Lifestyles and Outbreaks

Some people choose to treat herpes through preventive self-management, either instead of or as an adjunct to medication. The ways in which you choose to manage herpes are an individual choice that should be discussed with your healthcare practitioner. However, no matter which type of herpes you have, HSV-1 or HSV-2, and regardless of where on your body outbreaks occur, you can usually help to reduce outbreak frequency with lifestyle choices.

Some of the common triggers for herpes outbreaks include: illness, lack of sleep, poor diet, sudden lifestyle changes, strenuous exercise, excessive sunlight, menstruation, vigorous intercourse and emotional or physical stress. In addition, certain medications, supplements and dietary choices can increase the frequency of outbreaks.

Your specific triggers may be a combination of any of the above factors, or they may include things that are not listed. The most important step in preventive treatment of outbreaks is knowing what your individual trigger factors are so that you can take the necessary corrective action.

Herpes is a virus that lies dormant in the spine. When activated, it travels to a set of nerve endings, which are the site of outbreaks. When the body experiences some sort of stress, either patterned or atypical, emotional or physical, it reduces the body's natural ability to supress the virus. This enables it to travel more freely between the spine and the nerve endings. Eliminating some or all of these stresses can reduce the frequency of your outbreaks. The secret to controlling outbreaks in this manner lies in taking proper care of your body and responding to its needs. This strategy can be especially successful if you have a normally healthy immune system.

Taking notes can be an excellent way to figure out your potential trigger factors. Keep a calendar and mark the onset and duration of your outbreaks on it. Also make note of any out-of-the-ordinary events or specific routines going on in your life around that time. Did you take a vacation? Did you get sunburned? Were you working longer hours than usual? Did you start menstruating? Were you recently ill? Did you recently move? Did you have a new sexual partner? Were you too busy to eat well? Were you too busy to relax? Were you taking a new prescription drug or new vitamins/herbal supplements? Did you drink more alcohol than usual? Did you drink less water? Did you drink more caffeine? Did you get poor sleep?