Are Shingles and Chickenpox Developed the Same Way?
Since the chickenpox virus is very contagious, most contract it through exposure to someone who has it. The shingles virus is contracted in individuals who have already had the chickenpox virus, so if someone has shingles, it is impossible to catch it. Only the chickenpox can be caught from someone who has shingles, since the chickenpox virus is active within the person with shingles. Age and stress play a large role in the process of developing shingles after chickenpox. The older you get, the weaker your immune system becomes, so it is a potential threat. Stress, depression and other personality abnormalities are players in the development of shingles after chickenpox. The majority of those who have shingles are 80 and over, and women make up 60% of that population.
