Shingles is a condition caused by the chicken pox virus. Once you have chicken pox the virus is in your system. For some people, when their body gets stressed or compromised, the virus comes out, travels down a nerve and causes a very painful rash. If it is caught early it can be treated with medication to shorten the course. About 1 million people a year get shingles and 900,000 of those seek treatment for it. It is seven times more common in people over 65.