Must son wait until 50 to get vaccine?

Dear Dr. Roach: In your recent column referring to the shingles vaccine, you do not mention younger adults. My son wanted to get the shingles vaccine was told he wouldhave towaituntil he is 50 to get it.

What is your opinion this situation?— L.C.

The shingles vaccine has only been tested in adults over age 50, and thus is not indicated for younger ages by the Food and Drug Administration. The vaccine is particularly important in older people because shingles is more common and has a higher risk of complications in older people.

Giving the vaccine to a younger personwould likely be effective. This is a newvaccine, and although it seems to confer long-lasting immunity, it is not knownwhether it is lifelong. It would also not be covered by insurance. Personally, I wouldn’t recommendit, but it’s not out of the question.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am n 88-year-old woman. I have had excessive belching for nine months. I have tried manymedications and home remedies, but nothing has helped. Have you heard of this problem?— C.M.

Eructation or belching, is the expulsion of air from the esophagus or stomach. The average person belches 25-30 times per day.

Stomach gas is most commonly caused by swallowed air, so the treatment is to teach people howto swallowless air. Thismeansnogumchewingor smoking; no carbonated beverages; andslower, careful eating.

Belching can also be associated with re lux disease; however, medications generally do not help the belching symptoms. Dietary treatment may improve the symptom.

Just reassuring people that belching is a benign condition often helps with the anxiety that can accompany the belching. Anxiety itself can make people swallow more air, so sometimes people get stuck in a vicious cycle. on