Causes Of Cold Sores - Why You Get A Cold Sore
Want to know the primary causes of cold sores? Read this quick article. You will uncover the top three sources and you will likely learn what the causes of cold sores are in your life.
There are many causes of cold sores that you hear about. Stress, illness, injury and winter weather are a few. They are not the actual causes of cold sores however.
Think of these as cold sore triggers. They are not causes of cold sores but will bring one about - as explained in a minute.
These triggers cause your body to change and be less resistant to the cold sore virus.
The herpes simplex virus (type one or type two) is responsible for every cold sore, fever blister or oral herpes outbreak. It hides dormant in the roots of your nerves.
If the herpes virus activates it moves to the surface quickly. It then infects the nerve cells and begins replicating - destroying those cells in the process.
The herpes simplex virus can tell when there is any change in your body because it makes its home in your nerves. It will quickly sense the effects of the above mentioned triggers.
Here are the three main conditions of your body that will help activate the otherwise dormant cold sore virus. These are the basic causes of cold sores.
1. ACID pH.
The acid or alkaline state of your body is its pH balance. The pH scale runs from 1 through 14 - below 7 is acid and above 7 is alkaline. Your optimal pH is 7.35, which is slightly alkaline.
As long as you stay above 7 pH, you will not likely get a cold sore. When your pH dips into the acid range - below 7 - your tissue oxygen levels drop and you are ripe for a cold sore outbreak. This is what causes cold sores in most people.
Stress creates hormone changes that lower your pH balance. By doing this, stress causes cold sores. Colds, flu and frigid weather stress the body - also lowering pH. These are claimed to be causes of cold sores.
Coffee, soda and alcohol lower pH and causes cold sores in many people. Meats like pork and beef will do so also. Most vegetables are alkaline when digested. You must keep your diet in balance to prevent a cold sore event.
Without a doubt, a low pH is the main cause of cold sores. The next two are also causes of cold sores. Combining these with a low pH makes you a sure target for another cold sore.
2. IMBALANCE OF LYSINE AND ARGININE.
Arginine is the main protein building block for the herpes simplex virus. If arginine is not available, your cells cannot create new herpes virus - and no cold sore will occur. This is true even if you have an acid pH balance.
Your cells have a special area within the cell to store arginine. Lysine is also stored in the same area. If you take in high levels of lysine, your cells will make room for it by getting rid of some arginine.
Your cells cannot use lysine to create new herpes virus or cause cold sores. The more arginine you replace with lysine, the fewer cold sore outbreaks you will experience.
Taking lysine supplements is the most common way folks get enough lysine to prevent cold sores.
3. VITAMINS AND MINERALS.
The spark plugs of life are the vitamins and minerals you consume each day. Your immunity to disease critically depends on these nutrients.
A feeble immune system causes cold sores. It would be wise, especially if you get frequent cold sore outbreaks, to get a good supply of vitamins and minerals from food and supplement every day.
There are only about half the nutrients in today’s food as there was in 1950. For optimum health, be sure to take a high quality multivitamin daily along with a good balanced diet.
Calcium is very high importance in cold sore avoidance. It is the main mineral used by your body to keep your body alkaline. Cold sore victims should take large doses of calcium.
Now you know the truth. The primary causes of cold sores are a low pH balance, large amounts of stored arginine and a poor immune system with weak antibodies.
Stress, mental or physical, causes your body to go into an acid state. Stress also uses up a lot of vitamins and minerals, which weakens your immune system.
There is more you should know but hopefully, this article has helped you discover, and eliminate, the main causes of cold sores in your life.
