I'm in my 50's,
I've seen a lot of information
about the shingles vaccine.
I've seen commercials but I've never gotten it,
and I don't know what to do at this point.
Okay.
Did you have chicken pox
when you were a little kid?
No.
Oh I did, I had it.
I didn't have it.
I didn't have chicken pox.
You are not alone.
Let's first talk about what shingles is.
A lot of people wondering.
Shingles is actually a very painful rash
that happens on one side of the body.
We see a graphic here.
This is a classic picture of shingles.
One side of the face or the body.
It typically happens in a van-like formation.
Start out with vesicles
and over two to four weeks start to crust over.
But you can get fever and malaise
and just feel really kinda punky.
But the other thing about it is,
this rash, guys, is super super painful.
It can burn and itch.
I know you guys are like,
"How do we even get shingles?"
Let's talk about this.
First thing is, shingles and chicken pox
are caused by the same virus.
And our graphic here,
this is somebody who's got chicken pox.
All the little red spots, see,
and the purple circle is
the varicella-zoster virus.
What happens is,
you've got the chicken pox, right?
There it goes.
It's working, it's working.
Over a few weeks,
you get rid of your chicken pox
but that virus lays dormant in your nerves.
That's so creepy.
It's in my back.
It can be in any nerve.
What happens in some people is that
it may reactivate and if it does,
it reactivates in forms, shingles.
And that's what were seeing there.
Is it only possible for people to get shingles
that have had chicken pox?
That's not necessarily the case.
I'm gonna answer that.
First of all, a lot of people wonder,
"Who's going to have this reactivate?"
One in three people actually get the shingles
and we think it happens
in people who are older
and weakened immune systems
and things like these.
But get this,
99%, over 99% of the people
who are over the age of forty have gotten chicken pox,
whether we remember it or not.
And that's why, regardless of
whether we got chicken pox or not,
coz' I haven't had chicken pox,
the CDC still recommends the shingles vaccine
for those who qualify for it.
That make sense?
You will qualify. You are still eligible
for it, yes.
If I never had chicken pox
That's right.
And I was tested
that I've never had chicken pox,
I can still get the vaccine for shingles?
The CDC is still recommending it,
regardless of whether you remember getting
chicken pox or not.
And remember, this is not for everybody.
Most people will qualify
for this shingles vaccine
but there are some people who shouldn't take it.
Okay?
But, yeah, I would talk to your doctor
and see what they say about that.
But generally, over 50 the CDC says 'yes'.
Get the shingles vaccine.
It's a brand new vaccine,
over 90% effective.
Super important, thank you. (clapping in the background)
I've been noticing people on social media
a lot of people posting about
lymphatic drainage massages
And since they are posting,
I'm wondering if it's worth it
but I don't have much information about it.
Yeah, that's interesting.
Lymph glands are all through your body, right?
They are.
They collect our toxins or process them.
Thank you, Dr. Rachael, as I always say.
Thank you, doc.
The lymphatic system is so important,
you're right.
It consists of lymph nodes
and so many other things.
And our lymphatic system helps to deal with
fluctuating fluid in our body
and helps to get rid of damaged cells.
This is what I say about the lymphatic massage;
they are popping up everywhere and, actually,
we've got some graphics.
First of all, the massage part.
Usually what people have done is gentle massage
using gentle pressure around the lymphatic areas.
This is one technique that massage places
are offering throughout the country.
But there is also other techniques too
that some places are offering
a lymphatic massage suit where you
literally get suited up in a suit.
You get to put a suit on Look at her,
she's in the Blue Man Group.
(audience laughing)
And then to your point, Rachael,
you enter these rollers here.
This is rose quartz and this is jade.
And the thought is, by using them,
it can help redistribute lymph.
Usually, these places throughout the country
are claiming that it helps get rid of toxins,
it will help make you healthier
or make your immune system be better.
But I gotta tell you guys, as a doctor,
I'm skeptical.
There are people
who really need lymphatic massage.
Those are our breast cancer patients,
who may have lymphedema in an arm
or any other people who just have lymphedema
in any other part in their body.
Or people who are post-surgical.
These are patients who rely on lymphatic massage
from a licensed certified person,
as part of their treatment.
As part of their physical therapy.
Exactly.
If you're totally healthy
and you ain't got a lymph problem going on--
It's not gonna do you any extra good.
I don't know that I have any good evidence
that tells you it's going to get rid of toxins
or help your immune system.
So I say, if you like it--
But these little things are good for puppy eyes
(people laughing)
So I say, if you like the feeling
of a lymph massage, if you like the feeling of it
and you have no counter-indications, maybe try it
because you like the feeling of it.
But will it change your life drastically
if you don't have underlying medical conditions?
I'm not sure that I can say that's the case.
Okay.
Thank you so much. Thanks again.
(audience applauding)