What You Need to Know About HIV

By: James Daugherty

HIV is an abbreviation for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or AIDS as it is generally called, is the result of this virus. When a person has AIDS, the immune system gradually break downs. The patient then becomes highly susceptible to infections and illnesses, which could even, be fatal. History dates its origin to June 5th 1981 in Los Angeles where the virus was found in five homosexual men. It was then called GRID or Gay-Related Immune Deficiency because people thought it only affected homosexual people. This theory was soon blown to pieces when cases were reported from all over. Today, AIDS has reached epidemic proportions. It has plagued most countries around the world and is considered a highly dangerous disease.

To gain a better understanding of HIV, we must first explore how it is transmitted.

a. HIV is a sexually transmitted disease. What does this mean? The mucous membrane lines different parts of the body such as the lips, genital areas, nostrils etc. When the mucous membrane comes in contact with sexual secretions of an infected HIV patient, the virus transfers from one to another. This is why the main cause for the spread of AIDS is unprotected sexual intercourse.

b. HIV is also transmitted through infected blood. Therefore, one has to take extreme precaution when undergoing blood transfusions. It is always advisable to go to a reputed hospital or clinic where infected syringes are not used. Intravenous drug users and hemophiliacs are at high risk to get HIV.

c. HIV can be transmitted from a mother to a child either in the womb, during childbirth or duing breast-feeding. The chances of this happening have been reduced with drugs and other procedures.

Some of the early symptoms include sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis, pharyngitis, weight loss, dry cough, unexplained fatigue, unusual blemishes on the tongue, herpes zoster and oral ulcerations. During the more advanced stages patients may have chronic diarrhea, continuous fever, extreme weight loss, oral hairy leukoplakia and candidiasis and pulmonary tuberculosis.

It is extremely important for people to be tested for HIV. In some communities, partners are required to take the HIV test prior to marriage. This is because it not only affects the infected individual but also can spread to the spouse and the unborn child. It is difficult telling someone you love that you have AIDS. However, is very vital for their health and safety.

Doctors, nurses and Medicare professionals are also exposed to this virus as they deal with syringes and needles on a daily basis. If you have AIDS and if you are looking for a doctor, then do some preliminary research on the doctor before you meet him or her. The doctor should be reliable and must be aware of the nuances of the field. You should choose a doctor who you are comfortable with.

James Daugherty reports about the latest HIV news on his blog.

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Breastfeeding : is it for everyone?

By: Jean Simmer

Breastfeeding is one of the most natural and healthy thing a new mother can do. Most of the times, breast milk is the ideal nutrient for newborn babies. There are rare cases where nursing a baby might not be the healthiest choice. A new mother should always check with her treating physician if breastfeeding is adequate for her newborn baby.

Some diseases may be transmitted to the baby by breast milk. In those rare cases, breastfeeding might increase the risk of the baby catching the disease. For instance, when a mother has AIDS (acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome) it is recommended she does not feed her baby as the HIV virus may be transmitted through the breast milk. Other serious diseases that can be transmitted to the nursing baby through breast milk are such as: syphilis, hepatitis B, herpes when there are lesions on the breast, etc

It is important to realize that a mother should review with her qualified physician all the necessary precautions she must take to insure that she does not transmit those diseases to her baby even if she does not breastfeed him. One has to realize that there are extra precautions to be taken by a woman who is HIV positive and taking care of a newborn baby to ensure he does not catch it.

There are numerous drugs that are passed through breast milk and can harm the baby. A woman nursing her baby should always ask if the medications she is taking can affect her baby and if she should take an alternative drug or stop breastfeeding altogether. Many women tend to forget to mention they are breastfeeding when consulting a doctor in a walk-in clinic. This is very important.

For example, sulfonamide drugs have the potential to displace bilirubin and should be avoided during the first week of life. Tetracycline can potentially cause tooth discoloration in nursing babies. Chloramphenicol is also not recommended for nursing mothers. There are numerous other drugs that should not be taken while breastfeeding such as chemotherapeutic agents or antithyroide agents.

Breastfeeding women should always check with her doctor and pharmacist to ensure that her situation does not prevent her from breastfeeding.

Certain rare conditions in a baby can be contraindications for breastfeeding. Such conditions can be inborn error of metabolism or failure to thrive or physical malformations that render breastfeeding almost impossible.

Overall, when there is no contraindication, breastfeeding is still the best nutrient for a newborn baby. Its composition is well adapted to the needs of the growing baby. It is economical and prevents many infections as it supplies valuable antibodies to the baby.

Breastfeeding is also the most economical and practical way to feed a newborn infant. Nursing a baby favors a great bonding between the mother and her baby.

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Open up the Conversation about Condom Use

By: Kate Miller

Today the modern generation is facing a severe problem of sexually transmitted diseases. It has become necessary for all to be aware of the diseases and to know the methods to prevent them from such incurable diseases. All of us know about condoms but how exact is our knowledge about condoms and its use one cannot say. It becomes very important to talk about condoms. The HIV Testing Day started a very good move towards imparting knowledge on HIV/AIDS and also giving information on safe sex and use of condoms. People gain a lot of knowledge through such programs.

Generally people feel shy to talk about the use of condoms as they know that they are going to be laughed at. People should not hesitate to talk about condoms and more than that the ones who know about the use of condoms should seriously talk about it so that nobody feels shy. Off course you can have a light joke about it but never let the person questioning feel embarrassed. When you talk about the use of condoms you are giving very important information to your friend and doing good work, as the listener will be protected in some way from the knowledge you impart. Moreover the way you reply will also encourage your other friends to open up and talk frankly about the condoms. There won’t be any taboos about condoms and the use of it.

Not talking about condom use could create problems. You should be frank with your partner to talk about condoms. It could be that your partner does not want to use the condom as he or she feels that it will lower the pleasure or could be that your partner especially the male partner feels offended. You can always open up and explain your reasons. After all it is a matter of life. Both the partners could be at a risk of getting the disease much talked about. None of you would like either of the partners to be infected with the disease. Condoms protect you from becoming parents and prevent you from the infectious disease HIV/AIDS therefore there is no harm in talking about the use of condoms with your partners too.

Parents too should open up and talk to their children about sex, use of condoms and sexually transmitted diseases. There are a number of teenagers who involve in unsafe sex. If they are made aware of the causes of the HIV/AIDS and STD and how the use of condoms can protect from getting the infection then the number of HIV victims will definitely fall down. Unless the awareness is not created the children will not know the facts and dangers of unprotected sex. So parents should make it a point to talk about the condom use which is necessary for them.

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Herbal Medicines For AIDS

By: Ricky Hussey

Hiv is the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which damages the immune system to the extent that it can no longer fight off infection. Most experts believe that HIV is responsible for Aids, but there is some evidence that not all people who contract HIV go on to have full-blown Aids (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Infection by the HIV is followed two to six weeks later by the development of antibodies to the virus. This process may be accompanied by one or more systemic illnesses. Symptoms include

heavy night sweats and fevers

lethargy, fatigue, and exhaustion

weight loss

diarrhea, thrush, and herpes infections

mouth ulcers and bleeding gums.

Complete recovery is the norm immediately after this illness, but thereafter the person will test positive for antibodies to HIV (they will be HIV positive) but otherwise appear healthy. Several years typically elapse between the acquisition of the virus and development of full-blown Aids.

Aids is generally believed to be caused by HIV. It is suggested that Aids may be an autoimmune disease (where the immune system turns against itself), but it is now clear that the immune system itself is attacked, especially the "helper" T-cells, so that the body cannot fight infection.

There is, at present, no known cure for the disease, which, once it develops, is usually fatal. However a wide range of "natural" therapies have been, be effective in treating symptoms of the disease, successfully slowing its progress in many case, and sometimes even reversing it.

Aids can appear in many forms, but around sufferers experience pneumonia (pneumocystis carinii) and a third Kaposi sarcoma, a form of skin cancer. Others suffer from a range of secondary infections as a result of their weakened immune system. Most suffer from fatigue and malaise, as well as stress and anxiety.

Treatment

The alternative treatment for Aids depends on individual symptoms, put is based on four main aims.

to inhibit the virus

to prevent and treat secondary infections

to boost the immune system

to treat the patient holistically.

Many patients benefit from a combination of several of the following approaches, with or without conventional medicine. Emotional support is essential since. Aids is a disease in which physical and mental integration is particularly necessary for good results in treatment.

Consult a qualified practitioner/therapist for:

Counseling And Hypnotherrapy These are valuable for helping to deal with stress and depression. The power of the mind over the body is particularly evident in Aids sufferers. Considerable research has shown that a positive state of mind toward the disease and survival has actually helped to raise the T-cell count in some patients and reduced their symptoms.

Visualization And Meditation These can be used to encourage the body to heal itself.

Traditional Chinese Medicine A variety of Chinese treatments has been found extremely effective, including chi kung and the use of Chinese herbs, particularly astragalus, which inhibits the spread of the virus. Chinese dietary therapy is based on the idea that foods are hot or cold, dry or lubricating (by nature, not literally). Those with skin problems are advised to avoid "hot" and spicy foods, while those with diarrhea, for example, should not eat cucumbers or dairy products, which are" cold."

Acupuncture This has been found to be beneficial.

Aromatherapy Oils to use for massage and in baths include tea tree (which is antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial), eucalyptus, lavender, juniper, myrrh, fennel, and sage. Oils can be taken by mouth, but only under the supervision of a therapist qualified in clinical or medical aromatherapy.

Herbal Medicine Remedies believed to be of value include golden seal and garlic. Golden seal contains berberine, another anti­bacterial, antiviral, and antifungal agent. It is particularly effective against diarrhea. Garlic increases "killer" T-cells.

Homeopathy

Some patients may find homeopathy beneficial.

Massage and Reflexology These can provide stress relief and relaxation. Lymphatic drainage massage ­which stimulates the flow of the lymph carrying waste products away from the blood - may also help.

Yoga, T'ai Chi, and Chi Kung These movement therapies are said to be beneficial.

Read out for home remedies. Check out pregnancy and homeopathic remedies

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The Cause of Aids

by: Padrone Desusid

AIDS is acquired immuno deficiency syndrome. It is a fatal disease caused by a rapidly mutate retrovirus which attacks the immune system and leaves the patient susceptible to infections, malignancies, and neurological disorders. It was first recognized as a disease in 1981. The virus was isolated in 1983 and was ultimately named the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). There are two forms of the HIV virus, HIV-1 and HIV-2. The majority of cases worldwide are caused by HIV-1.

It is transmitted primarily by exposure to contaminated body fluids, especially blood and semen. In 1999 an international team of genetic scientists reported that HIV-1 can be traced to a closely related strain of virus, called simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), that infects a subspecies of chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) in Africa. Chimpanzees are hunted for meat in this region, and it is believed the virus may have passed from the blood of chimpanzees into humans through superficial wounds, probably in the early 1930s.

In a process, HIV infects the CD4 cells of the body's immune system, cells that are necessary to activate B- lymphocytes and induce the production of antibodies. This is still imperfectly understood. The body fights back producing billions of lymphocytes daily to fight the billions of copies of the virus. The immune system is eventually plagued and the body is left vulnerable to opportunistic infections and malignancy.

Some people develop flu like symptoms shortly after infection, but many have no symptoms. It may be a few months or many years before serious symptoms develop in adults; symptoms usually develop within the first two years of life in infants infected in the womb or at birth. Before serious symptoms occur, an infected person may experience fever, weight loss, diarrhea, fatigue, skin rashes, shingles thrush, or memory problems. Infants may fail to develop normally.

The definition of AIDS has been refined, as more knowledge has become available. In general it refers to that period in the infection when the CD4 count goes below 200 from a normal count of 1,000 or when the characteristic opportunistic infections and cancers appear. The conditions associated with AIDS include malignancies such as Kaposi's sarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, primary lymphoma of the brain, and invasive carcinoma of the cervix.

Opportunistic infections characteristic of or more virulent in AIDS include Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, herpes simplex, cytomegalo virus, and diarrhea diseases caused by cryptosporidium or isospora. In addition, hepatitis C is prevalent in intravenous drug users and hemophiliacs with AIDS, and an estimated 4 to 5 million people who have tuberculosis are coinfected with HIV, each disease hastening the progression of the other.

Children may experience more serious forms of common childhood ailments such as tonsillitis and conjunctivitis. These infections conspire to cause a wide range of symptoms like coughing, diarrhea, fever and night sweats, and headaches and may lead to extreme weight loss, blindness, hallucinations, and dementia before death occurs.

HIV is not transmitted by casual contact. Transmission requires a direct exchange of body fluids, such as blood or blood products, breast milk, semen, or vaginal secretions, most commonly as a result of sexual activity or the sharing of needles among drug users. Such a transmission may also occur from mother to baby during pregnancy or at birth. Saliva, tears, urine, feces, and sweat do not appear to transmit the virus.

About The Author

Padrone Desusid is the owner of FY Aids which is a premier resource for aids information. for more information, go to http://www.fyaids.com.