What causes shingles stress. Shingles and Stress: Unraveling the Complex Connection and Risk Factors
How does stress potentially influence the development of shingles. What are the primary risk factors for shingles outbreaks. Can managing stress help prevent or alleviate shingles symptoms.
Understanding Shingles: Causes, Symptoms, and Risk Factors
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox. This condition typically manifests as a painful rash with blisters, usually appearing on one side of the body, often on the torso or face.
Who is at risk for developing shingles? Anyone who has had chickenpox can potentially develop shingles later in life, as the virus remains dormant in the body. While shingles can occur at any age, it is more common in older adults, with approximately 1 in 3 people in the United States experiencing shingles at some point during their lifetime.
Primary Risk Factors for Shingles
- Previous chickenpox infection
- Age (more common in individuals over 50)
- Weakened immune system
- Certain medical conditions (e.g., HIV, cancer)
- Immunosuppressive treatments (e.g., chemotherapy, organ transplant medications)
Is there a way to predict who will develop shingles? While it’s not possible to predict with certainty, understanding these risk factors can help individuals and healthcare providers be more vigilant about potential outbreaks.
The Stress-Shingles Connection: Examining the Evidence
The relationship between stress and shingles has been a topic of debate among researchers. While many people believe stress can trigger shingles outbreaks, the scientific evidence is mixed.
Do studies support a link between stress and shingles? Some research suggests that chronic daily stress and highly stressful life events may be risk factors for shingles. These studies propose that stress could weaken the immune system, potentially allowing the dormant varicella-zoster virus to reactivate.
However, not all studies agree. A recent large-scale study examining data from over 39,000 people experiencing stressful life events, such as the death or declining health of a spouse, did not find a direct connection between stress and shingles outbreaks.
Factors That May Influence the Stress-Shingles Relationship
- Age
- Presence of mood disorders
- Poor diet
- Overall immune system health
While the direct link between stress and shingles remains uncertain, it’s important to note that stress can have wide-ranging effects on overall health and well-being.
The Impact of Stress on Overall Health
Regardless of its potential role in shingles outbreaks, stress has been linked to numerous health issues, particularly when severe or long-term.
Health Conditions Associated with Chronic Stress
- Gastrointestinal problems
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Sleep disorders
- Chronic pain (e.g., chest pain, headaches)
- Changes in mood and mental health
How does stress affect the body’s systems? Chronic stress can lead to a cascade of physiological changes, including alterations in hormone levels, immune function, and inflammation. These changes can contribute to the development or exacerbation of various health conditions.
Recognizing Shingles: Symptoms and Progression
Understanding the symptoms of shingles is crucial for early detection and treatment. The condition typically follows a characteristic progression.
Typical Progression of Shingles Symptoms
- Initial burning, tingling, or painful sensation along one side of the torso or head
- Appearance of a rash within 1-5 days
- Development of fluid-filled blisters within a few days
- Drying and crusting of blisters after about a week
- Gradual disappearance of the rash over several weeks
Can shingles affect vision or hearing? Yes, if the rash appears near the eye or ear, it can potentially lead to vision or hearing loss, especially if left untreated. This underscores the importance of seeking medical attention promptly if you suspect you have shingles.
Treatment Options and Home Care for Shingles
While there is no cure for shingles, early treatment can help reduce the severity and duration of symptoms. Medical interventions typically focus on antiviral medications and pain management.
Home Care Strategies for Shingles
- Getting plenty of rest
- Applying cool washcloths to the rash
- Taking oatmeal baths to soothe the skin
- Minimizing stress levels
- Keeping the rash covered to prevent spread
- Practicing good hand hygiene
How long does a typical shingles outbreak last? Most cases of shingles resolve within two to six weeks. However, some individuals may experience lingering pain, known as postherpetic neuralgia, even after the rash has healed.
Preventing Shingles: Vaccination and Lifestyle Factors
While it’s not always possible to prevent shingles, certain measures can reduce the risk of outbreaks or complications.
Shingles Prevention Strategies
- Vaccination (recommended for adults 50 and older)
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle
- Managing stress through relaxation techniques
- Getting adequate sleep
- Eating a balanced, nutritious diet
- Regular exercise
How effective is the shingles vaccine? The CDC reports that the Shingrix vaccine is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles and postherpetic neuralgia in adults 50 and older. It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider to determine if vaccination is appropriate for your individual circumstances.
The Role of Stress Management in Overall Health
Regardless of its potential impact on shingles, managing stress is crucial for maintaining overall health and well-being. Incorporating stress-reduction techniques into daily life can have far-reaching benefits.
Effective Stress Management Techniques
- Mindfulness meditation
- Regular physical exercise
- Deep breathing exercises
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Engaging in hobbies and enjoyable activities
- Maintaining social connections
- Seeking professional support when needed
Can stress management techniques improve immune function? While more research is needed, some studies suggest that stress reduction practices may have a positive impact on immune system function. This could potentially help in managing various health conditions, including those related to viral reactivation like shingles.
Future Research Directions: Shingles, Stress, and Immune Function
As the scientific community continues to explore the complex relationship between stress, immune function, and viral reactivation, several areas of research hold promise for enhancing our understanding of shingles and its potential triggers.
Promising Areas for Future Shingles Research
- Genetic factors influencing shingles susceptibility
- The role of specific stress hormones in viral reactivation
- Long-term effects of chronic stress on immune function
- Development of more targeted antiviral treatments
- Refinement of vaccination strategies for different age groups
How might advances in shingles research benefit patients? Future studies could lead to more effective prevention strategies, improved treatments, and a deeper understanding of the factors that contribute to viral reactivation. This knowledge could potentially help reduce the incidence and severity of shingles outbreaks, improving quality of life for millions of people worldwide.
In conclusion, while the direct link between stress and shingles remains a topic of ongoing research, the importance of stress management for overall health is clear. By understanding the risk factors for shingles, recognizing its symptoms, and taking steps to support immune function and reduce stress, individuals can better protect themselves against this painful condition. As research progresses, we can hope for even more effective strategies to prevent and manage shingles in the future.
Shingles and Stress: Is There a Connection?
Research suggests stress may be a risk factor for herpes zoster, also known as shingles.
Overview
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a common viral infection. It causes a large, painful rash with blisters. The rash usually appears on one side of the body. It commonly forms on the torso or face, often near the eye.
You’re at risk for shingles if you’ve ever had chickenpox. That’s because the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox, is also responsible for shingles. The virus remains dormant inside your body after having chickenpox. In some people, the virus reactivates later in life, leading to shingles. This can happen many years, or even decades after having chickenpox.
Shingles can occur in people of any age, but it usually affects older adults. About 1 in 3 people in the United States gets shingles at some point during their lifetime.
It isn’t clear why the varicella-zoster virus reactivates in some people and not others.
People often think of stress as a trigger for shingles, but some new research has looked at this link further. Keep reading to learn more about this connection.
Most people will feel stress at some point in their life. Catastrophic events, such as the death of a spouse or loss of a job can increase stress levels significantly. This may have an impact on overall health, feelings of depression, and the immune system.
Some researchers think that a weakened immune system can reactivate the varicella-zoster virus. Since stress affects the immune system, many researchers believe that stress could be a trigger for shingles.
Researchers in multiple studies have linked chronic, daily stress, and highly stressful life events as risk factors for shingles. Some studies indicate that stress might be a risk factor if other factors are present, such as advancing age, mood disorders, and poor diet. These might also negatively affect the immune system.
Researchers in a recent study have reexamined the relationship between stress and shingles.
This study examined data from over 39,000 people experiencing stressful events in their lives, including death or decline in health of their spouses. Researchers didn’t find a connection between stress and shingles.
Scientists differ in their opinions on the relationship between stress and shingles, but most people agree that stress has an effect on the body. Researchers have linked stress, particularly when severe or long-term, to a wide range of issues, including:
- gastrointestinal issues
- high blood pressure
- obesity
- heart disease
- diabetes
- difficulty sleeping
- chest pain
- headaches
- changes in sex drive
- changes in mood, including increasing feelings of anger, sadness, or anxiety
- overeating or undereating
- substance abuse
The main risk factor for getting shingles is having had chickenpox, although people who have gotten the chickenpox vaccine may still be at risk.
Another risk factor is age.
Children, teenagers, and young adults can get shingles, but most people who have outbreaks, are over 50 years old.
A weakened immune system may also trigger shingles. Good nutrition and getting enough sleep are important because they may help keep your immune system strong.
Some medical conditions and their treatments can adversely affect the immune system, making you more susceptible to shingles. They include:
- HIV
- immunotherapy treatment for people who’ve had organ transplants
- cancer
- cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation
Shingles often starts with a burning, tingling, or painful sensation along one side of the torso or head. Within one to five days, a rash will appear. Within a few days, the rash will turn into fluid-filled blisters. The blisters will start to dry up about a week later, and will begin to disappear over the next several weeks. Some people only experience mild itching, but others have intense pain.
If you think you may have shingles, see your doctor as soon as possible, especially if you see blisters on your face or near your eye. Shingles can cause hearing or vision loss, especially if you don’t get treatment for it.
No matter where your rash appears, you should seek medical treatment quickly. Your doctor can make a diagnosis and prescribe treatments to help the blisters dry up and heal. This can reduce the duration of the outbreak and your discomfort.
No cure is available for shingles, but most people who have an outbreak get it only once.
Doing the following at home may help you to feel more comfortable:
- Get lots of rest.
- Use cool washcloths on your rash.
- Take oatmeal baths.
- Keep your stress to a minimum.
You should keep the rash covered and wash your hands often to reduce the risk of spreading the infection. Shingles isn’t contagious, but you can give someone chickenpox while you have it.
Shingles may last from two to six weeks.
Sometimes, the pain associated with shingles may linger. This ongoing pain is called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). PHN usually becomes less severe over time. Your doctor will be able to prescribe pain reduction medications that can also help.
Studies on the link between shingles and stress seem to contradict each other. This isn’t unusual, but it can make it difficult to figure out what it all means. Talk to your doctor about getting the shingles vaccine. Finding ways to reduce stress and anxiety may also be beneficial.
Reducing or eliminating stress from your life may not guarantee that you won’t get shingles, but it will make you healthier. Experimenting with different techniques for stress can help you find what works for you. Try these techniques to reduce stress:
- Identify and avoid the things that trigger your stress. Consider keeping a journal of your moods and possible triggers.
- Wind down before sleep. Reading a book, turning off the computer, and creating a bedtime routine may help.
- Turn mealtimes into social rituals with people you like, complete with conversation, soft music, and healthy, well-prepared food.
- Spend time with your pet or someone else’s pet if you like animals.
- Turn off your phone.
- Spend time in nature or taking quiet walks in peaceful surroundings.
- Practice meditation.
- Try yoga.
- Join a support group.
- Practice deep breathing exercises.
You can also add regular exercise into your daily routine. Walking, riding a bicycle, or going for a hike are examples of exercises that you may be able to incorporate into your routine
Shingles and Stress: Is There a Connection?
Research suggests stress may be a risk factor for herpes zoster, also known as shingles.
Overview
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a common viral infection. It causes a large, painful rash with blisters. The rash usually appears on one side of the body. It commonly forms on the torso or face, often near the eye.
You’re at risk for shingles if you’ve ever had chickenpox. That’s because the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox, is also responsible for shingles. The virus remains dormant inside your body after having chickenpox. In some people, the virus reactivates later in life, leading to shingles. This can happen many years, or even decades after having chickenpox.
Shingles can occur in people of any age, but it usually affects older adults. About 1 in 3 people in the United States gets shingles at some point during their lifetime.
It isn’t clear why the varicella-zoster virus reactivates in some people and not others. People often think of stress as a trigger for shingles, but some new research has looked at this link further. Keep reading to learn more about this connection.
Most people will feel stress at some point in their life. Catastrophic events, such as the death of a spouse or loss of a job can increase stress levels significantly. This may have an impact on overall health, feelings of depression, and the immune system.
Some researchers think that a weakened immune system can reactivate the varicella-zoster virus. Since stress affects the immune system, many researchers believe that stress could be a trigger for shingles.
Researchers in multiple studies have linked chronic, daily stress, and highly stressful life events as risk factors for shingles. Some studies indicate that stress might be a risk factor if other factors are present, such as advancing age, mood disorders, and poor diet. These might also negatively affect the immune system.
Researchers in a recent study have reexamined the relationship between stress and shingles. This study examined data from over 39,000 people experiencing stressful events in their lives, including death or decline in health of their spouses. Researchers didn’t find a connection between stress and shingles.
Scientists differ in their opinions on the relationship between stress and shingles, but most people agree that stress has an effect on the body.
Researchers have linked stress, particularly when severe or long-term, to a wide range of issues, including:
- gastrointestinal issues
- high blood pressure
- obesity
- heart disease
- diabetes
- difficulty sleeping
- chest pain
- headaches
- changes in sex drive
- changes in mood, including increasing feelings of anger, sadness, or anxiety
- overeating or undereating
- substance abuse
The main risk factor for getting shingles is having had chickenpox, although people who have gotten the chickenpox vaccine may still be at risk.
Another risk factor is age. Children, teenagers, and young adults can get shingles, but most people who have outbreaks, are over 50 years old.
A weakened immune system may also trigger shingles. Good nutrition and getting enough sleep are important because they may help keep your immune system strong.
Some medical conditions and their treatments can adversely affect the immune system, making you more susceptible to shingles.
They include:
- HIV
- immunotherapy treatment for people who’ve had organ transplants
- cancer
- cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation
Shingles often starts with a burning, tingling, or painful sensation along one side of the torso or head. Within one to five days, a rash will appear. Within a few days, the rash will turn into fluid-filled blisters. The blisters will start to dry up about a week later, and will begin to disappear over the next several weeks. Some people only experience mild itching, but others have intense pain.
If you think you may have shingles, see your doctor as soon as possible, especially if you see blisters on your face or near your eye. Shingles can cause hearing or vision loss, especially if you don’t get treatment for it.
No matter where your rash appears, you should seek medical treatment quickly. Your doctor can make a diagnosis and prescribe treatments to help the blisters dry up and heal.
This can reduce the duration of the outbreak and your discomfort.
No cure is available for shingles, but most people who have an outbreak get it only once.
Doing the following at home may help you to feel more comfortable:
- Get lots of rest.
- Use cool washcloths on your rash.
- Take oatmeal baths.
- Keep your stress to a minimum.
You should keep the rash covered and wash your hands often to reduce the risk of spreading the infection. Shingles isn’t contagious, but you can give someone chickenpox while you have it.
Shingles may last from two to six weeks. Sometimes, the pain associated with shingles may linger. This ongoing pain is called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). PHN usually becomes less severe over time. Your doctor will be able to prescribe pain reduction medications that can also help.
Studies on the link between shingles and stress seem to contradict each other. This isn’t unusual, but it can make it difficult to figure out what it all means.
Talk to your doctor about getting the shingles vaccine. Finding ways to reduce stress and anxiety may also be beneficial.
Reducing or eliminating stress from your life may not guarantee that you won’t get shingles, but it will make you healthier. Experimenting with different techniques for stress can help you find what works for you. Try these techniques to reduce stress:
- Identify and avoid the things that trigger your stress. Consider keeping a journal of your moods and possible triggers.
- Wind down before sleep. Reading a book, turning off the computer, and creating a bedtime routine may help.
- Turn mealtimes into social rituals with people you like, complete with conversation, soft music, and healthy, well-prepared food.
- Spend time with your pet or someone else’s pet if you like animals.
- Turn off your phone.
- Spend time in nature or taking quiet walks in peaceful surroundings.
- Practice meditation.
- Try yoga.
- Join a support group.
- Practice deep breathing exercises.
You can also add regular exercise into your daily routine. Walking, riding a bicycle, or going for a hike are examples of exercises that you may be able to incorporate into your routine
Stress and anxiety increase the risk of herpes zoster
An increase in the activity of the herpes virus (Varicella zoster), leading to the development of herpes zoster, occurs with a decrease in immunity. Our immunity is very vulnerable and is affected not only by somatic diseases, but also by psycho-emotional disorders (anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder).
In the fall of 2017, the American Journal of Epidemiology published research results from Denmark, the UK and Japan. Scientists assessed the risk of developing herpes zoster against the background of anxiety, depression, severe stress and adjustment disorder, and Japanese virologists and infectious disease specialists determined the relationship between the level of emotional stress, negative personal events and confidence in the presence of a life goal with the frequency of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia.
As a result of research, a direct dependence of the occurrence of herpetic eruptions on the psycho-emotional state has been established. They occurred several times more often in patients with anxiety neurotic disorders, stress and adjustment disorders. Among patients with a very high level of stress, the risk of herpetic eruptions was 2 times higher than those who noted a low level. Japanese virologists have shown that self-confidence and a sense of the correctness of life goals reduce the risk of developing herpes zoster by 62%.
Xenon therapy helps to get rid of pronounced anxiety and stress manifestations, to gain adequate perception of the environment during stressful loads; relieving anxiety of possible failure. Inhalations of medical xenon allow you to gain confidence in yourself, in your life goals and, thereby, prevent the development of herpetic lesions of the nervous system and the whole organism.
1. Wilson JF. In the clinic. herpes zoster. Ann Intern Med.
2011;154(5):ITC31–15.
2. Arvin AM. Varicella-zoster virus. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1996; 9(3): 361–381.
3. Zorrilla EP et al. The relationship of depression and stressors to immunological assays: a meta-analytic review. Brainbehav. Immun. 2001;15(3):199–226.
4. Irwin M et al. Cellular immunity to varicella-zoster virus in patients with major depression. J Infect Dis. 1998;178 Suppl 1:S104–8.
5. Irwin MR et al. Varicella zoster virus-specific immune responses to a herpes zoster vaccine in elderly recipients with major depression and the impact of antidepressant medications. Clin. Infect. Dis. 2013;56(8):1085–1093.
6. Forbes HJ et al. Quantification of risk factors for herpes zoster: population based case-control study. BMJ. 2014;348:g2911.
7. Ogunjimi B et al. Herpes zoster is associated with herpes simplex and other infections in under 60 year-olds. J. Infect. 2015;70(2):171–177.
8. Joesoef RM et al. Chronic medical conditions as risk factors for herpes zoster.
Mayo Clinic. Proc. 2012;87(10):961–967.
9. Hata A, Kuniyoshi M, Ohkusa Y. Risk of Herpes zoster in patients with underlying diseases: a retrospective hospital-based cohort study. infection. 2011;39(6):537–544.
10. Yang Y-W, Chen YH, Lin H-W. Risk of herpes zoster among patients with psychiatric diseases: a population-based study. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011;25(4):447–453.
11. Liao C-H et al. High prevalence of herpes zoster in patients with depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 2015;76(9):e1099–104.
what is this disease and should it be treated? Herpes zoster
Vaccination
900 57 |
According to WHO, 60-95% of the world’s population is infected with one or more herpes viruses. Mortality from these diseases ranks second in the group of viral diseases after influenza. What is this herpes and is it possible to get rid of it, says Igor Markov, infectious disease specialist, immunologist, director of the Vitacell clinic. – The most common notion of herpes – both among doctors and the non-medical community – used to be that it is a “fever” on the lips that is completely harmless and does not require treatment, goes away on its own, because the treatment its available methods at the time was ineffective. Now, although the attitude towards the disease has remained the same, in the light of recent studies, the complications that accompany this group of infections require close attention. – Igor Semenovich, tell us more about herpes zoster, or, as it is also called, shingles. – Herpes zoster, or herpes zoster, is a very common disease caused by the herpes virus type 3, or varicella zoster virus. Paradoxically, in children, this virus causes chickenpox, the well-known chicken pox, and in adults, shingles, which is much more painful. If chicken pox is a disease that neither children nor adults get sick again, then shingles can be ill for life. It is quite difficult to treat it. Involuntarily, we ask ourselves this question: is it necessary to fight shingles? We know very well that there is no need to fight chickenpox. This is a normal phenomenon, and it is better to have it in childhood. But shingles must be fought. – What are the manifestations of herpes zoster? – One of the main manifestations is a blistering rash on the trunk and severe pain in the area of the rash. But there are such clinical variants when there are simply no rashes, but there is pain, and the pain is severe. The back hurts, it hurts in the ribs, in the sacrum, the face or half of the face hurts. What is the matter, what happened, from what the most severe pain – a person cannot understand. After a while, rashes appear, then they disappear, and unbearable pain remains. And with her, a person sometimes lives for months. Needless to say, the normal, habitual rhythm of life is disrupted: incapacity for work, family problems, a difficult mental state … Severe pain literally haunts a person. What is causing this pain? – What treatments are used in your clinic? – The infection must be diagnosed before treatment can be given. Now we use the method of PCR analysis (polymerase chain reaction). We take the contents of the vial for research. The PCR analysis method allows you to quickly detect a piece of viral DNA, according to which, like fingerprints, it is impossible to confuse one virus with another. In just a day, we will know what kind of virus caused this or that rash. Moreover, it is very important to know what type this virus is – after all, on the body, for example, there can be herpes of the first type (usually causing rashes on the face), and herpes of the second type (genital), and herpes of the third type (which causes shingles). This is important because each type of virus has its own specific treatment. – In this case, the question arises: is it possible to get rid of herpes once and for all? – You can’t get rid of it. Probably, whoever does this will be given the Nobel Prize. And in general, we still need to think about whether it is necessary to do this? Viruses that enter the human body, in addition to pathogenic, also play a positive role. The immune system, in order to keep in good shape, must have, figuratively speaking, some kind of enemy to constantly fight with him. Therefore, if there are viruses in the body, and the immune system copes with them, then the viruses will not give any clinical manifestations and relapses of the disease. Indeed, with such viruses lives, without exaggeration, 100% of the population. – What factors lead to relapse? And what preventive measures should be taken to avoid getting sick? – In the first place, I would probably put psychological factors. First of all, it’s stress. We had such a situation: a woman was being treated for severe genital herpes. For several years the disease recurred: rashes appeared every month. The woman practically lost the opportunity to live a full life, including sexual. – What about prevention? – Knowing the risk factors and precipitating factors, preventive measures can also be determined. In order to avoid the disease, you need to reduce all these factors to a minimum. And of course – vaccination, vaccination of both children and adults as a means of preventing relapse in previously infected people. And today there is a vaccine against herpes simplex viruses of the first and second types, as well as against the varicella zoster virus. In the course of such treatment, we, using classical antiviral drugs in combination with a vaccine, in 90-92% of cases manage to convert active forms of herpes into latent ones using classical antiviral drugs in combination with a vaccine. By themselves, classical antiviral drugs do not have a preventive effect; while the patient takes them – he is invulnerable, just finished taking them – again defenseless. The combination of antiviral drugs with a vaccine gives a stable result. |
44 (107) 187
This virus is called varicella zoster virus. The family also includes: Epstein-Barr virus (infectious mononucleosis), cytomegalovirus, human herpes virus type 6 (chronic fatigue syndrome). In total, there are eight types of herpes viruses that are dangerous to humans.
If chickenpox, as a rule, does not have a severe and unfavorable outcome, it usually proceeds benignly, then shingles annoys a person most often for a long time.
It affects the nerve endings and is accompanied by severe pain. Breakouts in and of themselves are not a big problem. If you wish, you can deal with them yourself or simply ignore them. The pain syndrome itself is important and terrible. And if in the first 5-7 days from the onset of the rash or the appearance of the alleged rash, special drugs for the treatment of herpes are not prescribed, then very often it is extremely difficult to cope with the pain syndrome later. Because the virus caused a violation of the structure of the nerve itself, there was a so-called destructuring of it. After all, the nerve, as you know, is the most difficult tissue in the body to recover, nerve endings can be restored for months. This is how it turns out that the active virus is no longer there, it is destroyed by an antiviral drug. But the pain remains, and unfortunate people are forced to regularly take the strongest painkillers, including narcotic ones. It would seem that a banal herpes virus, but forces a person to take such potent drugs.
This is the method of PCR analysis. Previously, the isolation of the virus to confirm the diagnosis was very laborious and lengthy (approximately 2-3 weeks, or even a month), by infecting laboratory animals. Now everything is done faster and much more efficiently.
In the body of any person older than 18-20 years old, as a rule, from 3 to 6 types of herpes viruses, and possibly more. He usually does not know about this and does not even think about it, since there will be no manifestations of a viral infection in a healthy body. You can live your whole life with these viruses and not get sick. Clinical problems associated with the varicella zoster virus affect approximately 15% of those infected. The conclusion is that such viruses, if they are in a latent state, do not need to be fought. We need to fight the diseases that these viruses cause. In this case, if they ask me if it is possible to recover from herpes, I say that it all depends on the person himself: is he a pessimist or an optimist. The pessimist will say: “Why should we be treated if it is impossible to cure the disease, because the viruses remain.” An optimist will argue that it is important and necessary to treat, because it is possible to recover. Paradoxically, both will be right.
The fact is that the virus can go into a latent state for a long time or even for life (i.e., not dangerous, without symptoms of the disease). It will “doze” in a disassembled state, like scattered fragments of a mosaic. In fact, this condition is not dangerous. But if, at the signal of the immune or nervous system (it is difficult to say which system initiates the activity of the virus), the fragments line up in a certain picture of the active virus, the disease, as a rule, is inevitable. Therefore, both the doctor and the patient need to fight only with active forms of the virus.
As a result – constant scandals in the family. The treatment was successful, and for several months the patient forgot about her problem. And suddenly – another clarification of relations with her husband, and the next day, as a consequence of the stress suffered – abundant rashes appeared again. The woman in a panic asked for help again. We explained to her that the meaning of the treatment was a kind of immunological training (with the help of a herpetic vaccine), which was carried out earlier. There is no need for re-treatment. The patient soon resolved her marital problems; experiences passed – and the rashes stopped. We haven’t seen her in the clinic for several years now. This is a good sign – it means she does not need a doctor. 
Severe infectious diseases, influenza, tonsillitis – everything that depletes the body’s immune system is the third reason for the possibility of herpes. 
