Fact #1: You don't catch the shingles virus. It just gets reactivated.



The virus that causes shingles is the same one that causes chicken pox: the varicella zoster. When a person gets chicken pox, the virus can hide itself in the body and can be reactivated once the immune system becomes weak.

It is technically not true that you can catch shingles form someone who has it. You can only get chicken pox from someone who has the shingles virus and who has fresh blisters. Shingles therefore is like another belated but more severe bout of chicken pox.

Facts #2: Shingles may or may not occur.

If you have had chicken pox, it does not automatically follow that you will get shingles. It is estimated though that one in every ten individuals will develop shingles at a later age. It is still not clear whether what cause shingles can cause repeated episodes of shingles. It is believed though that shingles usually happens only once and that a repeat of it is possible but is not always the case.

Fact #3: The shingles virus is different from other herpes viruses.

Understanding cause of shingles will lead to the fact that it is caused by a type of herpes virus. This is why shingles is also known as herpes zoster. This does not mean though that what cause shingles can also cause genital herpes or mouth sores. The only reason why they all belong to the herpes group of viruses is because herpes viruses have the ability to infect an individual once and then become dormant for a span of time. They can reactivate only when a there is a trigger.

Fact #4: A weak immune system is the crucial shingles trigger.

It is not true that chicken or other allergy-inducing food can cause or worsen your chicken pox or shingles. The real trigger for what cause shingles is a weak immune system. This is the reason why understanding what cause shingles is important for the elderly.

Individuals who are already in their 50s or 60s and above stand the higher risk of manifesting shingles because their immune systems are no longer in top shape. It is also possible though that people with immune deficiencies and those sick with cancer and other serious ailments are also at high risk of developing shingles. Anyone with a weak immune system and has had chicken pox before can also have shingles.

Fact #5: Stress can be a factor that triggers the disease.

Stress does not cause shingles. Stress however can increase the chances of an individual who is prone to shingles to develop it. This is because stress can affect the immune system which can lead to a reactivation of the virus. Normal stress actually serves to activate the immune system. Too much stress however can increase the level of work of the immune system that it may stop responding to ailments like shingles.