reHEARD DR. COCKROACH: I’m nearly 88 years outdated. My seven kids contracted chickenpox at completely different instances. I took care of everybody and by no means contracted the virus. I didn’t have it as a baby or as an grownup. Ought to I get vaccinated in opposition to shingles? I’ve lupus and thyroid illness. I now not have to take treatment for any of them. I’ve acquired my annual flu shot with no issues and take the double dose for seniors.
I’ve been in self-quarantine for 9 months to keep away from the coronavirus. I am wholesome. What are my probabilities of getting shingles? Is there a blood take a look at you are able to do to inform me if I’ve ever had chickenpox and did not comprehend it?
ANSWER: You nearly definitely had chickenpox, most likely whenever you have been a younger baby, when sometimes signs are so delicate that they don’t seem to be acknowledged. Given the variety of exposures you had, you’d have contracted chickenpox for those who hadn’t been proof against the earlier publicity.
Shingles shouldn’t be brought on by publicity to chickenpox, however by the reappearance of the latent virus, usually at a time when the immune system is weakest. This could occur in instances of stress or just as we age. At 88, you are at comparatively excessive threat, and if in case you have shingles, you are at excessive threat for problems.
Though there’s a blood take a look at to find out if in case you have ever been uncovered, in my view, and based on the suggestions of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, you do not want it. I like to recommend that you just get the shingles vaccine as quickly as potential.
DEAR DOCTOR. COCKROACH: I’m 66 years outdated and just lately had my annual well being examination. My ldl cholesterol numbers have been over 200 for the previous two years. I’ve had purple yeast rice to maintain the numbers under 200. My physician instructed me that the purple yeast rice has been modified and it’s not what it was up to now, it’s not as efficient.
Do you’ve any info on this? Is there a supply that has a normal for purple yeast rice? Would you need to purchase this in Canada or China sooner or later? My short-term plan is to go to my physician and get statins and a calcium scan to find out the extent of calcium within the arteries.
ANSWER: Purple yeast rice has been used for a lot of centuries in China. It comprises a substance referred to as monacolin Okay, which is the energetic ingredient within the statin lovastatin. Nevertheless, purple yeast rice is a pure product with nice variability. In a examine evaluating the content material of 12 commercially accessible purple yeast rice preparations, the content material of monacolin Okay (lovastatin) ranged from zero.10 to 10.09 mg / capsule (or as compared, the standard dose of lovastatin is 20 to 40 mg). I believe you’ve been getting purple yeast rice which is on the weaker finish of the broad spectrum. I do not know of any model or provider that has constant ranges.
Should you want drug therapy to scale back the chance of coronary coronary heart illness, I like to recommend a statin, because the dose is exactly regulated. In case you are unsure whether or not you want a statin, a calcium rating is an efficient technique to get extra details about your private threat of getting a coronary heart assault.
Dr. Roach regrets not having the ability to reply particular person letters, however will incorporate them into the column every time potential. Readers can e-mail their inquiries to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu or e-mail 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.
