What Viola Davis learned from a painful shingles diagnosis

Key Points:

• Viola Davis experienced two severe cases of shingles, a painful viral infection caused by the varicella zoster virus, which affects about one in three people in the U.S. during their lifetime, especially those over 50.
• Despite intense pain, Davis initially struggled to seek medical help due to societal pressures on women to appear strong and avoid showing vulnerability, which delayed her treatment and led to burnout.
• Davis advocates for women to be assertive with their healthcare providers, emphasizing the importance of demanding information and treatment options to properly manage conditions like shingles.
• Medical experts recommend antiviral drugs and pain management for shingles, as well as the Shingrix vaccine for adults over 50 to prevent future occurrences, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.
• Davis encourages people in pain to speak up and seek support, stressing that honoring one’s voice improves well-being and that patients deserve to be heard and taken seriously by healthcare professionals.