Living with Herpes
While many people feel like their life has ended when they learn they have herpes, the truth is that living with herpes is not as difficult as many people think. Herpes is a chronic disease and like many other chronic diseases, can be managed in such a way that the infected person can gain control of the disease and lead a normal life.
One of the more positive things about herpes is that as you get older the outbreaks of the virus are less frequent. One of best ways of living with herpes is to develop a positive attitude. First, learn all you can about the virus and the ways it is transmitted, and then look at what you can do to manage each stage of the condition.
There is pretty much general agreement among those who have herpes and who research herpes that stress is the number one trigger of active herpes outbreaks. Stress can, in fact, cause a weakened immune system, making you susceptible to many different types of viral infections. While many people feel at a loss about controlling the stress in their lives, there are many things that can be done. If you are having problems dealing with stress, visiting a psychologist to help you figure out methods of dealing with it is a good thing to do.
Often people with herpes suffer from social stigmas as well, such as feeling they are bad or dirty or that they will be labeled as promiscuous. Since one in every four people in the U.S. has herpes, you are not alone and since the virus can be easily passed by people who show no symptoms, the possibility of getting herpes in a monogamous relationship are just as likely as in any other.
Living with herpes means getting as good a control as you can of the disease with proper medication. The drugs Acyclovir, Valtrex, and Famvir are the most prescribed antiviral medications for herpes. They can help sores to heal quicker and recent tests have even shown that they can prevent the spreading of the virus to your partner. Ask your medical practitioner about topical antivirals as well.
Changes in diet and exercise can help in living with herpes as well as learning to practice safe sex. The herpes virus cannot penetrate a latex condom so use of condoms is advisable. You should abstain from sexual intercourse when sores are present. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet light, such as sunlight, has been shown to be a trigger for outbreaks. Getting the proper amount of vitamins and minerals is also important, and some people have found supplements to be helpful. It is also essential to avoid fatigue.
When you have visible sores, herpes is extremely contagious and there are some commonsense procedures to use to prevent transferring the virus to someone else. These involve keeping the areas clean and dry, washing your hands immediately after any contact with the blisters, and immediately laundering any wash cloths or towels or have used.