International Self-Care Day: Beware of the risks of chronic diseases and prevention of herpes zoster cannot be ignored

July 24th of each year is "International Self-Care Day", which encourages the public to always pay attention to self-care and pay attention to the health of themselves and their families. At present, the problem of "longevity but unhealthy" among middle-aged and elderly people in my country is very prominent, and multiple diseases coexist generally. According to statistics, there are about 190 million elderly patients with chronic diseases in my country. With the increase of age, the immunity of middle-aged and elderly people gradually decreases, and the risk of contracting infectious diseases such as herpes zoster increases accordingly. In the current context, this reporter interviewed Liu Chunying, deputy chief physician and chief of the Immunization Planning Section of the Fengnan District Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Tangshan City, to popularize knowledge about the disease and prevention of herpes zoster.

Comorbidity superposition: middle-aged and elderly people are at high risk of herpes zoster

Shingles is one of the common infectious diseases among the middle-aged and elderly population. It is an infectious skin disease caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. The virus is latent in more than 90% of adults. As the immune function decreases due to factors such as aging, the virus is reactivated in the body, causing shingles. Because herpes often occurs on the waist, it is commonly known as "waist dragon" or "snake herpes".

The elderly, patients with chronic diseases, patients with autoimmune diseases, and people with low immune function are at high risk of shingles. In particular, the elderly over 50 years old are prone to shingles. The older they are, the more likely they are to get sick and the more serious the condition. In addition, it is very common for the elderly to have multiple diseases. Once people with chronic diseases are infected, it may lead to the aggravation of the original chronic diseases and even increase the risk of death. Take diabetes as an example. After diabetic patients get shingles, it will be more difficult to control blood sugar.

Shingles is not only accompanied by indescribable posterior neuralgia, but also puts a significant pressure on the economic status and overall quality of life of the patient's family. It is recommended to maintain a regular schedule in daily life and avoid excessive fatigue to ensure that the body's immunity is maintained at an optimal level. At the same time, for the middle-aged and elderly people with stable health conditions, active vaccination with shingles vaccine is one of the effective preventive measures.

Prevention: Proactive prevention can effectively avoid "painful"

Liu Chunying, deputy chief physician and chief of the Immunization Program Section of the Fengnan District Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Tangshan City, pointed out that the middle-aged and elderly population should ask the following three key words before receiving the shingles vaccine: first, age. Different vaccines are suitable for different ages, and the types of vaccines that can be selected to prevent the same disease are also different; second, protective efficacy. The protective efficacy of vaccines with different technical routes is also different; third, who should not be vaccinated, that is, contraindications. Patients with immune deficiency or immunosuppressive diseases need to pay attention to vaccination contraindications and cannot receive live attenuated vaccines. The expert consensus pointed out that it is recommended that patients with rheumatic autoimmune diseases should first receive inactivated vaccines and recombinant protein vaccines.

In response to the doubts of some middle-aged and elderly people about whether people with chronic diseases can get the shingles vaccine, Liu Chunying explained, "Old people, especially those with chronic diseases, need to take active prevention measures through vaccination. Chronic diseases are not contraindications for vaccination. But it is also necessary to scientifically grasp the timing of vaccination." For middle-aged and elderly people with underlying diseases, if they are in the acute attack period or the disease progression period, the vaccination needs to be delayed at this time; in addition, when some middle-aged and elderly people suddenly develop acute diseases and the symptoms are more serious, it is also recommended to delay vaccination. When choosing a vaccine, it is recommended that a doctor conduct a professional assessment of their own health status and medical history before vaccination, and give reasonable vaccination recommendations from the perspective of benefits and risks.

Some middle-aged and elderly people are hesitant about vaccines because of possible adverse reactions after vaccination. In this regard, Liu Chunying emphasized that in large-scale population vaccination, adverse reactions cannot be ruled out. Common adverse reactions can be divided into local reactions and systemic reactions. Generally, there is redness, swelling or pain at the injection site, and there may also be fever, decreased appetite, and fatigue, but these symptoms are usually mild and most do not require special treatment. Serious adverse reactions are very rare and there is no need to worry too much.

Actively implementing preventive measures to avoid the invasion of herpes zoster is a wise move to achieve the transition from "longevity" to "healthy longevity". Take the initiative to prevent and enjoy a happy life!