up to 10 years to grow large enough to be visible by mammography. Annual thermograms can chart changes in physiology, and early intervention and testing can be lifesaving. Another test is called the AMAS test. This is a blood test through Onco lab. Every malignant cell has a protein coating around it called malignin. The purpose of the immune system is to build antibodies to foreign proteins. There is no way to measure malignin, but we can measure anti-malignin antibodies. In other words, we can detect a malignancy in a person at a very early stage. The test, however, is not specific to any area of the body. The people at Onco lab claim that the test can detect breast cancer up to 18 months earlier than it can be seen on mammography. Dr. Bogash, an oncologist and the medical director of the lab can provide peer reviewed studies supporting the validity of the test. There are many other tests that can look at things like specific liver detoxification pathways as an indicator of the way estrogens are processed and eliminated from the body. There are tests that can look for specific genetic predispositions to certain types of breast cancer. These are just a few of many approaches to early detection of breast cancer. There are many thoughts as to diet and supplementation as a proactive approach. I will address these in my next article. Doing some research and discussing all of the conventional and non-conventional approaches with your doctor should make you feel that you have done your part. Once you feel that you have investigated the topic and now have answers to your questions; you might feel that breast cancer is not quite so random.
Body/Soul 2011
Growing old is not for wimps By Dr. Rex Eland The Surveyor As my mother hurdled over the last few decades of her life, she began to realize that, as gracefully as she tried to age, there were some things that were inconvenient at first. As time marched on, she realized that all the pills and remedies that were supposed to help weren’t working very well. This forced her to exclaim, “Growing old is not for wimps.” As a youngster in my early 40s, one of my children shoved a piece of paper in front of my eyes and I suddenly realized what all my “older” patients had been talking about. Literally overnight, my arms were too short. As an eye care provider in our community I have come to discover that next to life itself, our eyes and vision are perhaps one of the greatest gifts we have. They provide us joy and allow us to learn better than any other organ in our body. But, they too are subject to the buffeting of time. Let’s look at a few of the most common aging changes our eyes experience. Short arm syndrome Just inside the front of our eyes sits our adjustable focusing lens. “Short arm syndrome” occurs when this lens decides to lose its flexibility (like a lot of other things as they get old). The solution is to wear reading glasses, bifocal or progressive glasses, and, in some cases, remove our glasses. Cataracts This same lens over time develops a yellowing, then a clouding that eventually obscures our vision. If we live long enough everyone develops cataracts. Delaying cataract formation involves wearing protective eyewear with UV protection. Surgery has improved by leaps and bounds compared to when our grandparents had their cataracts removed. An average surgery takes about 10 minutes and has the patient seeing remarkably well the next day. The success rate is extremely high. Glaucoma Although there are many pieces to the puzzle we call “glaucoma,” the biggest piece is the pressure within the eye. This disease has been called “the silent thief of vision” simply because one rarely feels any pain or notices any vision loss until it is too late. Once peripheral vision loss begins, it is more difficult to stop. Prevention is simple. After age 40 the eyes should be carefully examined to measure pressure and check all the pieces of the glaucoma puzzle. Treatment is relatively simple and generally involves the use of eye drops taken daily. Macular degeneration Although often mispronounced, this eye disease is perhaps the most frustrating and devastating of all those mentioned. Aging creates a defect in the central vision. This impairs one’s ability to read books, drive, and see the smile on their grandchild’s face. Good old-fashioned 6 Body/Soul
nutrition and exercise can be an effective deterrent to this dreadful disease. Smoking increases the chance of getting this problem by three times. Medical research has shown that anti-oxidant vitamins with lutein can significantly reduce this risk. Even if you’re a “meat and potatoes” guy like me, you need to heed the words of your mother who said, “Eat all your vegetables.” Spinach (fresh or cooked), broccoli, and carrots are effective defenders of this aging change. Popeye’s muscles may have been bulging, but did you ever see him squinting? His eyes could see for miles. I saw a lovely elderly woman a couple of years ago who gave me a wonderful perspective on aging. She had a laundry list of ailments and medications that should have made her sore and bitter. As I tried to offer compassion for her health, she looked at me with a smile on her face and said, “Honey ... we don’t come with a warranty.” What a true statement. But we can try to squeeze out every bit of vision we can by doing the things we can do. Good lifestyle habits and regular eye health examinations give us the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful world to its fullest. And yes ... growing old is not for wimps.
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Grief can change your world By Nancy Jakobsson, LCSW Director of Pathways for Grief and Loss
The death of a loved one, especially when sudden and unexpected, can literally turn your world upside down. Every area of life is impacted, and you may feel like you are “losing your mind.” One of the first things I do when counseling a newly grieving person is give them information about grief that includes a list of all the emotions they may be experiencing, not only the expected sadness but also anger, guilt, fear or relief. I find that most people are unprepared for the profound impact of grief, the depth of the experience, and all the ways in which life as they knew it changes. I try to prepare them for what they may experience: the inability to concentrate or focus, the lack of energy and motivation. Some people are under the impression that grief is predictable and follows certain stages. What is more accurate? Grief is unpredictable and does not follow a particular pattern. There are shifts and turns that are often described as wave-like that can overtake you without warning. Even when a death is expected following a long illness, we can not be prepared for all changes that take place. Every loss is different; the same person will have a different grief experience depending on who died. The death of a parent is different from losing a spouse; the loss of a child different from losing a sibling or friend. Each relationship is unique in its own way and so each loss is different. The way people express their grief can vary greatly. Some of us tend to be more outward grievers, easily express emotions and benefit from sharing thoughts and emotions with others. Others tend to be “private grievers” and are less likely to show feelings in an outward manner. This does not mean the emotions are not present. Their grief may be channeled into an activity or expressed only in private. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. There are, however, certain ways of coping or managing grief that can be unhealthy or even self-destructive. Abusing alcohol or drugs to mask the emotional pain of loss is never a positive or healthy coping strategy and may actually intensify the depth of emotions. Most people who are grieving the death of a family member or friend will benefit and appreciate support from family and friends. Bereaved persons often feel isolated and alone in their grief. Our culture seems to suggest certain time limits for grief and expect that there is a specific time when one “should be over it and move on.” These attitudes tend to further isolate the bereaved person. Compassionate support can come from caring
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persons already a part of one’s circle of friends and family or from a support group of fellow bereaved. Support groups create a small circle of people who “understand” because of their own loss. Support groups can be a safe place to share one’s grief without fear of being judged and to learn from each other. Grief counseling can be particularly helpful following a sudden or traumatic death, if the relationship with the deceased was conflicted or when dealing with multiple additional stressors, including health or mental health issues. Pathways for Grief and Loss offers counseling and support groups for adults, teens and children. Anyone who has experienced a significant deathloss is eligible for services, not just those who are hospice families. Groups are designed for specific losses and are age appropriate. There are also groups that use creative therapies, including art therapy and writing. Pathways Grief Counselors are licensed professionals with specialized training and experience in grief and loss. Counselors who work with children have training in play therapy. For information on available resources for grief and loss in Larimer and Weld Counties contact Pathways for Grief and Loss at 970-663-3500.
Body/Soul 2011
Look what you just did! By Lani Nielsen, CNM Women’s’ Clinic of Northern Colorado
The word midwife means “with woman.” Midwifery is both a science and an art. Using a holistic approach, midwives blend medical knowledge and common sense to provide the very best of health care to women. It is our belief that our role is to come along beside our clients, to act as mentors, teachers, sisters and friends as they journey through life. As certified nurse midwives, we care for women and childbearing families. Full scope midwifery care includes prenatal care, labor and delivery attendance, and post-delivery care for low risk women. Midwives also see women for annual exams, pap tests, birth control, STD testing, menopause, and many common female problems. We utilize current knowledge of evidence-based medical practices and give the best care possible, as well as refer for more complex medical treatment or alternative therapies. Certified nurse midwives have a Master of Science degree in the field of midwifery. We have prescriptive privileges and have a strong interest in nutrition and prevention. Midwives view wellness from a different perspective than the traditional medical model. We believe women should have as much control as possible and be encouraged to make their own informed decisions about their health care. We believe that women are natural care-givers and, given the appropriate information and encouragement, will take care of themselves. We want to empower women in all stages of life, from teens to grandmothers and all the years in between. Midwives encourage women to be active participants in self care — physically emotionally, socially and spiritually. We also believe that women have remarkable intuition and that if they listen to their own inner voice they will know how to care for themselves. It is our sincere desire to help them be well informed and make decisions unique to their lifestyles and situations. We encourage them to actively take responsibility for their health and refer them to resources for information or to alternative practitioners for treatment. We are sensitive to the needs of women and attempt to meet those needs appropriately. When a woman discovers she is pregnant she has a new awareness of caring for her own body, for in doing so she is also caring for her unborn child. It is an opportune time for negative habits such as smoking or poor eating to be reevaluated, and changes are often made. Pregnant couples have a voracious appetite for information, and as midwives we can help them sort fact from fiction and adopt healthy lifestyle changes. No question is silly, and our appointments allow time for teaching and discussion. Because we believe pregnancy is a family experience siblings are welcome at prenatal visits. We encourage them to help us listen to the baby’s heartbeat and measure their Mamma’s tummy. By the end of the pregnancy they are little experts. Pregnancy also presents an opportunity for women to trust that their bodies know how to create a new life and bring it to fruition. Our aim is to promote that trust and alleviate their natural fears. Pregnancy can be fraught with discomforts and complications, affording us the opportunity to console and guide the families we care for. Because midwives are experts in “the normal,” we recognize when the mother’s health has veered off track. We can readily consult with our physicians and on rare occasions we must refer our patients to a doctor’s care. As midwives we have a great respect for the amazing process called childbirth. It is a miracle that we are privileged to witness on a daily basis. We are dedicated to respecting birth as a natural process and believe it is not simply a medical condition requiring treatment. More than that, we honor it as a rite of passage, a life-changing event from which a woman can emerge empowered. Birth has the power to have a profound emotional and mental
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impact on a woman. Rarely in life does a woman feel as vulnerable as when she is giving birth. How that event is viewed in retrospect is influenced greatly by those who take the journey with her. Women remember for years what words are spoken to them during and after their births. Whether those words were, “You are amazing!” Look what you just did! or “What we have here is failure to descend,” can be framed as memory for a lifetime and impact a woman’s self esteem either in a positive or negative way. As midwives, we have the unique opportunity to support women and young families as they bring forth a new life. We help them cope with the discomfort of labor, providing a calm and steady presence at their side. With positive, encouraging guidance women can emerge from birth with new sense of their abilities and strengths, whether the birth went exactly as they had planned or not. We want couples to have the birth experience they desire, whether that be “natural childbirth” or with the utilization of some technological assistance such as an epidural or IV pain medication. We encourage moms to take an active role in labor, using various positions for comfort and to encourage the birth process. Other measures, such as Jacuzzi tub, massage and tens unit can be utilized as well. We want our expectant mothers to feel completely safe and help them chose the best options for themselves. Most of our births are attended by the nurse midwife alone, and no doctor is needed for the birth unless complications arise. We strive to make the atmosphere calm and welcoming for the family and the new little arrival as well. There are times when birth takes a departure from the norm and CNMs are well versed in recognizing and caring for women in these situations as well. Nurse midwives have higher satisfaction ratings and lower cesarean section rates, as well as lower rates for
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I was afraid of that By Bob McDonnell The Surveyor
A phobia is usually an exaggerated, and usually inexplicable/ illogical, fear of an object, class of objects or situation. We all have them to some degree, it seems. Common phobias include spiders, heights, and the dark. Here is a long list of other fears that you may not have thought of. Let’s start with nephophobia, which is the fear of clouds. It is probably more prevalent in the Northwest United States. Lutraphobia means the fear of otters. I found them to be cute critters when I saw them at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Inonophobia — This is trepidation about string. (Is there also a fear of red tape?) The fear of choking is prigophobia. Here is a group of hang-ups some have. I think they may be related to the topic of marriage. To start, decidophobia is the fear of making a decision. And this is really tough — especially in today’s world where we are constantly making choices and decisions. Connected to this is the fear of falling in love (philophobia.) Those who are afraid to get married have gametophobia. Those with dicidophobia, philophobila and gametophobia must be immune from eremophobia — the fear of being alone. If you do get married, be aware of pentheraphobia. That is for those who fear their mother-in-law. (Feel free to insert your own joke or comment here.) In these tough economic times you should be alert and watch for symptoms of these phobias. This one may be on the upswing.
That is perniaphobia — a fear of poverty. Conversely, the fear of money is called chrometophobia. Maybe they have no money because of ergophobia. (This is a fear of work) Moving on, here are some more that you may not have heard of. Being dismayed about old age is called geraschophobia. I hate to tell you, but old age is inevitable. Genuphobia relates to the fear of knees. I assume it is someone else’s and not your own. One would assume that fishermen do not suffer from helminthophobia, since they are presumably not timid when it comes to worms. Here are some that I hope never to have. Bibliophobia — fear of books and verbophobia or logophobia — fear of words. Another on my list not to get is cyberphobia. I like computers and use them daily. Fear long words? Then you have either sesquipedaliophobia or hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, depending on which source you believe. Ironic, huh? If it’s numbers, not words you dread, you could have arithmophobia. Allodoxaphobia is the fear of opinions. I definitely know people who do not suffer from this. Lots of youngsters try to convince their moms that they have phobophobia. That’s why they can’t eat vegetables. I have tried to tell my wife that I am a long-time sufferer of chorophobia. Actually, I just can’t dance, but I am not afraid of dancing. A really off-the-wall one is arachibutyrophobia. This means the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth. Make your own connections, or not, on these: A fear of clowns is coulrophobia, and fear of politicians (all political parties) is oliticophobia. I know that many fears or phobias are real and not to be taken lightly. This list is just for fun and to show that someone has a name for everything. I have a fear of not making deadline, so I will end on that note.
MIDWIVES cont. from page 10 other interventions, than traditional medical providers. However, when an emergency arises we are able to attend to it with the best medical technology available. We work closely with a backup obstetrical doctor who can readily assist and provide cesarean birth immediately if necessary. We believe childbirth is more than just a medical event that involves a mother and baby. It is a social event that impacts the entire family. We purpose to involve the baby’s father and other family members, if present, to be active participants in the birth. We encourage family support throughout labor, instructing how to massage, offer ice chips and comfort the laboring mother. When the time for birth arrives, fathers may elect to help the midwife deliver the newborn, dry the baby on Mamma’s tummy or cut the cord. Newborns, once delivered are placed immediately on Mom’s now billowy, empty, tummy, and an hour of skin to skin bonding and nursing is encouraged. Siblings are allowed to be present as well, to welcome their new brother or sister, provided that they are well prepared and have a support person with them. It is amazing to see a new life welcomed into the circle of a loving family. As midwives we consider it our privilege to walk the journey of life beside our sisters, leading and guiding them, encouraging and caring throughout the life cycle. Lani Nielsen CNM practices midwifery at the Women’s’ Clinic of Northern Colorado. She and a group of three other midwives (Terri Leiser-Gross CNM, Kelly Jean Clarkson CNM and Cassandra Selby CNM) deliver babies at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins.
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Who wants a shot? By Karl Foreman The Surveyor Most people, especially children, don’t like to get a shot, however the benefits of immunizations far outweigh the momentary discomfort of the vaccine. Below are some common vaccinations available at your local pharmacy or doctor’s office. Flu vaccine The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone six months of age and older as the first and most important step in protection against the flu. Serious problems from influenza can happen at any age, but those at a higher risk include people 65 years and older, anyone with a chronic medical condition such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease, pregnant women and young children. While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine is designed to protect against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness this year. Also the antibodies made in response to vaccination with one strain of flu viruses can provide protection against different, but related strains. Flu activity most commonly peaks in January or February. However, it is usually a good idea to get the flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available each year, since the protection you get will last throughout the flu season. Pneumonia vaccine The CDC recommends anyone age 65 and older, or with any long term health problems should get the pneumonia shot. Also smokers and diabetics are recommended to have the vaccine. Pneumococcal disease is caused by streptococcus pneumonia bacteria. It is a leading cause of vaccinepreventable illness and death in the U.S. It can lead to
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serious infections of the lungs, blood and brain. Treatment of pneumococcal infections with penicillin and other drugs used to be more effective. But some strains of the disease have become resistant to these drugs, making prevention more important. Shingles vaccine If you’ve had chickenpox, you’re at risk. The risk increases as you get older. About half of the shingles cases in the U.S. each year occur in people 60 years and older. The older you get, the longer the shingles rash may last. The older you get, the more you’re at risk for long-term nerve pain. The first signs of shingles are often felt and may not be seen. These can include itching, tingling and burning. Then, a few days later a rash of fluid-filled blisters appears (usually on one side of the body or face). The blisters may take two to four weeks to heal. For most, the pain from shingles lessens as it heals. However, if the disease has damaged certain nerves there could be long-term nerve pain that lasts for months or years. Other serious problems that may result from shingles include skin infection, muscle weakness, scarring, and decrease or loss of vision or hearing. It just makes sense to get your one-time vaccination today.