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Five effective ways to prevent HIV AIDS

Five effective ways to prevent HIV AIDS

There is neither a vaccine for HIV prevention for a permanent cure for AIDS. However, it’s possible for people to protect themselves and prevent the risks of having HIV infection from others. In spite of the availability of effective HIV treatment and medications, when it comes to AIDS, prevention is always better than cure. Below are some of the most effective HIV/AIDS prevention ideas. Test the HIV status : Anyone who falls within 13 to 64 years of age must opt for HIV test, at least once in their life. Plus having one’s partner undergo an HIV test can also help in the prevention of this virus inflicted infection. However, if found infected, one must opt for the appropriate therapy HIV treatments offer to prevent the virus from growing further. Evade any contact with infected blood : Since direct contact with HIV-infected blood is the most common way of HIV spread, one needs to be careful about it and go for timely HIV treatment in the case found HIV-affected. Whether it’s an open wound or during blood transfusions, one must stay vigilant about never coming into contact with infected blood. Be careful with used needles : In the present times, there are some HIV treatment guidelines as well as prevention practices available to people.
Helpful tips to live a better life with HIV AIDS

Helpful tips to live a better life with HIV AIDS

Living with HIV/AIDS, one of the deadliest and serious diseases in the world is hard. However, it doesn’t mean the end of life as there are a lot of things worth living for. With the right HIV treatment, one’s desire to live a better life, despite having HIV, can be certainly ensured. Below are some of the most easy-to-try measures that can help one live as well as thrive with HIV/AIDS. Opt for effective treatment : With some HIV treatment option being available now, there’s no stopping one from living a healthy life even though he or she has HIV/AIDS. With modern medical science advancing beyond imagination, treating and managing HIV is safer and easier more than ever now. Connect with a health care professional : Teamwork plays a crucial role in making an HIV/AIDS patient feel better and returning to his or her normal life. Developing a relationship which is mutually respectful with one’s healthcare provider or the doctor or the physician can indeed help one lead a long healthy life. Take medicines on time : People who have HIV/AIDS need to make it a habit of taking prescribed medications related to HIV treatment on time. Taking medications disregarding the prescribed dosages or skipping medicines can lead to serious consequences.
Learn the treatment methods of AIDS HIV

Learn the treatment methods of AIDS HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that is responsible for causing Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The virus interferes with the immune system or the self-defense mechanism of the body, thereby reducing its ability to fight any infections. It makes the body susceptible to all kind of infections, which might turn severe and even cause death. Effective HIV medication is of utmost importance to manage the condition. Methods of treatment There have been several advancements in the field of medicine, but still, there is no definite cure or accurate HIV medication for HIV/AIDS. The steps for the treatment of HIV/AIDS are as described below. Antiretroviral therapy : The antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the best-known way to treat HIV/AIDS. All the medicines that come under the category of HIV medication are known as the antiretroviral drugs. Each of the drugs has a different way of fighting the virus in the body. These drugs are divided into certain broad categories, which are as follows: Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) disable a protein, which is required by HIV to make copies. Nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are the faulty or wrong versions of the building blocks, which are required by HIV to make copies.
Health benefits of a low-carb diet

Health benefits of a low-carb diet

You tell anyone that you are trying cut down on your carbohydrates and an obvious question is posed “Are you dieting?” This is usually associated with dieting for weight loss. However, following low-carb diet plans does not necessarily mean following a weight loss one. Implementing a low-carb diet into your regular meal plan helps you in more than one ways in living a healthy life. Why do you have to follow a low-carb diet? The benefits eating foods that are low in carbohydrates is multi-fold. Some of these aid in improving diabetes control, lowering HbA1c, reducing severe hypos, keeping you more energetic through the day, reducing cravings for sweets and snacks, and also in enhancing the ability to think and thereby lowers the overall of developing long-term health complications. Lowering HbA1c, in fact, means reducing several other health risks. Studies show that diabetic patients can cut microvascular complications like retinopathy, neuropathy, and diabetic nephropathy by 25% thereby ensuring good health of the eyes, nerves, and the kidneys. People suffering from type-2 diabetes can greatly reduce the chances of suffering from cataracts, heart failures, amputations, or peripheral vascular disease-related deaths with just an improvement of just 1% in HbA1c. While low-carb diet plans enable people with type-2 diabetes to get their blood sugar levels into a non-diabetic range without any medication, those with type-1 have can also have more stable blood sugar levels thereby bettering the condition.
Travel tips for people with HIV AIDS

Travel tips for people with HIV AIDS

There is no reason why people with HIV/AIDS cannot enjoy traveling. However, depending on your condition and international travel formalities, you may need to adjust or change your plans. Here are some tips to consider before you make any travel plans. Research : If you plan to take an international trip, you may need to consider the laws of your destination country about your HIV/AIDS status and medicines. Many countries do not allow entry of people with HIV into their territories. Also, many governments may have restrictions about you entering their country with any particular medicine. Consult with your Doctor : Before you make any domestic or international travel plans, talk to your doctor about any special precautions you might need to take to a particular destination. Depending on your present condition and the intended destination, your doctor may suggest new medication dosage or even veto your plans. For instance, when traveling from east to west or vice versa, you may need to adjust the time of your dose depending on the new time zone. Your doctor can also recommend healthcare facilities in your destination if you may require any urgent treatment. This is especially vital if your itinerary includes any international destination.
Why omega-3 rich foods are beneficial for a healthy life

Why omega-3 rich foods are beneficial for a healthy life

Omega-3 is an immensely beneficial compound for a healthy heart. Omega-3 fatty acid has very important role in preventing heart disease and stroke. Damage to blood vessels causes strokes and various heart diseases. Omega-3 fatty acid is responsible for decreasing blood triglyceride levels, stimulating blood circulation, and increasing the breakdown of fibrin that reduces blood clotting which results in a decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Omega-3 fatty acids also minutely lower blood pressure but has no significant role in changing the level of LDL or bad cholesterol and HDL or good cholesterol. Three types of omega-3 fatty acids are involved in human physiology, these are ALA (a-linolenic acid) that is commonly present in plant oils and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) that are commonly present in marine oils or oily fish. Omega-3 fatty acids are not produced in our body, we must have to add them to our diet. By adding more than one gram of omega-3 fatty acids containing foods to these heart-healthy diets, one can become protective against heart attacks, stroke, and any other cardiovascular diseases. Some incredible sources of omega -3 fatty acids, which can be included in heart-healthy diets to lead a better and healthy life, are as follows:
Popular gluten-free foods

Popular gluten-free foods

If you happen to have gluten intolerance, the body reacts to any gluten ingested badly and damages the inner lining of the gut. The symptoms of gluten intolerance include bloating, diarrhea, headache, fatigue etc. This happens only when gluten is consumed or ingested. By avoiding the intake of gluten, the gut heals and the symptoms disappear. A majority of the naturally occurring consumables are gluten free. Let us have a look at all the things that can be consumed when one follows a gluten-free diet. Meat: All meats are considered as gluten-free foods prior to them getting cooked. It is the method of cooking and seasoning that adds gluten. Meat in its natural state is 100% gluten free. Any kind of meat, whether it is antelope, beef, bacon, buffalo, camel, chicken, duck, goat, lamb, rabbit, or pork, it is all gluten-free when in its natural state. Seafood: Most of the seafood is gluten-free before it is seasoned or is prepared. Bass, catfish, carp, clam, cod, crab, cuttlefish, eel, herring, king fish, lobster, mackerel, marlin, mussel, octopus, oyster, pike, salmon, tuna, and trout are some of the famous gluten-free foods. Fruits: Almost all the fruits, be it common or exotic, are gluten free.
How the best probiotics aid in curbing constipation

How the best probiotics aid in curbing constipation

Probiotics are natural bacteria which are present in the gastrointestinal tract and form a part of the digestive system in the human body. There are good as well as bad bacteria amongst probiotics. Some can help in the efficient functioning of the body while others can totally and completely disrupt the functioning of the body, causing a harmful outcome. A majority of the digestive problems are, in fact, a consequence of an imbalance in probiotics within the digestive tract. Of them, diarrhea and constipation are two of the most commonly occurring probiotic based disorders. One can easily keep a check on bad bacteria by consistently following a healthy diet. A poor diet and lifestyle can eventually lead to an imbalance in the proportion of the good and bad bacteria, and in worst cases, the bad that happens out runs the good that happens, causing severe damages. Drug stores and supermarkets usually sell probiotics containing Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. The best and top-rated probiotics are sold in the form of capsules, powder, or liquids which contain a composition of helpful strains of bacteria. When they are ingested into the body, they help the gastrointestinal tract function well. Along with the best probiotics, it is advisable to consume a minimum of 25 to 30 grams of fiber to avoid complications.
A brief overview of pulmonary fibrosis

A brief overview of pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic disease of the lungs in which the lung is scarred and the normal tissue is replaced with scar tissues, an inelastic fibrous connective tissue. The consequences of this are a loss of elasticity and of the ability to expand and contract of the lungs. This impedes breathing and gas exchange ultimately leading to hypoxemia or oxygen starvation. Pulmonary fibrosis is not rare; however, each individual type is rare and it is often difficult to diagnose it. Below, a brief overview of pulmonary fibrosis has been given. Pulmonary fibrosis is the result of a faulty healing process, in which healthy normal tissue is replaced with fibrous scar tissues. It is considered that an interplay of many factors like heredity, environmental, medical, etc., play an important role thereby leading to this disease. Pulmonary fibrosis is progressive and some types can be slowed down. The damage caused is, however, irreversible. Some of the factors that contribute to the development of this disease are long term exposure to certain chemical toxins, radiation therapy, and some medicines or medical conditions. One’s occupations, mainly mining, also contribute to the formation of this disease. Long term exposure to silica dust, asbestos fibers, coal dust, grain dust, hard metal dust, and animal and bird droppings are known to cause pulmonary fibrosis.
Pneumonia: Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

Pneumonia: Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

One can get infected with pneumonia from many sources. The source of an infection helps the diagnosis as there are some organisms specific to the sources. Even hospitals and health care institutions which cater to long-term nursing for chronic illness, old age, etc.  generally have infecting agents that sometimes are drug resistant. The common pneumonia symptoms may include – Pain in the chest when you breathe or cough – A cough , which may produce phlegm – Fever, sweating, or shivering – Fatigue – Lower body temperatures (this is mainly found in adults age 65 and above and those with weak immune systems) – Vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea – Shortness of breath Diagnosis of pneumonia symptoms is aided by the history of the case and physical examination, especially an auscultation of the lungs which gives an accurate idea of the location of the infection. An X-ray would confirm the locality and extent of the infection. To identify the infecting agent, a blood test and sputum brought up by a deep cough is subjected to pathological tests. Pneumonia interferes with oxygen transfers thereby reducing the oxygen levels in the blood. The level of oxygen in the blood is estimated by pulse oximetry. If the patient is aged above 65 yrs, is admitted to a hospital, and has other serious health issues, additional tests may be prescribed.
Chronic cough and its treatment

Chronic cough and its treatment

A chronic cough is not a disease; it is rather a symptom and can cause great discomfort. Basically, the treatments are to cure the underlying malady. Based on the history of the case, a chronic cough would generally be diagnosed as caused due to acid reflux or postnasal drip. Moreover, X-rays or a CT scan would confirm the possibility of other conditions like pneumonia, COPD, bronchitis, lung cancer, etc. Some tests, such as the lung function test and an asthma challenge test, may be prescribed to confirm the possibility of asthma. Appropriate treatment then begins based on the diagnosis. Acid reflux is a condition where the acid secreted in the stomach moves backs into the esophagus or the food pipe. The diagnosis is confirmed by determining the acidity level in the esophagus. Normally, lifestyle changes are sufficient to sort out this. Sometimes, hyper secretion of acids is caused by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori in the lower end of the stomach. Treatment with the appropriate antibiotics helps in sorting out this problem. Where no specific reason is found, acid production inhibitors are prescribed. In extreme cases, however, surgery has to be resorted to. Postnasal drip is diagnosed from the history itself as it has the characteristic symptom of a liquid flowing at the back of the throat.