NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce's mom Donna Kelce talks about 'painful' shingles: What is it?

Donna Kelce, the mother of NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce is using her platform for raising awareness about shingles, a painful condition affecting millions over the age of 50. Earlier this year, as Travis Kelce was prepping to face off against Texans, Donna hosted a brunch in Kansas City, in the attendance of VIPs including Brooke Shields, Gina Torres, and Roselyn Sanchez. The event was a part of GSK’s THRIVE@50+ campaign which is aimed at “exploring the motivations that drive you to get ahead of potential health challenges” for those at the age of 50 or older.
Shingles is a painful, blistering rash that can develop at any time, without warning. 99% of adults over 50 years old already have the virus that causes shingles inside their body, even though not everyone at risk will develop shingles,” she said. Donna Kelce also urged people to “ask your doctor or pharmacist about your risk for shingles and about prevention.”

While raising awareness, Donna Kelce also spoke about a personal reason behind it. “I’ve had a few friends that have developed shingles. It’s a very painful disease. You miss out on the most precious moments in your life because you cannot be the person you want to be because you’re in pain. If you do get this particular disease, it’s not an easy one,” she said.
What is shingles?

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. It causes a painful rash.
After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus remains inactive in the body. When this virus reactivates, often when the immune system is weakened, shingles occur.
According to the CDC, an estimated 1 million people get shingles each year in the US. Though most of them develop shingles only once in their life, some have reported more than once.
Symptoms of shingles

Painful rash is the most common symptom of shingles. Other symptoms include:
Shingles is not contagious by itself, however, you can spread the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) to someone who has never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine. They would develop chickenpox, not shingles. The treatment for shingles is usually antiviral medications such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir. Doctors also provide pain relievers, calamine lotion, or cool compress, depending on the symptoms.

Prevention
The WHO says that the herpes zoster vaccine is 'highly effective and licensed for adults age 50 years and older' even if they've had shingles before. Vaccination reduces the risk of shingles.