Home HIV Symptoms HIV Prevention HIV Virus HIV Testing Genital Warts Chlamydia Treatment Contact

HIV - Aids : What You Don't Know About HIV - AIDS

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus and leads to the development of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or AIDS. AIDS is not a disease itself but a failure of the immune system which leads to a collection of rare, life-threatening opportunistic infection.

It became a topic of concern among health care professionals in the early 80s, when research on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like genital herpes was at its peak. In terms of the number of people infected, HIV is down in the list of 10 most common STDs followed by genital herpes, but its danger is far more real to people compared to many other diseases.

Since AIDS was first recognized on 1st December 1981 it is estimated to have killed 25million people. HIV/AIDS is now pandemic which means it has spread across whole continents and in this case the world. It is thought that at the moment there are 40million people worldwide, living with HIV, 70% of them living in sub-Saharan Africa. Although HIV and AIDS are a major problem in developing countries and a leading cause of death it still has a massive impact here in the UK: about 63,500 people are now living with HIV. Valtrex for Genital herpes treatment. Orange Blast - Levitra -it is 36 hours of sexual activity

HIV is a pathogen which is an organism that causes infectious disease; more specifically it is a retrovirus which means it breaks down DNA in cells and reassembles it in order to make copies of itself. HIV is such a problem for a number of reasons: firstly it can mutate easily so it is difficult for the body to recognize and it is difficult to develop a vaccine, secondly it attacks T-helper lymphocyte cells which are a vital part of the body's immune system.

HIV is transferred through the direct exchange of:

* Blood
* Semen
* Vaginal fluid
* Pre-ejaculate
* Breast milk

It can be transmitted by:

* Unprotected sexual intercourse
* Contaminated needles
* Breast milk
* Vertical transmission (from the mother to the baby at birth)
* Blood transfusions or blood products

HIV can't survive outside the body or be carried in a vector so it is only transferred through direct contact. However, it is present in bodily fluids as both a free virus and within infected immune cells. Saliva, sweat and urine do contain HIV if the person is infected but not in a high enough quantity to transfer the infection.

Symptoms of HIV:

* Fever
* Swollen glands
* Sore throat
* Rash
* Painful muscles and joints
* Headache
* Nausea and vomiting
* Ulcers
* Flu-like symptoms.

There are 4 stages in HIV infection, these are:

1. The Incubation Phase:

This stage is often asymptomatic and normally lasts 2-4 weeks.

2. Acute HIV Infection:

In this stage you develop an influenza-like illness with symptoms such as fever, weight loss, thrush and neurological symptoms. These symptoms are very non-specific so it is often not recognised as an HIV infection and can be diagnosed incorrectly as a more common infection with similar symptoms. The virus replicates rapidly and there is a marked drop in the number of T-helper lymphocytes. This stage lasts for at least a week and more normally a month.

3. Latency Stage:

The body's natural, strong immune defence reduces the number of viral particles in the blood and the infection seems to clear. This stage can last any time between 2 weeks and 20 years.

4. AIDS:

The T-helper lymphocytes decline in number so cell-mediated immunity is lost. This allows opportunistic infections to occur such as tumours, tuberculosis and pneumonia and it is these infections that actually kill the person.

Impotence is found one of the most common sexual health concerns. The ratio suggest that at least one in ten men is suffering from erectile dysfunction. For information on rheumatoid arthritis, browse Pfizer online

Information about how HGH products helps in restoring younger looking face with effective anti aging results and less HGH side effects.

Smoking is not good for health and there are many side effects smoking on human body. Get some useful Quit Smoking Tips with ways to stop smoking easily.Youngsters are getting susceptible of contracting sexually transmitted infections due to their casual behaviour towards sex.

Your best source for free health tips and health articles for best and healthy life.

HIV and Weight loss is there any relationship

Over the years HIV is known to be a disease that has brought about significant weight loss and wasting of AIDS. However, in the recent times, experts hold the belief that HIV positive people are gaining significant amount of fats with the passage of time, very much like the general population.

Weight loss is considered as a major problem in HIV and AIDS. Until and unless you are exercising the right measures to combat weight, it becomes a serious health issue with the passage of time. Here are some of the important facts that define the relationship between HIV and weight loss.

Wasting syndrome It can be described as weight loss related to HIV that makes a person lose as much as ten percent of regular body weight. Wasting syndrome is also accompanied by chronic weakness, chronic diarrhea, and documented fever for a considerable span of 30 days or more. Some also define wasting syndrome as an AIDS defining ailment. The weight loss in this phase is often combines with concurrent fever, diarrhea, nutritional deficiency, and weakness. With the passage of time, it can shrink the eminence of life.http://www.hairgrowthstudio.co.uk/

Many advances have been made to bring about a reversal of weight loss in those individuals who are infected with HIV. These advancements are mainly in the form of anabolic agents, appetite stimulants, hormones and cytokine inhibitors. The goals of these approaches are to bring about an overall increase in lean body mass and body weight.

Researchers are still being carried on to know the exact cause of wasting syndrome and this may be different among individuals. But the most common factors that are known to be the cause of wasting syndrome are nutrient malabsorption, insufficient dietary intake, abnormalities in expenditure of energy and metabolism, and last but not the least, infections related to HIV.

Other resources make a claim that muscle and tissue breakdown also makes a significant contribution to HIV wasting. There are even some people who are suffering from aphthous ulcers that make it very difficult for them to eat anything. It has been concluded at a recent research program supported by NIAID that a drug known as thalidomide can effectively heal such ulcers. This also finds promising solutions to eradicate a key hindrance that results to inadequate nutrition for people affected by HIV and suffer acutely from these painful sores.

Thus it can be concluded that weight loss for those suffering from HIV can pose quite a problem if not checked during its early stages.

    
Buy Best HGH