Cold sores, which are also known as fever blisters, are a common and often troublesome condition caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) that always seems to make an appearance at the worst times. Characterized by painful, fluid-filled blisters around the lips and mouth, cold sores can be both physically and emotionally distressing. Fortunately, there […]
Vitamin C and Cold Sores: How It Can Help and Why You Need It Read More »
So many people can relate to the sheer frustration of having a nasty cold sore erupt on your lip at a time when you want it the least. To be honest, cold sores are not wanted ANYTIME, but why do they seem to show up when you’re the most stressed? Talk about bad timing. The
Stress and Herpes: The Virus with the Worst Timing Read More »
Stress is a normal part of our lives, and our bodies are made to handle these stressors through a tightly regulated hormonal system. Hormones that are involved in stress include adrenaline, epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol, to name a few. We rely on these hormones to protect us against the impact of physical and emotional stressors,
Stress and Vaginal Infections: What’s the Link? Read More »
If you’ve been looking into natural cold sores and herpes remedies, you may have come across Lysine as a common recommendation for preventing new outbreaks. It has been around for quite some time, so let us have a look at why it’s been such a widespread recommendation, and whether it’s as promising as it seems.
Lysine for Cold Sores: Theory & Evidence Read More »
We all have struggled with negative self-talk at some point or another–you know that little voice inside your head that can’t stop ruminating over mistakes, talking you down, or criticizing your work, appearance, and personality. Our negative self-dialogue can impact our confidence, self-esteem, and emotions. All of these factors as well as our ability to
How Negative Self-Talk Can Impact Your Health and How to Cool Your Inner Critic Read More »
So many people can relate to the sheer frustration of having a nasty cold sore erupt on your lip at a time when you want it the least. To be honest, cold sores are not wanted ANYTIME, but why do they seem to show up when you’re the most stressed? Talk about bad timing. Stress
Stress and Cold Sores: The virus with bad timing Read More »
Shame is the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed, and therefore unworthy of love and belonging (Brene Brown, 2012). We all have known and have experienced the discomforting wash of shame at some point in our lives. Under our shame often lies our rooted beliefs and experiences that tell us
Letting Go: The Shame of HPV Read More »
Disparities between race and disease continue to exist in many areas of the health field, including with HPV and cervical cancer. Black women are found to be significantly more at risk for contracting HPV and having more persistent infections that can lead to cervical cancer, compared to white women. It is estimated that: Black women
Why Are Rates of HPV and Cervical Cancer Higher In Black Women? Read More »
Viruses are not living organisms but small proteins of DNA or RNA. Viruses enter a host through contact with ocular, mucosal, or nasal cells, integrating their genetic material into cells. Each virus subtype has a unique way of gaining access to a host and proliferating its genes into human cells. Some viruses act quickly and
Common Viral Infections – from Herpes to HPV to COVID-19 Read More »
We each experience different forms of stress in our lives. Stress can range from acute time-limited stressors, like public speaking, to brief life stressors, like academic examinations. Stress can also be more chronic, due to loss of a job, a relationship, or debilitating illness. How stress impacts the immune response differs depending on the type
How Stress Compromises Your Immune System Read More »
