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Viola Davis reveals disease that left her with '9 out of 10' pain
New York Post • • health
Key Points:
- Viola Davis experienced severe pain and a painful rash in 2012, which was diagnosed as shingles, a common disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus that affects 1 in 3 Americans.
- Shingles results from the reactivation of the chickenpox virus in the body, causing a painful, blistering rash typically on one side of the body, often accompanied by flu-like symptoms.
- Complications of shingles include postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a chronic nerve pain that can last months or years, and more severe issues like vision damage or nerve damage near the ear.
- While there is no cure for shingles, antiviral medications can speed healing and reduce complications, and the Shingrix vaccine is over 90% effective in preventing shingles and PHN, especially recommended for adults over 50 or with weakened immune systems.
- Davis emphasized the importance of listening to one’s body and redefined strength as caring for health rather than pushing through pain, highlighting the need for awareness about shingles despite a healthy lifestyle.
