Shingles is a recurrence of the Herpes zoster virus (HZV). HZV is the virus responsible for chickenpox. It can lie dormant after its first arrival, sometimes for many years.
(1) Shingles attacks typically occur and recur when someone is undergoing a majorly stressful situation. The stress can be physical, such as an injury or major illness, or emotional, caused by such as the loss of someone dear to you or by feeling deeply hurt by someone you care about.
(2) Stress is combined with a weakened immune system. If the immune system becomes chronically overwhelmed, it is unable to effectively control the shingle virus and prevent the reoccurence of an attack.
(3) Risk of getting shingles increases with age. In the U.S., 1 in 3 people develop shingles during their lifetime.
