HEALTH & WELLNESS by Peter Semchism Shingles: Symptoms, Treatments and Prevention Sponsored by Greenhills Pharmacy by Peter Semchism HEALTH & WELLNESS by Peter Semchism
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To advertise here, please contact Gloria@villagerpublications.com Treatment of dementia may depend on the specific cause. Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease usually involves treating the declining memory and gradually worsening behavioural symptoms with a range of medications Symptoms of dementia can vary depending on the cause. For example, people with Lewy body dementia often have long-lasting visual hallu- cinations. Some forms of dementia also tend to affect people younger than others and progress faster. Treatment and Prevention Gloria@VillagerPublications.com While there is no cure for shingles, treatment with antivirals is recommended to speed the healing process and reduce the risk of complications. Antivirals are most effective when they are started within 72 hours after the rash appears. increasing irritability, anxiety, depression, confusion, and restlessness increasing communication and language difficulties (forgetting words or substituting incorrect words) changes in personality, behaviour, or mood decreasing ability to focus and pay attention inability to plan and carry out tasks that require multiple steps (e.g. pay - ing bills). To be diagnosed with dementia, the symptoms must be severe enough to affect a person’s independence and their ability to perform everyday activities. Treatment of dementia may depend on the specific cause. Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease usually involves treating the declining memory and gradually worsening behavioural symptoms with a range of medications (which may also be used in other forms of dementia), including: cognitive enhancing agents tranquilizers antidepressants antianxiety medications anticonvulsants Dementia Could Happen to Anyone… Because Everyone Ages. The Facts Dementia Could Happen to Anyone… Because Everyone Ages. The Facts The Facts Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. While it’s most common in people over the age of 50, it can occur at any age. Recent studies show that the lifetime risk of shingles can be as high as 30% in the general population. It’s estimated that there are 130,000 new cases of shingles in Canada each year. Although there is no cure for shingles, it can be prevented and treated by a healthcare professional. Read on to learn about how to recognize, treat and prevent shingles. What is Shingles? Shingles is a condition caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. The immune system never completely gets rid of the virus after we have recovered from chickenpox. Scientists think that some virus particles escape from the original chickenpox blisters and move into the nervous system, where they lay dormant. When the virus reactivates years later, it moves along sensory nerve fibres to the skin where it multiplies, causing a painful rash. Dementia is not a specific disease, but a general term that describes a gradual decline of mental ability that affects your intellectual and social skills to the point where daily life becomes difficult. Dementia can affect your memory, language skills and decision-making ability; impair your judgment and make you feel disoriented; and it may also affect your personality. Dementia can be caused by many diseases that affect the brain. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Others in- clude vascular, Lewy body, frontotemporal and mixed dementia. Types of dementia differ based on underlying causes and can affect specific symptoms and how it progresses. Symptoms and Complications Many of us often experience forgetfulness. We may forget where we put the car keys or repeat the same story to a friend or family member. These behaviours are usually caused by the information overload of our busy, stressful lives – it doesn’t mean that we’re developing dementia. As people age, they may experience memory changes such as slowing of information processing. This type of change is normal and doesn’t interfere with day-to-day functioning. By contrast, dementia is disabling and not a normal part of aging. Although dementia often presents itself differently from person to per- son, common symptoms include: gradual loss of memory of recent events and lack of ability to learn new things increasing tendency to repeat oneself, misplacing objects, becoming confused and lost in familiar places slow disintegration of judgment and reasoning abilities Peter Semchism Dementia is not a specific disease, but a general term that describes a gradual decline of mental ability that affects your intellectual and social skills to the point where daily life becomes difficult. Dementia can affect your memory, language skills and decision-making ability; impair your judgment and make you feel disoriented; and it may also affect your personality. Dementia can be caused by many diseases that affect the brain. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Others in- clude vascular, Lewy body, frontotemporal and mixed dementia. Types of dementia differ based on underlying causes and can affect specific symptoms and how it progresses. Symptoms and Complications Many of us often experience forgetfulness. We may forget where we put the car keys or repeat the same story to a friend or family member. These behaviours are usually caused by the information overload of our busy, stressful lives – it doesn’t mean that we’re developing dementia. As people age, they may experience memory changes such as slowing of information processing. This type of change is normal and doesn’t interfere with day-to-day functioning. By contrast, dementia is disabling and not a normal part of aging. Although dementia often presents itself differently from person to per- son, common symptoms include: gradual loss of memory of recent events and lack of ability to learn new things increasing tendency to repeat oneself, misplacing objects, becoming confused and lost in familiar places slow disintegration of judgment and reasoning abilities Shingles develops in three stages: prodrome, acute disease, and healing. In the prodrome stage, which may precede the appearance of a rash by a few days, people often experience pain, tingling, itching or sensitivity to touch in the area where the rash will eventually appear. Some people also have fever, headache, sensitivity to light and fatigue. Sometimes these prodromal symptoms go unnoticed. During the acute illness, the rash typically forms a stripe of blisters that stays within one side of the body. Lesions are usually found on the trunk or face, but they can occur anywhere on the body. The blisters, also called vesicles, are small, red, and filled with fluid. The acute illness usually lasts 10 to 14 days. Then comes the healing stage. The vesicles dry, scab over and heal over a period of three to five weeks. For some people, pain can last for weeks after the rash has healed. How do you get Shingles? Peter Semchism To advertise here please contact For a disease that is so common, shingles is still largely misunderstood. Not everyone who’s had chickenpox will have shingles. The reason why shingles develops in some people but not others is still unclear, but it may be linked to the fact that the immune system progressively becomes weaker as we age. Shingles risk factors include: • having a weakened immune system, due to age or disease • undergoing emotional stress • undergoing cancer treatments, HIV/AIDS treatment, or major surgery, • taking certain medications following organ transplant or long- term use of steroids like prednisone. Most people only get shingles once, but it is possible to have it several times. How is Shingles treated? increasing irritability, anxiety, depression, confusion, and restlessness increasing communication and language difficulties (forgetting words or substituting incorrect words) changes in personality, behaviour, or mood decreasing ability to focus and pay attention inability to plan and carry out tasks that require multiple steps (e.g. pay - ing bills). To be diagnosed with dementia, the symptoms must be severe enough to affect a person’s independence and their ability to perform everyday activities. Symptoms of dementia can vary depending on the cause. For example, people with Lewy body dementia often have long-lasting visual hallu- cinations. Some forms of dementia also tend to affect people younger than others and progress faster. Treatment and Prevention
Issue 45 Always keep in mind that we are here for you and your needs. Please feel free to give us a call. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your health or medications you can reach us at 519-652-9066. Peter Semchism is a Pharmacist at Greenhills Pharmacy in Lambeth. June 2020 Lambeth Villager Page 7 the risk of complications, such as post-herpetic neuralgia, is to begin treatment as early as possible after the onset of the first symptoms. There is no treatment that can “cure” Alzheimer’s disease, nor are there medication that can halt or reverse the brain damage caused by it. How- ever, there are medications that can relieve symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease. Medications such as donepezil*, riv- astigmine, and galantamine may be used to slow down memory loss. Prevention of stroke is important for vascular dementia. If you have high blood pressure or cholesterol, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), or have had a stroke, you should seek continued treatment for these conditions to prevent future strokes. The key to caring for and helping people with dementia is to focus on the many activities the person can still do safely. Encourage a person with dementia to continue daily routines and maintain social relationships as much as possible. Help them maintain a healthy lifestyle through exer- cise, proper nutrition, and fluid intake. Special diets and supplements are generally unnecessary. If you are caring for someone with dementia, the following may be help- ful: reminders: Provide written lists of things to do including times, places, and phone numbers to help the person complete the task. structure and stability: Minimize undue noise and disturbances to re- duce anxiety. establish routines: Daily and bedtime routines can reduce disorientation and anxiety. speaking slowly and calmly: Present one thought or instruction at a time. information card: Reduce the risk of wandering and getting lost by pro- viding a pocket card with the person’s name, address, and phone num- ber. safety: Make your home environment as safe as possible by keeping furniture in the same place, removing clutter, installing locks on medi- cine cabinets, and setting the water heater at a low temperature to avoid scalding. driving: Don’t allow someone with dementia to drive a vehicle. Drive them or arrange for rides wherever they need to go. Like with many other conditions, the best option is to avoid it through prevention methods. A vaccine is recommended by Health Canada to prevent shingles. If you’re over 50 years old, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your vaccination options. It’s important to note that the vaccine doesn’t guarantee that you will never have shingles, but it does reduce the risk of complications, such lasting pain, also called post-herpetic neuralgia, if you do get it. You can get the vaccine even if you had shingles in the past. Things to keep in mind: • There are multiple shingles risk factors • Shingles may be contagious in certain situation • There is no treatment but antiviral medication and over-the-counter medication can help • Prevention is key through vaccination Caring for someone with dementia can be difficult. It requires under - standing, patience, and compassion. Joining an Alzheimer’s disease caregiver’s support group in your community may be helpful. Be prepared for the eventuality that your loved one’s condition will dete- riorate over time and additional full-time personal care may be needed. In some situations, placement in a nursing home is in the best interests of the individual and their family. Peter Semchism is a Pharmacist at Greenhills Pharmacy in Lambeth. In some provinces, pharmacists can prescribe antiviral drugs to treat shingles. Talk to your pharmacist to know if it’s available in your area and who is eligible for treatment. If that’s not an option, your pharmacist will refer you to the appropriate health professional. If you have a shingles rash on your face or head, you must see a doctor rapidly. It is a serious condition that can cause scarring and blindness if left untreated. Over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers may be enough for some people, but many people will require prescription medication to relieve the pain. Other OTC products, like colloidal oatmeal baths, may help relieve the itching. Ask your pharmacist to recommend products that are appropriate for you. Can you prevent Shingles? If you think you have shingles, consult a health professional as soon as possible. The best way to reduce
Lambeth Villager • October 2024 • Page 11 driving: Don’t allow someone with dementia to drive a them or arrange for rides wherever they need to go. Caring for someone with dementia can be difficult. It r standing, patience, and compassion. Joining an Alzhe caregiver’s support group in your community may be hel Be prepared for the eventuality that your loved one’s con riorate over time and additional full-time personal care m In some situations, placement in a nursing home is in the of the individual and their family. Peter Semchism is a Pharmacist at Greenhills Pharmacy information card: Reduce the risk of wandering and getti viding a pocket card with the person’s name, address, an ber. safety: Make your home environment as safe as possib furniture in the same place, removing clutter, installing cine cabinets, and setting the water heater at a low tempe scalding. There is no treatment that can “cure” Alzheimer’s disease medication that can halt or reverse the brain damage cau ever, there are medications that can relieve symptoms a the progression of the disease. Medications such as d astigmine, and galantamine may be used to slow down m Prevention of stroke is important for vascular dementia. If blood pressure or cholesterol, transient ischemic attacks had a stroke, you should seek continued treatment for th to prevent future strokes. The key to caring for and helping people with dementia is many activities the person can still do safely. Encourage dementia to continue daily routines and maintain social r much as possible. Help them maintain a healthy lifestyle cise, proper nutrition, and fluid intake. Special diets an are generally unnecessary. If you are caring for someone with dementia, the followin ful: reminders: Provide written lists of things to do including and phone numbers to help the person complete the tas structure and stability: Minimize undue noise and distu duce anxiety. establish routines: Daily and bedtime routines can reduce and anxiety. speaking slowly and calmly: Present one thought or in time.
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