At 43, I was fit and happy. Then I developed a nasty – and very expensive - case of shingles | Arwa Mahdawi
Healthy women under 50 are now more at risk of the condition. What I didn’t know is that intense exercise could be to blame and the condition could cost me hundreds of dollars If you’re in your 40s, I have a great trick for getting people to spontaneously tell you how young you are: develop shingles. Friends, acquaintances and medical professionals will rapidly inform you that the painful rash is…
At 43, Arwa Mahdawi, a healthy and happy woman, was suddenly plagued by a nasty and costly case of shingles. Unbeknownst to her, intense exercise might have been the cause of this painful condition. It was in her 40s that Mahdawi discovered the uncomfortable truth that shingles is not exclusively an illness that affects the elderly or those with weakened immune systems.
Friends, acquaintances, and medical professionals were quick to point out the unusual nature of her case, remarking, "You're a bit young to get that, aren't you?" Mahdawi first sought help at an urgent care facility after noticing a red spot on her nose, a swollen eye, and a severe headache. The nurse was skeptical when he told her it might be shingles.
When Mahdawi visited the emergency room as advised, the ophthalmologist also expressed doubt, emphasizing that shingles near the eye is a medical emergency that can result in blindness.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
