Our lifestyles can have a big impact on our health and when it comes to cold sores, they are no exception. While many cold sore treatments focus on getting rid of the cold sores when an attack occurs, a better long-term strategy is to evaluate your lifestyle, preventing cold sores from occurring with such regularity. A weakened immune system is the most important factor in frequency and severity of attacks and it therefore makes sense to take steps that ensure it is well looked after. When considering the immune system there are several areas in which we can take action, which are outlined below:



Diet

One of the ironies of the modern diet is that many foodstuffs contain chemicals and other compounds that in fact are not good for us at all. These are introduced to the food chain in the form of pesticides, growth hormones fed to animals, preservatives to improve shelf life, or fat and sugars to add flavor. In other words, many foods in our diet, particularly if they are pre-made, contain toxins that are not good for our health and add additional strain to the immune system.

You've heard this advice before then; eat well, plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meat and fish, avoid too much red meat or processed foods with additives. Also ensure that you have adequate water, which can help flush toxins from our bodies.

Exercise

Regular exercise helps our cardio-vascular system, tones muscles, helps detoxification, and provides stress relief. Find an exercise that suits you, such as walking for 30 minutes per day, but cycling or swimming are excellent forms of exercise too. If you're feeling slightly more energetic then also consider aerobics classes, jogging, yoga, martial arts, dancing, gymnastics, aerobics, stretching or weight lifting, but if you haven't exercised regularly for some time you should first see a medical practitioner to give you the all clear.

However, too much exercise, particularly if you are new to an active lifestyle, can also place a strain on your immune system, which can lead to susceptibility to infections, including cold sore attacks.

Stress

Stress is another important factor influencing the immune system. By reducing levels of stress, particularly over prolonged periods of time, we can improve the function of the immune system. While stressful situations are not always within our control, it is important to evaluate how we react to stress and take measures to provide an outlet to blow off steam.

While exercise can certainly help, a good relationship with friends and family, and talking to your partner all help. If you are feeling under constant pressure from your job, consider changing it and if in a damaging relationship, end it.

From the points above you can see that looking after our immune systems isn't down to luck; if you are frequently suffering from cold sores you can take control of your body by making some adjustments to your lifestyle, preventing cold sores from occurring, but also feeling healthier and more relaxed overall.