Tinnitus Seniors Health

Watch out for the destructive cold sores herpes virus. It is a type of the herpes simplex virus. The herpes simplex virus type 1 causes most cold sores. About 20% of cold sores are caused by the type 2 version. Both types create identical cold sore events.

The cold sores herpes virus, although a very small living spec, certainly produces huge damage in a hurry. It hides in your nerve cells close to the area of initial infection. When in hibernation, it shuts down nearly completely, thus it leaves no detectable sign of its location.

One big reason that the cold sores herpes virus has been able to survive for over 23 centuries is its ability to hide invisibly not only from medical attempts to kill it, but even from our own body defenses.

Living in your nerve system, the cold sores herpes virus has an early warning system. When it senses a drop in your body defenses, it will start to move to the surface along the nerve fiber it calls home. It is this travel that you will sense a burning or itching sensation in the cold sore area.

The sole purpose for this virus to become active is to create new virus copies of itself. The only way it can do this is by taking over your nerve cells and turning them into cold sores herpes virus factories.

When the cell cannot create any more virus, the controlling virus then destroys the cell, releasing all the new clones. All these destroyed cells, close together, causes the cold sore ulcer that you see. Your defense system, in an effort to cleanse the area, creates a clear fluid to carry these new virus away.

The fluid is teaming with new virus and thus very contagious. You must use caution as this is the most common time to spread the virus to new areas of your body - or to a friend or loved one. Sanitize the wound with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol continuously. Try to avoid touching with bare fingers.

The cold sores herpes virus is quite destructive, but luckily the damage is limited to the surface. If not, it would definitely be a deadly disease.

You may have heard of the direct connection between stress and cold sores - and rightly so.

Stress can cause a change in your health by affecting your immune system, hormones and acid/alkaline balance. If you are getting frequent cold sores, you are at high risk for other diseases. Quite likely, improving your nutritional intake alone could be all you need to do to prevent these cold sores.

Many folks have reduced the effects of stress by merely taking a good vitamin supplement program. Some other nutritional improvements to reduce stress and prevent cold sores could be increasing your intake of organic fresh vegetables. Also, eating high lysine foods, or taking a lysine supplement, will help you greatly.

There are many tips, tricks and tactics for treating cold sores that will help you that you should explore. I would like to give you one right now that has been very effective for the people I work with.

One of the easiest ways to discourage the cold sores herpes virus is applying ice prior to the actual outbreak. This disrupts the replication process, often stalling or preventing the cold sore. Once the cold sore breaks out, however, then the application of warmth will help speed healing.

The best course is to avoid getting this virus. If you are already infected and suffer from outbreaks, you will be happy to learn that you do not have to any longer. With a little research you will find there are many proven ways to easily defeat the cold sores herpes virus.