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 will lower your body’s resistance to cold sore attacks.
The herpes simplex virus brings about any cold sore, fever blister or oral herpes event. Normally this virus hides deep in the root cells of your facial nerves.
Under the right conditions, the herpes virus becomes active, moving to the surface. There it enters the nerve cells – destroying them as it creates new virus.
Since the herpes virus lives in the nervous system, it can sense the slightest changes in your body caused by the cold sore triggers mentioned above.
Here are the top three causes of cold sores. These conditions of your body will encourage cold sore virus activity.
1. LOW 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.
You usually will not get any cold sore as long as you stay above 7 pH. If your pH drops below 7 you are becoming acid. Oxygen in your cells drop and you are inviting a cold sore outbreak. This is one of the main causes of cold sores.
Stress lowers your pH levels toward the acid side. This is why they say stress causes cold sores. Fevers, cold weather and sun exposure also can cause your body to become acid – and are also considered 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. LYSINE AND ARGININE OUT OF BALANCE.
It is the creation of new herpes virus that causes cold sores. Arginine is the protein needed to create this new virus. Without arginine, a cold sore cannot occur – even if your body is very acid.
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. VITAMIN AND MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS.
The power of your immune system – and the strength of your antibodies – is dependant on the nutrients you take in. In particular you need proper quantities of minerals and vitamins.
A weak immune system causes cold sores. Getting high levels of vitamins and minerals from both diet and supplements is the wise choice in preventing oral herpes cold sore outbreaks.
Today we do not get enough vitamins and minerals from food alone. Even the American Medical Association agrees. If you are serious about avoiding cold sore outbreaks, take the highest quality multi-vitamin you can find.
Look for high amounts of calcium. Calcium is the one key mineral in keeping your body in an alkaline condition.
As you have discovered in this article, the main causes of cold sores are an acid pH, high levels of arginine in your cells and a weak immune system.
When you experience any stress, your body will tend toward the acid side. It also makes your immune system much weaker by consuming massive amounts of critical vitamins and minerals.
There may be many cold sore triggers, and much more you can do, but without a doubt these are the main causes of cold sores in most people.