A 2006 MySQL server has gone away issue

[trafficzombie]

Hi guys

I have installed my first Zen Cart and have gone to checkout to test the PayPal module

when I checkout on the PayPal button it states the following:

2006 MySQL server has gone away
in:
[SELECT count(*) as count FROM subscribers WHERE email_address = 'shows my e-mail address here']
2006 MySQL server has gone away
in:
[select count(*) as total from sessions where sesskey = '13aecb045cbcb19714c3c24720e0aa0c']



any help please?
thanks

[kobra]

Talk to your host about php/mysql stay alive timings