Q&A: shingles vaccine; daily multivitamins; the “best” diet, & when to check your coronary calcium score

Happy October! 🎃

ICYMI 👉

• You’re Only As Sick As Your Secrets

• When Crisis Hits Your Family

• 6 Tips for Aging with Intention (with or without plastic surgery)

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In this week’s reader-submitted Q&A, we’re tackling these questions:

• Do I really need the Shingles vaccine?

• Do you recommend taking a multivitamin?

• What is the best diet for my overall health?

• Should I find out my coronary calcium score?

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• Click here to write me your question. ✍️

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Disclaimer: The views expressed here are entirely my own. They are not a substitute for advice from your personal physician.

Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash

The following subscriber questions have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

QUESTION #1: SHINGLES VACCINE

Hi doc, I have avoided the Shingles shot - b/c I am hearing it makes causes people to feel sick afterwards. I’m 72 - and I am not a wimp - but is this right? Also is the shot really necessary? I had shingles when I was in college so I wonder if I am immune? Thanks much.

- Jack L.

Dear Jack,

I hear you. I will admit that I have been procrastinating on getting my shingles shots for the same reason! It’s true that some people experience 24 hours of side effects (such as chills and aches), however, it’s still on my to-do list. I recommend it to anyone over age 50. Why? Because shingles is common and can be extremely painful and debilitating. It’s also highly preventable. The vaccine is called Shingrix and is 97% effective at preventing shingles in people with normal immune systems. It is recommended for anyone ages 50 and above and is given as two doses over 6 months. 

What is shingles, exactly? I call it the “second coming” of the chicken pox virus, which, if you were born before 1980, you almost certainly had. The varicella-zoster virus caused chickenpox when you were a kid, but it never actually goes away. Rather, it lies dormant in your nerve cells, waiting to reactivate when our immune system can no longer hold it at bay. This can happen simply because of age or because our immune system is being challenged for some other reason.

What if you already had shingles? The recommendation is to still get the shots. What if you already had the original vaccine called “Zostavax”? Still get the shots. What if you’re not sure you had chickenpox as a kid? Per the CDC, 99% of people born before 1980 have antibodies to chicken pox—meaning they had chicken pox whether they remember it or not—and to go ahead and get the shots. If you’re still wondering about your history of chickenpox, you can get your blood tested for antibodies. 

And if you’re still worried about side effects? Consider taking the shots on a Friday when you’ve got nothing to do the next day. That’s my plan. I hope you join me!

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QUESTION #2: DAILY MULTIVITAMINS

Do you recommend multivitamins to your patients?

-Kalen Q.

Hi Kalen,