‘It was like something was crawling over me’ - the worrying rise of shingles among millennial women
Health experts are observing a rise in shingles cases among millennial women, potentially linked to stress, lifestyle factors, and the cost of living. The article features personal accounts of the intense pain associated with the condition.
Why it matters
This trend suggests that modern lifestyle stressors may be contributing to the earlier onset of illnesses typically associated with older age groups.
‘The pain took my breath away’ – Francine Jones, 39, had shingles earlier this year. ‘The pain took my breath away’ – Francine Jones, 39, had shingles earlier this year. Health ‘It was like something was crawling over me’ – the worrying rise of shingles among millennial women Stress, the cost of living, long working hours and even excessive exercise have all been touted as reasons the illness is rising among women in their 30s and 40s. What can be done to help them?
Prefer the Guardian on Google T he “lightning strike” pain was like nothing Francine Jones had experienced before. “That is the only way I can describe it,” she says, of the stabbing in her torso that would occur every 10 minutes or so. “It was a really sharp, intense pain, as if someone was giving me an electric shock … it took my breath away.”
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in