I am 67 years old and have been told that I am not eligible for the shingles vaccine. I find it very unfair that I have to wait until I am 70, while those who “turn 65” are eligible now. The whole campaign seems very confusing. Can you explain?
Eleri Church, Falmouth, Cornwall.
Dr. Scurr responds: You are absolutely right to be outraged. Shingles affects one in four people over the age of 50 at some point, and typically causes a painful, blistering rash on one side that can leave scars.
It is most common in people over 70 (for whom, in rare cases, it can be fatal), but I have also seen it in young children and teenagers.
Shingles does not develop through contact with other people, but when the virus we contracted in childhood (varicella-zoster) is reactivated (the virus remains in the body, but can be reactivated if the immune system is weakened).
Shingles vaccine should be available to everyone over 50, says Dr Martin Scurr
Sadly, the reason you can’t currently get this important vaccine (called Shingrix, which is given in two injections) is rationing. The fact that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has come up with this bizarre and illogical plan to limit distribution (presumably for cost reasons) is something that frustrates most GPs.
The NHS currently says the vaccine is recommended for all adults aged 65 and over, as well as those aged 70 to 79. Anyone over 50 with a severely weakened immune system also qualifies.
But as you’ve discovered, this leaves a strange gap for people who are over 65 but not yet 70.
I think it should be available to everyone over 50; doing otherwise would be unethical.
You have the right to ask your GP to give you the injections privately, but this costs at least £100. I highly recommend you consider this option.
You could then send an invoice (and a copy of the receipt for payment) to your MP with a request that he or she forward it to the Department of Health.
My 16-year-old daughter has abdominal migraines and migraine headaches. Both are debilitating: she is constantly fatigued and her joints hurt. She has also experienced episodes of rapid heartbeat. Blood tests came back normal.
Jenny Smith, Rye.
Dr. Scurr responds: Your daughter is at an age when her body is still evolving into adulthood and her symptoms may reflect multiple aspects of her health.
First, for the benefit of other readers, let me explain what abdominal migraines are.
These symptoms, which usually occur in children, include episodes of severe stomach pain, often with nausea.
It is not known why they occur, but they usually resolve after a few hours of rest. Children usually outgrow them, although they often develop migraines later in life.
Most people find that they have a key trigger for their migraine. Stress is often a factor, as are hormonal changes (in women), skipping meals, sleep problems, bright lights, alcohol, heat and exercise.
Stress relief can also be a trigger, which explains why you may get a migraine when you finally leave for vacation after hours of frantic preparations.
I would suggest your daughter keep a detailed diary of her migraines.
This will allow her (and you) to see how your headaches, and perhaps your abdominal pain, correlate with your sleep patterns, eating habits, exercise levels, and menstrual cycle.
There are useful apps to track them, such as Migraine Buddy or Migraine Monitor (both available online).
The Migraine Trust also offers advice on how to keep a migraine history with details that can later be useful to a doctor.
As for joint pain and heart palpitations, this could be related to your sensitivity to migraines.
Normal blood tests are one thing, but assessing your health involves much more than that.
Hopefully, keeping a journal for two or three months will help you make decisions.
In my opinion… Coffee will not only cheer you up
Many patients are concerned that drinking coffee will cause high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythm.
But while it is true that caffeine increases blood pressure for a short period of time after consuming it, a new study, published in the Journal of Hypertension and based on data from 1,400 people over a ten-year period, found that drinking coffee regularly does not lead to the development of hypertension.
On the other hand, another study has found that regular coffee consumption does not cause abnormal heart rhythms.
While previous research suggests that coffee drinkers are less likely to develop liver disease, it seems that the transition from being a nation of tea drinkers to one where much of the population is holding a coffee in one hand is not a bad thing.
Write to Dr. Scurr
Write to Dr. Scurr at Good Health, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email drmartin@dailymail.co.uk — Please include your contact information. Dr. Scurr can’t get into personal matters Correspondence. Answers must be taken in a general context and always consult your own GP with any health concerns