Breathing For Better Sex
AIDS(which stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is very frightening subject for many people. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It tis the organism that leads to the condition we call AIDS.Once someone becomes infected with HIV, the virus slowly destroys the immune system so the body cannot fight off even mild problems and the person is likely to get many different diseases. When the virus progresses to the point where the infected person is very sick, we call this AIDS.There is no cure for HIV yet, but scientists hope to find one or to develop a vaccine that will protect people from HIV. In the meantime, our only defense is prevention.
How Does a person get infected?
HIV is passed from a person to person through body fluids. A person catches the virus in the following ways:by sexual contact with an infected person, by sharing needles or syringes with someone who is infected from tattooing, skin piercing or acupuncture with unsterilized needles, a mother can pass the infection to her baby during the pregnancy, at the time of birth or through breast feeding, health care workers have become infected after being stuck with a needle containing HIV infected blood or after having an open cut come in contact with infected blood.
A person cannot get infected by:casual contact with an infected person (such as shaking hands), hugging or kissing, being coughed or sneezed on, donating blood, swimming in pool, sitting on a toilet seat, sharing bed linens, eating or food, from insect or animal bites.
Testing for HIV infection:
Once a person has been exposed to HIV, the body begins to produce antibodies to try to fight off the virus. A blood test will test if someone has the antibodies. If so, it means that the person has come in contact with the virus and has been infected. However, it can take up to six months after the infection for the antibodies to show up in the blood, so a negative test result does not necessarily mean that a person is in the clear. Remember, the test only tells whether someone has been infected with the virus; it does not mean that the person has AIDS. People who are HIV positive (that is, people who have been infected with the virus) may look and feel well for years. Even during this time through, they can pass the virus to others.
Preventing an HIV infection:
- Sex: The only sure way to prevent HIV infection from sex is not to have any. The next best thing is to have sex only with a long-time(several years) partner who is not infected and who is not havingsex with anyone else. In other circumstances, you can reduhce your risk of getting HIV by using a latex condom.Needles: Obviously, injecting illegal drugs into your body is not a healthy thing to do, but sharing needles increases your risk of getting a diseases. The best way to avoid becoming infected with any virus, including HIV, is just not to share needles or syringes.
Labels: health topic
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