Do you get cold sores?

[Duer 157099]

Poll question: Do you get cold sores?

I read a statistic that said 60% of the population gets cold sores, which means they are infected with herpes simplex 1 virus. I wonder if this is true.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Actually, I heard that it can be 1 or 2.

[Sherman A1]

2. I believe you are correct

I am not certain, but that is how I understand it to be.

[virgogal]

3. I got cold sores for years until I disovered lysine.

[Duer 157099]

6. So it was you! YOU discovered lysine!!

Congradulations! (they really should give you a reward you know)

(hee hee)

But seriously, what does lysine do in this regard, and how much/how often do you take it?

[virgogal]

10. Yep,great scientist that I am. :-). I take one 1000 mg per day and

have been doing it for over 25 years.It was hard to find when I started taking it but now it's everyplace.

No side effects,no cold sores.I had been plagued with the nasty things for years.

I suggested it to two other people and they had the same results.

Oddly enough,I first heard of it in Parade Magazine.My dosage is my own doing,so less mgs. may do for someone else.

[Duer 157099]

14. Well I've been reading about a connection between HSV1 and Alzheimer's

so I wonder if lysine would be good as a preventative measure against AD? Some scientists are suggesting that people with a genetic factor that is a risk factor for AD (ApoE E4) and who are also infected with HSV1 are at even greater increased risk of AD.

[virgogal]

18. I haven't a clue about it's effectiveness against Alzheimer's but

it would be great if something helped with that dreaded disease.

I always have the virus,though,the Lysine just helps with the outbreaks.

So far,so good for me on the A.D. though, and I'm pretty old.

[Duer 157099]

19. What if that's what prevented you from getting AD?

How cool would that be? It's possible, you never know! :thumbsup:

[virgogal]

20. You never do know but I like to think it is my cigarettes. :-)

[Duer 157099]

23. That's true, nicotine is good for AD too

Check this out, someone actually has this hypothesis already:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2987503/?tool=pubmed

Could lysine supplementation prevent Alzheimer’s dementia? A novel hypothesis

Abstract

There is a growing body of evidence that implicates the herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV-1) in the development of Alzheimer’s dementia (AD). HSV-1 has been found to be present in the cerebrum of the great majority of older adults, and in many of the same areas of the brain that are affected by AD. When active, the virus may contribute to the formation of the neuro-fibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques characteristic of AD. Like AD, HSV-1 encephalitis may cause long term memory loss. HSV-1 replication is suppressed in lysine-rich/arginine – poor environments, and population studies suggest that diets high in lysine and low in arginine may be associated with lower rates of AD. There are no prospective studies of the efficacy of lysine supplementation to prevent or reduce the incidence of AD. Supplementation with adequate doses of lysine could prevent the development of AD.

[virgogal]

28. That article is marvelous, a real keeper for me. Thank you so much.

Now I'm even happier about my lysine intake----it was just a cold sore preventative for me but the Alzheimer's facts are a revelation.

I've bookmarked it and will refer it to other people my age,and younger.

As the article says,it is inexpensive,and with my 25 year history with it there doesn't seem to be any harm done.

I have slowed down but I'm basically very healthy.

[FLyellowdog]

16. When you feel a cold sore starting

take three lysine tablets a day for three days and it will usually stop the outbreak. (1000mg tablets)

[virgogal]

17. Good advice.

[Honeycombe8]

26. Campho-phenique. I've never had a cold sore, but a few times I thought I might be getting one...

A few times I got a sore-like spot on my lip, like maybe I'd be getting a cold sore. I wasn't sure what it was. But every time I put campho-phenique on the area, and overnight the sore area went away. That area burned a bit when I put the campho-phenique on it.

[boppers]

32. FWIW, the Lysine thing probably has other factors involved.

In controlled tests, lysine has no significant effects. In uncontrolled tests (i.e., the real world), many people swear by it.... so there's likely some other interaction going on that is getting "controlled" out somehow.

[katanalori]

4. product my friends swear by.........

I do NOT get cold sores, but I have friends who use cold sores begone and love it.

http://www.coldsoresbegone.com/

[RobinL]

29. I use Cold Sores Begone too

.... and swear by it. When you apply it when your lip first tingles, it somehow aborts the infection and the sore doesn't emerge. It's topical, and for me, I apply it once and the tingle stops. I get it online also but have seen it at Whole Foods Market.

[slackmaster]

5. I got one once, recently, after being exposed to a person known to yave HS type 2

It was small and went away in about four days.

Statistically, the probability that I had never been exposed to HS 2 before was vanishingly small, assuming that about 1 in 5 or 1 in 4 adult women are carriers (and most don't know it.) About 16 partners is sufficient to achieve a 99% probability of exposure.

I am probably carrying it but don't have outbreaks.

[Duer 157099]

8. When you say "exposed to"

is that a euphemism?

How easily does it spread? I've read that it requires skin-on-skin contact, but is this so? Can the virus shed onto a surface and then be picked up by someone?

[slackmaster]

27. Direct contact of vaginal fluid and saliva from an infected person with unprotected skin

is that a euphemism?

No.

How easily does it spread?

Good question. Check this blog out. It's a bit unconventional but has some good information.

http://blogs.webmd.com/genital-herpes-intimate-conversations/2006/12/who-should-be-tested-for-herpes.html

[BlueIris]

7. I read a statistic that claimed 95% of all adults have HSV 1.

I also read somewhere that because of the allegedly high rate of infection in the population, those who somehow test negative may have a natural immunity.

I don't get cold sores. Don't envy those who do (seems unpleasant.)

[KathieG]

9. I know it's a high percentage. Many people just carry it but don't have outbreaks.

[Odin2005]

21. I must be one of those immune people.

[quinnox]

11. only once in my life

but shouldn't this be lounge topic.

[Duer 157099]

15. I can never tell the difference between Lounge and GD topics

I figure if the mods need it elsewhere, they're not shy about moving 'em.

[bigwillq]

12. I don't believe I've ever gotten one (nt)

[tularetom]

13. I remember getting them as a kid

But I don't think I've ever had one in my adult life.

[Odin2005]

22. Nope, never have.

[kestrel91316]

24. I DID. But since I started taking l-lysine daily in 2004, I rarely get them, and when

I do they are TINY and don't last long. And since then, I rarely get canker sores anymore either.

L-lysine interferes with herpesvirus replication by blocking uptake of arginine, another amino acid, which is essential to herpesvirus replication. Very cool and sneaky way of fighting the damned thing.

Doesn't cure it, but it's the next best thing. And I recommend it for my feline patients with feline herpesvirus infection - helps them a lot, too.

[patricia92243]

25. Is a cold sore and a fever blister the same thing???

[stuntcat]

31. I think so

pretty sure.

[stuntcat]

30. used to but not any more.

For years I got them once in a while, but now it's been years since I had one. I'm assuming it stopped when I stopped eating meat :D :headbang:

[jberryhill]

33. Triggered by stress and/or sunlight

Abreva is IMHO fantastic.

[applegrove]

34. I get acne around my mouth at times that some have compared to a cold sore but it isn't.

[Quixote1818]

35. Haven't had one in years and have only had two or three in my whole life. nt

[Codeine]

36. No, but I get canker sores like a motherfucker.

Bad ones, in batches of four or five at a time. They're bad enough I've gone a few days without eating before.

[IcyPeas]

37. coldsores+herpes+...

chickenpox+shingles are the "Herpes group of viruses+ and are all in a way related. I stay out of the sun as much as possible or always put on a lip balm with spf 15. This has worked so far but the virus can "go to sleep" and then recur.

this is a good article about cold sores and related herpes viruses:

http://www.dentist.net/coldsores.asp

[SheilaT]

38. Oddly enough, a real good cure for

cold sores which is no longer available, is a smallpox vaccination. For reasons not fully understood, getting a smallpox vaccination about every six months would stop cold sores dead in their tracks for those who were prone to them.

Me? I never get cold sores.