Sunday, March 9, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
How is bone cancer diagnosed?
The first thing your doctor will do is to take a complete medical history. This will give your doctor clues as to your diagnosis. Some types of cancer are more common in people if they have close family members that have had that type of cancer. A description of your symptoms can help your doctor identify the possibility of bone cancer from other possible causes. Next, a complete physical examination can help find the cause of your symptoms. This may include testing your muscle strength, sensation to touch, and reflexes. Certain blood tests can be ordered that can help to identify a possible cancer.
Next, your doctor will likely order some imaging studies. Plain x-rays are often ordered first. In some cases, if the cancer is identified very early it may not show up on plain x-rays. The appearance of a tumor on the x-ray can help determine the type of cancer and whether or not it is benign or malignant. Benign tumors are more likely to have a smooth border while malignant tumors are more likely to have a ragged border. This is because the benign tumors typically grow more slowly and the bone has time to try to surround the tumor with normal bone. Malignant tumors are more likely to grow more quickly, not giving the normal bone a chance to surround the tumor.
A CT scan (CAT scan or computed tomography) is a more advanced test that can give a cross sectional picture of your bones. This test gives very good detail of your bones and is better able to identify a possible tumor. It also gives additional information on the size and location of the tumor.
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is another advanced test that can also provide cross sectional imaging of your body. The MRI provides better detail of the soft tissues including muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels than a CT scan. This test can give better detail on whether or not the bone tumor has broken through the bone and involved the surrounding soft tissues.
A bone scan is a test that identifies areas of rapidly growing or remodeling bone. The bone scan is often taken of the entire body. This test may be ordered to see if there are any other areas of bone involvement throughout the body.
If a tumor is identified, your doctor will use all of the information from the history and physical examination along with the laboratory and imaging studies to put together a list of possible causes (differential diagnosis).
Your doctor may then obtain a biopsy sample of the tumor. This involves taking a small sample of the tumor that can be examined in the laboratory to determine what kind of tumor it is. The biopsy can be obtained either through a small needle (needle biopsy) or through a small incision (incisional biopsy).
Next, your doctor will likely order some imaging studies. Plain x-rays are often ordered first. In some cases, if the cancer is identified very early it may not show up on plain x-rays. The appearance of a tumor on the x-ray can help determine the type of cancer and whether or not it is benign or malignant. Benign tumors are more likely to have a smooth border while malignant tumors are more likely to have a ragged border. This is because the benign tumors typically grow more slowly and the bone has time to try to surround the tumor with normal bone. Malignant tumors are more likely to grow more quickly, not giving the normal bone a chance to surround the tumor.
A CT scan (CAT scan or computed tomography) is a more advanced test that can give a cross sectional picture of your bones. This test gives very good detail of your bones and is better able to identify a possible tumor. It also gives additional information on the size and location of the tumor.
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is another advanced test that can also provide cross sectional imaging of your body. The MRI provides better detail of the soft tissues including muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels than a CT scan. This test can give better detail on whether or not the bone tumor has broken through the bone and involved the surrounding soft tissues.
A bone scan is a test that identifies areas of rapidly growing or remodeling bone. The bone scan is often taken of the entire body. This test may be ordered to see if there are any other areas of bone involvement throughout the body.
If a tumor is identified, your doctor will use all of the information from the history and physical examination along with the laboratory and imaging studies to put together a list of possible causes (differential diagnosis).
Your doctor may then obtain a biopsy sample of the tumor. This involves taking a small sample of the tumor that can be examined in the laboratory to determine what kind of tumor it is. The biopsy can be obtained either through a small needle (needle biopsy) or through a small incision (incisional biopsy).
Bone Cancer
What is bone cancer?
Bone cancer is caused by a problem with the cells that make bone. More than 2,000 people are diagnosed in the United States each year with a bone tumor. Bone tumors occur most commonly in children and adolescents and are less common in older adults. Cancer involving the bone in older adults is most commonly the result of metastatic spread from another tumor.
There are many different types of bone cancer. The most common bone tumors include osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, fibrosarcoma, and chordoma.
Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone cancer. It most commonly affects males between 10 and 25 years old, but can less commonly affect older adults. It often occurs in the long bones of the arms and legs at areas of rapid growth around the knees and shoulders of children. This type of cancer is often very aggressive with risk of spread to the lungs. The five-year survival rate is about 65%.
Ewing's sarcoma is the most aggressive bone tumor and affects younger people between 4-15 years of age. It is more common in males and is very rare in people over 30 years old. It most commonly occurs in the middle of the long bones of the arms and legs. The three-year survival rate is about 65%, but this rate is much lower if there has been spread to the lungs or other tissues of the body.
Chondrosarcoma is the second most common bone tumor and accounts for about 25% of all malignant bone tumors. These tumors arise from the cartilage cells and can either be very aggressive or relatively slow-growing. Unlike many other bone tumors, chondrosarcoma is most common in people over 40 years old. It is slightly more common in males and can potentially spread to the lungs and lymph nodes. Chondrosracoma most commonly affects the bones of the pelvis and hips. The five-year survival for the aggressive form is about 30%, but the survival rate for slow-growing tumors is 90%.
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) affects the soft tissues including muscle, ligaments, tendons, and fat. It is the most common soft-tissue malignancy in later adult life, usually occurring in people 50-60 years of age. It most commonly affects the extremities and is about twice as common in males as females. MFH also has a wide range of severity. The overall five-year survival rate is about 35%-60%.
Fibrosarcoma is much more rare than the other bone tumors. It is most common in people 35-55 years of age. It most commonly affects the soft tissues of the leg behind the knee. It is slightly more common in males than females.
Chordoma is a very rare tumor with an average survival of about six years after diagnosis. It occurs in adults over 30 years of age and is about twice as common in males as females. It most commonly affects either the lower or upper end of the spinal column.
In addition to bone cancer, there are various types of benign bone tumors. These include osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma, osteochondroma, enchondroma, chondromyxoid fibroma, and giant cell tumor (which has the potential to become malignant). As with other types of benign tumors, these are not cancerous.
There are two other relatively common types of cancer than develop in the bones: lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Lymphoma, a cancer arising from the cells of the immune system, usually begins in the lymph nodes but can begin in the bone. Multiple myeloma begins in the bones, but it is not usually considered a bone tumor because it is a tumor of the bone marrow cells and not of the bone cells
Bone cancer is caused by a problem with the cells that make bone. More than 2,000 people are diagnosed in the United States each year with a bone tumor. Bone tumors occur most commonly in children and adolescents and are less common in older adults. Cancer involving the bone in older adults is most commonly the result of metastatic spread from another tumor.
There are many different types of bone cancer. The most common bone tumors include osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, fibrosarcoma, and chordoma.
Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone cancer. It most commonly affects males between 10 and 25 years old, but can less commonly affect older adults. It often occurs in the long bones of the arms and legs at areas of rapid growth around the knees and shoulders of children. This type of cancer is often very aggressive with risk of spread to the lungs. The five-year survival rate is about 65%.
Ewing's sarcoma is the most aggressive bone tumor and affects younger people between 4-15 years of age. It is more common in males and is very rare in people over 30 years old. It most commonly occurs in the middle of the long bones of the arms and legs. The three-year survival rate is about 65%, but this rate is much lower if there has been spread to the lungs or other tissues of the body.
Chondrosarcoma is the second most common bone tumor and accounts for about 25% of all malignant bone tumors. These tumors arise from the cartilage cells and can either be very aggressive or relatively slow-growing. Unlike many other bone tumors, chondrosarcoma is most common in people over 40 years old. It is slightly more common in males and can potentially spread to the lungs and lymph nodes. Chondrosracoma most commonly affects the bones of the pelvis and hips. The five-year survival for the aggressive form is about 30%, but the survival rate for slow-growing tumors is 90%.
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) affects the soft tissues including muscle, ligaments, tendons, and fat. It is the most common soft-tissue malignancy in later adult life, usually occurring in people 50-60 years of age. It most commonly affects the extremities and is about twice as common in males as females. MFH also has a wide range of severity. The overall five-year survival rate is about 35%-60%.
Fibrosarcoma is much more rare than the other bone tumors. It is most common in people 35-55 years of age. It most commonly affects the soft tissues of the leg behind the knee. It is slightly more common in males than females.
Chordoma is a very rare tumor with an average survival of about six years after diagnosis. It occurs in adults over 30 years of age and is about twice as common in males as females. It most commonly affects either the lower or upper end of the spinal column.
In addition to bone cancer, there are various types of benign bone tumors. These include osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma, osteochondroma, enchondroma, chondromyxoid fibroma, and giant cell tumor (which has the potential to become malignant). As with other types of benign tumors, these are not cancerous.
There are two other relatively common types of cancer than develop in the bones: lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Lymphoma, a cancer arising from the cells of the immune system, usually begins in the lymph nodes but can begin in the bone. Multiple myeloma begins in the bones, but it is not usually considered a bone tumor because it is a tumor of the bone marrow cells and not of the bone cells
Tobacco
Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of death. Each year, more than 180,000 Americans die from cancer that is related to tobacco use.
Using tobacco products or regularly being around tobacco smoke (environmental or secondhand smoke) increases the risk of cancer.
Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop cancer of the lung, larynx (voice box), mouth, esophagus, bladder, kidney, throat, stomach, pancreas, or cervix. They also are more likely to develop acute myeloid leukemia (cancer that starts in blood cells).
People who use smokeless tobacco (snuff or chewing tobacco) are at increased risk of cancer of the mouth.
Using tobacco products or regularly being around tobacco smoke (environmental or secondhand smoke) increases the risk of cancer.
Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop cancer of the lung, larynx (voice box), mouth, esophagus, bladder, kidney, throat, stomach, pancreas, or cervix. They also are more likely to develop acute myeloid leukemia (cancer that starts in blood cells).
People who use smokeless tobacco (snuff or chewing tobacco) are at increased risk of cancer of the mouth.
Growing older
The most important risk factor for cancer is growing older. Most cancers occur in people over the age of 65. But people of all ages, including children, can get cancer, too.
Cancer Risk Factors
Risk factors
Doctors often cannot explain why one person develops cancer and another does not. But research shows that certain risk factors increase the chance that a person will develop cancer. These are the most common risk factors for cancer:
Growing older
Tobacco
Sunlight
Ionizing radiation
Certain chemicals and other substances
Some viruses and bacteria
Certain hormones
Family history of cancer
Alcohol
Poor diet, lack of physical activity, or being overweight
Many of these risk factors can be avoided. Others, such as family history, cannot be avoided. People can help protect themselves by staying away from known risk factors whenever possible.
If you think you may be at risk for cancer, you should discuss this concern with your doctor. You may want to ask about reducing your risk and about a schedule for checkups.
Over time, several factors may act together to cause normal cells to become cancerous. When thinking about your risk of getting cancer, these are some things to keep in mind:
Not everything causes cancer.
Cancer is not caused by an injury, such as a bump or bruise.
Cancer is not contagious. Although being infected with certain viruses or bacteria may increase the risk of some types of cancer, no one can "catch" cancer from another person.
Having one or more risk factors does not mean that you will get cancer. Most people who have risk factors never develop cancer.
Some people are more sensitive than others to the known risk factors
Doctors often cannot explain why one person develops cancer and another does not. But research shows that certain risk factors increase the chance that a person will develop cancer. These are the most common risk factors for cancer:
Growing older
Tobacco
Sunlight
Ionizing radiation
Certain chemicals and other substances
Some viruses and bacteria
Certain hormones
Family history of cancer
Alcohol
Poor diet, lack of physical activity, or being overweight
Many of these risk factors can be avoided. Others, such as family history, cannot be avoided. People can help protect themselves by staying away from known risk factors whenever possible.
If you think you may be at risk for cancer, you should discuss this concern with your doctor. You may want to ask about reducing your risk and about a schedule for checkups.
Over time, several factors may act together to cause normal cells to become cancerous. When thinking about your risk of getting cancer, these are some things to keep in mind:
Not everything causes cancer.
Cancer is not caused by an injury, such as a bump or bruise.
Cancer is not contagious. Although being infected with certain viruses or bacteria may increase the risk of some types of cancer, no one can "catch" cancer from another person.
Having one or more risk factors does not mean that you will get cancer. Most people who have risk factors never develop cancer.
Some people are more sensitive than others to the known risk factors
Friday, February 29, 2008
HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Information About HIV AIDS
It is three decades since the discovery of the HIV virus but we are still lacking information about HIV / AIDS. According to UN AIDS estimates, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. Although there is no foolproof cure or vaccine for HIV virus, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) will ensure that medicines are available at an affordable cost even in third world countries. The search for the vaccine for AIDS remains the challenge for the world today.
Let us delve into some more information about HIV /AIDS. What is causing the spread of the infection? Ignorance. One in three youngsters in the world are still ignorant about how the infection spreads. We have to wake up to the harsh reality of the epidemic and the world’s leaders must demonstrate real commitment to keep their promise. We cannot wait another quarter of a century for a vaccine. The need of the hour is the four Ms-motivation, money, medicines and manpower.
Let me burst the bubble on some common myths about HIV /AIDS.
Blood donation can cause HIV infection. People today are afraid of donating blood. HIV does not spread through donation of blood, as hospitals and blood banks use disposable syringes. Another myth is that HIV / AIDS spreads through mosquito and bug bites, air, saliva and touch. It is a very important piece of information about HIV / AIDS that it is not spread through mosquito and bug bites, air, saliva and touch.
Promiscuous men and women have largely been held responsible for fuelling the HIV /AIDS epidemic in the world. Stigma towards HIV-positive people needs to be countered if the threat of HIV /AIDS is to be overcome. Stigma is hard to track and its impact even harder to measure. Those vulnerable to and experiencing social stigma and discrimination will be puzzled if they were told that awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS is higher than before.Awareness is not translating into tolerance or a shedding of stigma. The good information about HIV / AIDS is that the number of people contracting HIV infection is dropping worldwide.
Protection against HIV/AIDS and preventing its spread is certainly a key message, but protection using stigma and alienation will go nowhere. It is always challenging to fight for legislation and better policy outcomes. Certain states have law against discrimination of HIV-positive children in schools. But laws and policies cannot be substitutes for a humane approach.
HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Too many know as the aids virus that lives in the blood and other body fluids, within the blood or white blood cells of the infected person. Large scale transmit of this virus occur due to unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing of drug injections, infected used in transfusion, and in some occasions through pregnancy when the virus is passed from mother to child. It’s important to understand that people don’t catch aids, they become infected with HIV due to many one of the above listed transmits.
Secondly we need to understand the positive results of HIV that is when the body has been infected by the human immunodeficiency virus. When blood tests are carried out doctors don’t search for HIV but they come across it in our blood, HIV+, HIV antibody positive or seropositive HIV add up to the simple meaning of being infected with positive HIV results. The HIV virus is not a disease it’s a progressive emanation that damages your body immune system.
The HIV virus is best know for targeting the T cells having chances of attacking the cells of the brain, nervous system, digestive system and lymphatic system. Hence the T cells can be referred to as the brain operator of our system, and when these cells are infected our body becomes weak and cannot battle bacteria, cancer, fungi and other parasites, When T cells are infected with HIV it kills the strength of a human progressive and recovery system.
Once HIV infects your T cells then it works like a factory reproducing itself to grow the virus inside the body, which eventually results in the virus moving into the bloodstream. HIV can destroy all fresh T cells repeating its process of reproduction in this manner. The immune system then gets absolutely weekend multiplying this virus all over you, this can be termed as “opportunistic infection”.
A person with a HIV-weekend immune system comes down with one or more of rare opportunistic infections, with low T cell counts it can be diagnosed as an AIDS patient, ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICENCY SYNDROME. AIDS can be thought of the most severe form of HIV disease, all but a handful of medical experts now believe that HIV is the primary agent that leads to the development of AIDS.
HIV Does It Have A Natural Cure? How Can You Get This Terrible Disease?
The Human immunodeficiency Virus or HIV as it is popularly known, is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). HIV causes a person’s immune system to weaken dramatically. The immune system is the body’s defense mechanism against all forms of infection and undesirable intrusions. When HIV attacks the body’s immune system, the body becomes more prone to infection. These infections are oftentimes called “opportunistic” infections since the take the “opportunity” of infecting the body at its weak state. Once infection has taken place, illnesses can occur. Some of these illnesses can be arrested by a healthy immune system. However, a considerably weakened immune system will not be able to fight the infection.
Having HIV does not mean that one has AIDS. The HIV weakens the immune system but AIDS sets in when infections have already take place. AIDS thus consists of the weakened immune system and the infections that have affected the body to a great extent.
Individuals who are affected with HIV may not know it. The virus can remain dormant for weeks, months or even years. Once the virus multiplies, the body may not even detect it. It may take time for the body’s immune system to respond to the virus. HIV can progress to AIDS when: an HIV-infected individual’s CD4 T cell count drops below 200 cells/mm; an HIV-infected individual develops an illness that is very unusual in someone who is not HIV-positive .
The HIV cannot reproduce outside a living host, nor can it survive well in the environment. HIV cannot be transmitted with handshakes, breaths, or sharing clothes. There is no evidence that insects can be carriers or transmitters of HIV.
HIV is transmitted via blood transfusion. There are many ways wherein blood may be transfused from one individual to another. One example is blood donation. The other common example is through sexual intercourse, especially when there are open wounds within the genitals or genital area.
An individual can lessen the chances of acquiring HIV by being careful in matters that relate to the occasions when blood can be transferred from one individual to the other.
At present, researchers are still very active in researching on the cures or alleviations for HIV. Since HIV attacks the immune system, it is important to take vitamins and minerals that strengthen the immune system. These vitamins include vitamin A, the B-complex vitamins, and vitamin C. University studies have found that colloidal silver can kill the HIV virus in a petry dish but don’t know if it will work in humans
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that contributes to the health of the immune system. Zinc increases the reproduction of infection-fighting T-cells. Selenium increases the production of natural killer cells and mobilizes cells to fight complications that may be arise from HIV.
Preventing AIDS
AIDS is a very serious disease because once you are detected to be an AIDS patient, you are susceptible to each and every disease be it as small and mild as common cold. This is so because even if you have such a harmless illness, your body might not be able to fight with it.
Our human body is so ‘programmed’ or ‘trained’ that any infection or unwanted cells cause the production of ‘anti-bodies’ in our body. They are precisely the security system of the human body. HIV prevents such protection.
The HIV virus which leads to AIDS reduces the ability of our body to fight diseases to zero. This implies, if this virus causes the disease AIDS, then the body looses the capability to fight any disease, no matter how small-an-illness it might be. Sometimes, such small illnesses can also attribute to the persons death.
Prevention is better than cure, especially if there is NO cure!!
1. Have safe sex. HIV is transmitted through exchange of body fluid. It is best to use condoms.
2. Always use a fresh disposable syringe for injective purposes. Never use a used one, even if it is your friends’.
3. When anyone needs blood transfusion, make sure the blood you use is government approved and processed.
4. Be careful while dealing with body fluids like blood. Any intake of such in one’s body from an HIV infected person is dangerous.
However AIDS or HIV does not spread through the following:
1. By shaking hands with an HIV infected person
2. By touching or hugging an HIV infected person
3. By insect bites
4. Sharing toilet
5. From food cooked by can HIV infected person.
HIV/AIDS & Other STD
Sexually Transmitted Diseases – are transmitted through sexual contact. STD -are generally divided into two categories, bacterial and viral. Bacterial infections are relatively easy to cure if detected early. Viral infections are technically incurable but the symptoms are controllable if detected early. Having a sexually transmitted disease (STD) can increase a person’s risk of becoming infected with HIV. STD treatment reduces the risk of HIV infection.
The human immunodeficiency virus HIV, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are one of the main concern today. The patients affected by them are large in number and alarming as it is infectious. Anybody anywhere can get the virus, from one person to the other, from a mother to a baby. It is estimated by the Joint United Nations Program that there are over 34 million people worldwide affected with HIV/AIDS. Out of them only few are aware of their being infected and spreading the virus.
To begin with HIV - the human immunodeficiency virus - is a virus that kills your body slowly and slowly. HIV attacks human cells and uses nutrients and energy provided by those cells to grow and reproduce. HIV can be passed from one person to the other. If someone with HIV infection has sex or shares drug injection needles with another person then he or she is likely to be HIV positive. It also can be passed from a mother to her baby when she is pregnant, when she delivers the baby, or if she breast-feeds her baby.
It is very important to keep yourself away from the virus getting into your body and it is equally important not to let others get infected by it. There are different ways of getting infected by HIV as
• If you have unprotected Sex with someone who has HIV. The virus can be in an infected person’s blood, semen, or vaginal secretions. It can also enter your body through tiny cuts or sores in your skin, or in the lining of your vagina, penis, rectum, or mouth.
• If you share a needle and syringe to inject drugs or share drug equipment used to prepare drugs for injection with someone who has HIV.
• If you had a blood transfusion or blood clotting factor that you got before
1985. As all blood in the United States have been tested for HIV since 1985.How can you protect yourself from HIV?
• Make a mature move, both the partners should not hesitate to go for HIV test
• If you are pregnant then have an HIV test.
• Make sure to use condoms.
AIDS - the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - is a disease you get when HIV destroys your body’s immune system. Normally, your immune system helps you fight off illness. When your immune system fails you can become very sick and can die.
An HIV-infected person receives a diagnosis of AIDS after developing one of the defined AIDS indicator illnesses, (opportunistic infection). A positive HIV test result does not mean that a person has AIDS. A diagnosis of AIDS is made by a physician using certain clinical criteria. There is no cure for AIDS. There are anti drugs now available that can slow down the virus, and slow down the damage to your immune system. These drugs have also helped reduce the overall rates of opportunistic infections in people with AIDS.
Know How to Enjoy Safe SEX and Prevent AIDS
It is said that a boy gets infected by HIV if he eats “PaniPuri / sandwiches” or any other food of infected person. But believe me this is 100% wrong, there’s nothing to do HIV with eating. Also rumors were around that if somebody got pricked by an HIV infected needle, he/she may also suffer from HIV.
But now let me bring the real picture to you, HIV is a disease which spreads only through blood or semen. You might even be surprised to know that having oral sex does not harm any person even if HIV-infected patient coughs and another person is exposed to his sputum (cough). It is quite interesting to know that, the virus still can not transmit because concentration of virus particles in sputum is almost NIL & exposure to air anyway kills virus in fraction of seconds.
And in case the HIV person gets any injury like cut or anything else, you are not going to get infected by the blood until unless the bleeding is very high. HIV viruses cannot survive in any liquid other than blood or semen, and that if it exists in blood, HIV can only exist for fraction seconds only.
Exposure of less than 1 second in AIR KILLS the HIV virus (story of needle pricks in Cinema theatres goes down the drain). Even if the blood from a wound (of infected person) dries up (blood clot), the virus dies and can not infect anyone else HIV transmission is ONLY an INFECTION i.e. entrance of virus in one’s body. It DOES NOT MEAN AIDS.
An HIV-infected person (after entrance of virus) can progress to condition of AIDS only after “8 to 10 YEARS (not in 15 days as in the mentioned story) It is not HIV (virus) that kills a human”, but the virus attacks immune cells (cells that fight against foreign pathogens/antigens) and hence a person’s ability to fight against infections & diseases slowly diminishes and person ultimately dies of a disease which could be as simple as TB.
Most importantly, HIV is no longer dreadful disease … it is a “CHRONIC MANAGEABLE DISEASE” just like Diabetes or Hypertension. If there is anything you need to be careful from to prevent HIV is Unsafe Sex, Blood Transfusion (check before taking) / Blood donation (use sterilized needles only) and any blood contact during an accident or so where amount of bleeding is very high.
It is three decades since the discovery of the HIV virus but we are still lacking information about HIV / AIDS. According to UN AIDS estimates, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. Although there is no foolproof cure or vaccine for HIV virus, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) will ensure that medicines are available at an affordable cost even in third world countries. The search for the vaccine for AIDS remains the challenge for the world today.
Let us delve into some more information about HIV /AIDS. What is causing the spread of the infection? Ignorance. One in three youngsters in the world are still ignorant about how the infection spreads. We have to wake up to the harsh reality of the epidemic and the world’s leaders must demonstrate real commitment to keep their promise. We cannot wait another quarter of a century for a vaccine. The need of the hour is the four Ms-motivation, money, medicines and manpower.
Let me burst the bubble on some common myths about HIV /AIDS.
Blood donation can cause HIV infection. People today are afraid of donating blood. HIV does not spread through donation of blood, as hospitals and blood banks use disposable syringes. Another myth is that HIV / AIDS spreads through mosquito and bug bites, air, saliva and touch. It is a very important piece of information about HIV / AIDS that it is not spread through mosquito and bug bites, air, saliva and touch.
Promiscuous men and women have largely been held responsible for fuelling the HIV /AIDS epidemic in the world. Stigma towards HIV-positive people needs to be countered if the threat of HIV /AIDS is to be overcome. Stigma is hard to track and its impact even harder to measure. Those vulnerable to and experiencing social stigma and discrimination will be puzzled if they were told that awareness and knowledge about HIV/AIDS is higher than before.Awareness is not translating into tolerance or a shedding of stigma. The good information about HIV / AIDS is that the number of people contracting HIV infection is dropping worldwide.
Protection against HIV/AIDS and preventing its spread is certainly a key message, but protection using stigma and alienation will go nowhere. It is always challenging to fight for legislation and better policy outcomes. Certain states have law against discrimination of HIV-positive children in schools. But laws and policies cannot be substitutes for a humane approach.
HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Too many know as the aids virus that lives in the blood and other body fluids, within the blood or white blood cells of the infected person. Large scale transmit of this virus occur due to unprotected sexual intercourse, sharing of drug injections, infected used in transfusion, and in some occasions through pregnancy when the virus is passed from mother to child. It’s important to understand that people don’t catch aids, they become infected with HIV due to many one of the above listed transmits.
Secondly we need to understand the positive results of HIV that is when the body has been infected by the human immunodeficiency virus. When blood tests are carried out doctors don’t search for HIV but they come across it in our blood, HIV+, HIV antibody positive or seropositive HIV add up to the simple meaning of being infected with positive HIV results. The HIV virus is not a disease it’s a progressive emanation that damages your body immune system.
The HIV virus is best know for targeting the T cells having chances of attacking the cells of the brain, nervous system, digestive system and lymphatic system. Hence the T cells can be referred to as the brain operator of our system, and when these cells are infected our body becomes weak and cannot battle bacteria, cancer, fungi and other parasites, When T cells are infected with HIV it kills the strength of a human progressive and recovery system.
Once HIV infects your T cells then it works like a factory reproducing itself to grow the virus inside the body, which eventually results in the virus moving into the bloodstream. HIV can destroy all fresh T cells repeating its process of reproduction in this manner. The immune system then gets absolutely weekend multiplying this virus all over you, this can be termed as “opportunistic infection”.
A person with a HIV-weekend immune system comes down with one or more of rare opportunistic infections, with low T cell counts it can be diagnosed as an AIDS patient, ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICENCY SYNDROME. AIDS can be thought of the most severe form of HIV disease, all but a handful of medical experts now believe that HIV is the primary agent that leads to the development of AIDS.
HIV Does It Have A Natural Cure? How Can You Get This Terrible Disease?
The Human immunodeficiency Virus or HIV as it is popularly known, is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). HIV causes a person’s immune system to weaken dramatically. The immune system is the body’s defense mechanism against all forms of infection and undesirable intrusions. When HIV attacks the body’s immune system, the body becomes more prone to infection. These infections are oftentimes called “opportunistic” infections since the take the “opportunity” of infecting the body at its weak state. Once infection has taken place, illnesses can occur. Some of these illnesses can be arrested by a healthy immune system. However, a considerably weakened immune system will not be able to fight the infection.
Having HIV does not mean that one has AIDS. The HIV weakens the immune system but AIDS sets in when infections have already take place. AIDS thus consists of the weakened immune system and the infections that have affected the body to a great extent.
Individuals who are affected with HIV may not know it. The virus can remain dormant for weeks, months or even years. Once the virus multiplies, the body may not even detect it. It may take time for the body’s immune system to respond to the virus. HIV can progress to AIDS when: an HIV-infected individual’s CD4 T cell count drops below 200 cells/mm; an HIV-infected individual develops an illness that is very unusual in someone who is not HIV-positive .
The HIV cannot reproduce outside a living host, nor can it survive well in the environment. HIV cannot be transmitted with handshakes, breaths, or sharing clothes. There is no evidence that insects can be carriers or transmitters of HIV.
HIV is transmitted via blood transfusion. There are many ways wherein blood may be transfused from one individual to another. One example is blood donation. The other common example is through sexual intercourse, especially when there are open wounds within the genitals or genital area.
An individual can lessen the chances of acquiring HIV by being careful in matters that relate to the occasions when blood can be transferred from one individual to the other.
At present, researchers are still very active in researching on the cures or alleviations for HIV. Since HIV attacks the immune system, it is important to take vitamins and minerals that strengthen the immune system. These vitamins include vitamin A, the B-complex vitamins, and vitamin C. University studies have found that colloidal silver can kill the HIV virus in a petry dish but don’t know if it will work in humans
Vitamin E is an antioxidant that contributes to the health of the immune system. Zinc increases the reproduction of infection-fighting T-cells. Selenium increases the production of natural killer cells and mobilizes cells to fight complications that may be arise from HIV.
Preventing AIDS
AIDS is a very serious disease because once you are detected to be an AIDS patient, you are susceptible to each and every disease be it as small and mild as common cold. This is so because even if you have such a harmless illness, your body might not be able to fight with it.
Our human body is so ‘programmed’ or ‘trained’ that any infection or unwanted cells cause the production of ‘anti-bodies’ in our body. They are precisely the security system of the human body. HIV prevents such protection.
The HIV virus which leads to AIDS reduces the ability of our body to fight diseases to zero. This implies, if this virus causes the disease AIDS, then the body looses the capability to fight any disease, no matter how small-an-illness it might be. Sometimes, such small illnesses can also attribute to the persons death.
Prevention is better than cure, especially if there is NO cure!!
1. Have safe sex. HIV is transmitted through exchange of body fluid. It is best to use condoms.
2. Always use a fresh disposable syringe for injective purposes. Never use a used one, even if it is your friends’.
3. When anyone needs blood transfusion, make sure the blood you use is government approved and processed.
4. Be careful while dealing with body fluids like blood. Any intake of such in one’s body from an HIV infected person is dangerous.
However AIDS or HIV does not spread through the following:
1. By shaking hands with an HIV infected person
2. By touching or hugging an HIV infected person
3. By insect bites
4. Sharing toilet
5. From food cooked by can HIV infected person.
HIV/AIDS & Other STD
Sexually Transmitted Diseases – are transmitted through sexual contact. STD -are generally divided into two categories, bacterial and viral. Bacterial infections are relatively easy to cure if detected early. Viral infections are technically incurable but the symptoms are controllable if detected early. Having a sexually transmitted disease (STD) can increase a person’s risk of becoming infected with HIV. STD treatment reduces the risk of HIV infection.
The human immunodeficiency virus HIV, Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are one of the main concern today. The patients affected by them are large in number and alarming as it is infectious. Anybody anywhere can get the virus, from one person to the other, from a mother to a baby. It is estimated by the Joint United Nations Program that there are over 34 million people worldwide affected with HIV/AIDS. Out of them only few are aware of their being infected and spreading the virus.
To begin with HIV - the human immunodeficiency virus - is a virus that kills your body slowly and slowly. HIV attacks human cells and uses nutrients and energy provided by those cells to grow and reproduce. HIV can be passed from one person to the other. If someone with HIV infection has sex or shares drug injection needles with another person then he or she is likely to be HIV positive. It also can be passed from a mother to her baby when she is pregnant, when she delivers the baby, or if she breast-feeds her baby.
It is very important to keep yourself away from the virus getting into your body and it is equally important not to let others get infected by it. There are different ways of getting infected by HIV as
• If you have unprotected Sex with someone who has HIV. The virus can be in an infected person’s blood, semen, or vaginal secretions. It can also enter your body through tiny cuts or sores in your skin, or in the lining of your vagina, penis, rectum, or mouth.
• If you share a needle and syringe to inject drugs or share drug equipment used to prepare drugs for injection with someone who has HIV.
• If you had a blood transfusion or blood clotting factor that you got before
1985. As all blood in the United States have been tested for HIV since 1985.How can you protect yourself from HIV?
• Make a mature move, both the partners should not hesitate to go for HIV test
• If you are pregnant then have an HIV test.
• Make sure to use condoms.
AIDS - the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - is a disease you get when HIV destroys your body’s immune system. Normally, your immune system helps you fight off illness. When your immune system fails you can become very sick and can die.
An HIV-infected person receives a diagnosis of AIDS after developing one of the defined AIDS indicator illnesses, (opportunistic infection). A positive HIV test result does not mean that a person has AIDS. A diagnosis of AIDS is made by a physician using certain clinical criteria. There is no cure for AIDS. There are anti drugs now available that can slow down the virus, and slow down the damage to your immune system. These drugs have also helped reduce the overall rates of opportunistic infections in people with AIDS.
Know How to Enjoy Safe SEX and Prevent AIDS
It is said that a boy gets infected by HIV if he eats “PaniPuri / sandwiches” or any other food of infected person. But believe me this is 100% wrong, there’s nothing to do HIV with eating. Also rumors were around that if somebody got pricked by an HIV infected needle, he/she may also suffer from HIV.
But now let me bring the real picture to you, HIV is a disease which spreads only through blood or semen. You might even be surprised to know that having oral sex does not harm any person even if HIV-infected patient coughs and another person is exposed to his sputum (cough). It is quite interesting to know that, the virus still can not transmit because concentration of virus particles in sputum is almost NIL & exposure to air anyway kills virus in fraction of seconds.
And in case the HIV person gets any injury like cut or anything else, you are not going to get infected by the blood until unless the bleeding is very high. HIV viruses cannot survive in any liquid other than blood or semen, and that if it exists in blood, HIV can only exist for fraction seconds only.
Exposure of less than 1 second in AIR KILLS the HIV virus (story of needle pricks in Cinema theatres goes down the drain). Even if the blood from a wound (of infected person) dries up (blood clot), the virus dies and can not infect anyone else HIV transmission is ONLY an INFECTION i.e. entrance of virus in one’s body. It DOES NOT MEAN AIDS.
An HIV-infected person (after entrance of virus) can progress to condition of AIDS only after “8 to 10 YEARS (not in 15 days as in the mentioned story) It is not HIV (virus) that kills a human”, but the virus attacks immune cells (cells that fight against foreign pathogens/antigens) and hence a person’s ability to fight against infections & diseases slowly diminishes and person ultimately dies of a disease which could be as simple as TB.
Most importantly, HIV is no longer dreadful disease … it is a “CHRONIC MANAGEABLE DISEASE” just like Diabetes or Hypertension. If there is anything you need to be careful from to prevent HIV is Unsafe Sex, Blood Transfusion (check before taking) / Blood donation (use sterilized needles only) and any blood contact during an accident or so where amount of bleeding is very high.
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