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> > My husband Fuad retired last April. Before his retirement the stress was > more than he could handle most of the time and the PD seemed to get worse > every day. He even developed "shingles" from the extreme stress. I believe > that PD is worsened by stress but also that individuals with PD tend to over > react and therefore make a situation more stressful than it really needs to be. > Sorry, folks. I just can't resist playing nurse. Although it may be very true that stress exacerbates PD, "Shingles" is a Herpes Zoster infection which is contagious. Studies have shown that stress reduces immune response, which may be why Shingles has been associated with increased stress levels. Shingles occurs with exposure to the virus; patients with Shingles are *isolated* when admitted to the hospital for that very reason. This is a good time to remind everyone that PD and other chronic diseases *may* contribute to a decreased immune response, which is why it is a very good idea to avoid folks with Shingles until their infection has resolved, as well as children and adults with chicken pox - another Herpes strain that may cause Shingles. ------- Regards Mary Ann