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Do you have a cold sore today? Would you know if you did? The cold sore, sometimes referred to as a fever blister, is a small but painful blister that occurs on the face — usually in the region of the mouth, lips, and nose.
When a cold sore first appears, it is a small pimple-like skin infection. It gradually develops into bigger blister-like sore, filled with fluid and very painful.
When the blister ruptures, the appearance of the cold sore becomes more yellow and dry — like a crusted-over lession. Cold sores tend to appear in conjunction with fever or colds. They can be spread from one person to another by means of direct skin-to-skin contact.
Cold sores tend to accompany the ordinary cold, and other communicable diseases. These are the sort of infections that give you a fever. Another warning sign associated with the cold sore is swollen lymph nodes of the neck. Many viruses trigger the cold sore virus to re-awaken from its hiding places deep in your body.
Cold sores can last anywhere from one week to several weeks, depending on the other infections inside your body. The cause of the cold sore is the herpes simplex virus, the same virus that causes genital herpes, and shingles or zoster. This virus is highly contagious and is dangerous in small children.
Here are a few tips on fighting a painful cold sore:
1. Get plenty of rest. Your body requires time to fight the infections. If you don’t, your cold sore could get worse and become a more serious infection.
2. Maintain a proper diet. Drink plenty of orange juice and eat fresh vegetables. Fresh orange juice and vegetables and are rich in vitamin C, which helps strengthen your body’s immune system. Soup is good if your cold sore is making it hard for you to eat. You need plenty of food for your body to combat the infection. Soup is easier to eat and ingest than other kinds of foods, so it helps you get the nutrition you need.
3. Eat garlic. Were you conscious that garlic is an excellent antibiotic? It enhances your body’s immune system, thus protecting you from dreadful viruses and bacteria. You can add crushed garlic to tea or soup, but be aware that raw garlic is more effective than cooked garlic. If the smell of garlic worries you, you can try taking garlic tablets, available at your local drugstore.
4. Make a drink from honey, ginger, and lemon juice. These are well known sources of the phytochemicals that make up vitamin C and antioxidants. The positive effects of these on the immune system is well recorded.
5. Take echinacea. It is somewhat effective in managing cold sores. It is very popular for this as it eliminates the negative effects that the cold sore has on your body. It is also helpful in treating colds, strep throat, and even cuts and wounds.
6. Always wear clothing fitting to the weather. While cold weather can’t give you a cold, it can weaken your immune system, making you susceptible to viruses you come across.
7. Stay away from sweets. Foods like chocolate, cake, and candy can cause coughing. Drug use, coffee, and smoking are also known to damage the immune system.
As soon as you notice that you have a cold sore, urgently take steps (like the ones mentioned here) to get rid of it. Don’t wait for it to become worse. And keep in mind that a healthy body is not just dependant on the foods you eat — you must also get rid of unhealthy vices and get plenty of exercise.
Tagged with: colds remedy • colds treatment
Filed under: Solve Problems