Whatever the reason you are reading this, the more cold sores information you have, the less threatening they will be.
In this article, I will give you the latest info about cold sore attacks that you can use. You will discover, in a minute, practical and fresh info about cold sores that you will not find anywhere else.
Cold sores are not new. Yes, they certainly are an epidemic of global proportions today. But, according to history, cold sore outbreaks were epidemic even 2000 years ago. Over 59% of the world population today will get a cold sore in the next 24 months. Most will have multiple cold sores during that time.
How many do you get per year? The average is three to four outbreaks per 12-month period.
The root cause of a cold sore outbreak is an active herpes simplex virus. There are two types of this virus that are known to cause cold sores. Herpes simplex type 1 causes 79% of the facial sores. Type 2 herpes is the cause of the other 21%.
A sore created by either type of herpes is identical in look, feel, and duration time. There is six other herpes simplex viruses that cause diseases such as mono, chicken pox, and shingles.
No info about cold sore events should be presented without mention of how easy it is for spreading cold sore virus. Simply put, cold sores are EXTREMELY AND DANGEROUSLY CONTAGIOUS. Your cold sore virus, when active, can be spread to others by touch, or by commonly used objects, such as faucets.
You can also easily spread it to other areas of your own body. The most feared is infecting your eye. Such an event can cause permanent loss of vision. Usual cause of spreading cold sore virus to the eyes is contaminated fingers.
The herpes simplex virus is sub-microscopic. Tiny indeed. Similar size viruses are head cold and flu viruses. When you have a head cold or flu, your mouth and nasal fluids contain these viruses.
Same is true with active cold sores. When you sneeze or cough, these viruses can become airborne in droplets of moisture and infect people near you.
Fortunately, cold sores will generally stay in the same area as the initial infection site. They have not, as yet, been known to spread internally. A close cousin, chicken pox, does spread internally and creates sores all over the body. Fortunately, one bout with chicken pox is all you will likely have in a lifetime.
This is not so with cold sores.
Your cold sore attacks can reoccur many times over your lifetime. With each cold sore event, your body creates additional anti-bodies to protect you. However, the cold sore virus is extremely good at hiding and survival. Because of this, the herpes simplex virus will likely be with you for life.
Only recently have scientists discovered why.
The herpes simplex virus will hide in your nerve cells in the nerve ganglia near your ear - for facial cold sores. Not only does this virus hide in the nerve cell, it actually takes control of it. Each of your cells is programmed to die and be reborn. The cold sore virus interferes with this process and will not let the cell die.
In addition, the virus will hibernate in such a way that it gives off little or no signs of life that could be tracked by our body defenses. Over the centuries, it truly has adapted for survival.
The open, weeping cold sore occurs when the herpes virus replicates. The virus senses when your immunity is down or distracted. It then becomes active and quickly moves to the surface through the nerve fibers. Once at the surface, each virus enters a nerve cell. It then forces the cell to create clones of itself.
When the cell is full, the original virus kills the cell to release the new viruses. These new viruses are complete and full size, identical to the original virus.
You have now learned that the root cause of cold sores is the replication process of the herpes simplex virus. You have also discovered that this virus is a master at hiding. It hides undetected from our own body defenses and all the medications invented so far.
And finally, you now know that cold sore virus is not just an inconvenience but is dangerously contagious. The ease of spreading cold sore virus is why it is an epidemic today.
I hope this helps in your search for info about cold sore.
The most desirable of all cold sore stages, if there is such a thing, is the latent stage. The herpes virus is asleep and hiding in the nerve ganglia. There are no symptoms and no problems. Nearly a third of all who are infected with these herpes simplex viruses will never experience the active cold sore stages mentioned next. A blood test would be the only way of knowing if they carry this virus, or its anti-bodies. For the rest of us, read on.
THE 5 ACTIVE COLD SORE STAGES YOU SHOULD AVOID:
1. PRODROME - During this beginning stage of a cold sore, the herpes virus senses the conditions are right for successful replication. It will then wake up and move to the surface of your face through the fibers of the nerve it originally picked as home. You can actually feel the virus movement as a tingling, itching sensation. Some report a burning or dryness. The next stage will occur anywhere between 2 hours and 2 days. You can delay, or even prevent, the virus from replicating by applying a good treatment at this stage. My suggestion is to get ice on the target area as soon as you feel these warning symptoms.
2. INFLAMMATION and PRE-SORE - During this stage of a cold sore, the virus particles enter the nerve cells. The irritation causes swelling and redness. The sore vesicles appear. These are small pimple-like red blisters that break out individually or in groups. They are quite painful to the touch. Additional symptoms that first appear at this stage are headaches, fever and swollen glands.
3. OPEN SORE - At this stage of a cold sore, the vesicles break open and merge into a single, big, open ulcer. This is probably the most painful stage. It definitely is the most contagious stage as a clear fluid weeps from the sore. This thick fluid is absolutely teeming with new virus that can easily infect another area of your own body, or someone else. Do not touch the sore with your fingers - use an alcohol soaked tissue. And do not kiss anyone, anywhere.
4. CRUST AND SCAB - At this cold sore stage, a yellowish crust or scab will form over the open wound. Still very painful at this stage, it is even more painful when you move your mouth and the scab cracks. Also, highly contagious fluid will weep out each time. As new skin forms under the crust, itching, pain and much discomfort will continue. The scab may fall off and re-form one or more times during this healing period. The herpes virus is now retreating back into hiding until the next opportune moment.
5. POST SCAB AND FINAL HEALING - At this cold sore stage your scab is gone and the new skin is visible. Under the new skin, however, healing continues as the millions of destroyed cells are replaced. There usually is redness in the area until this healing is complete. This could take from 2 to 15 days, depending on your healing speed and any concurrent stress situations. The waiting makes this the most frustrating stage.
These stages and symptoms occur over a period of about three to four weeks, depending on your current health level, stress, and the care you apply. They are not pleasant and can be dangerous if caution is not taken. Careful personal hygiene and maintaining a high level of social responsibility will greatly reduce the risk and effects of each of the cold sore stages.
Better yet, use a proven natural home remedy to prevent cold sores from happening. It is quite easy with what we know today and you can avoid the risk and discomfort of these cold sore stages.
Denny Bodoh has sinced written about articles on various topics from Herpes Cure, Yoga and Health. Denny Bodoh is a 35-year newspaper veteran and dedicated natural health research writer. Get a lot more and some amazing Cold S. Denny Bodoh's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.