HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is where it starts. It is the infection that damages your immune system, causing it to become susceptible to various diseases your body might otherwise have the ability to fight. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency...
AIDS, an acronym for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, is a chronic, life-threatening disease that affects more than 39 million people worldwide, according to the Mayo Clinic. It begins as HIV, or the human immunodeficiency virus, which...
Anyone can become infected with HIV/AIDS. There are many ways to contract HIV/AIDS. However, if you are aware of what the risk factors for HIV/AIDS are, you can decrease the odds of contracting this disease. One can be exposed to this disease...
HIV, or the human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that weakens the immune system. It destroys the important cells of the body that fight infection, with symptoms mimicking other viruses like the flu. Over time, HIV makes it impossible for the...
Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is a chronic and damaging disease ultimately resulting in the terminal condition known as AIDS. The Mayo Clinic reports that an estimated 39 million people worldwide have HIV. Transmission of this virus takes...
Dementia, which causes profound changes in mental abilities and thinking processes, affects between 5 and 15 percent of people over age 65, NetWellness reports. The risk of dementia increases with age, with 30 percent affected by age 85. Early...
Teens in the United States face a continued risk of HIV exposure and AIDS, in large part because half of all new HIV infections in the U.S. occur in people younger than 25, according to the KidsHealth website. Understanding the statistics as well...
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is an essential micronutrient that aids in digestion, helps build red blood cells and supports central nervous system fitness. Like all B vitamins, vitamin B12 is water soluble. This means it dissolves in...
Elevated pressure in the main artery to the lungs is termed pulmonary arterial hypertension or PAH. This rare disorder carries a poor prognosis and there is no cure. Many cases have no identifiable cause. However, there is an inherited form, and...
The term AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is given to the most advanced stages of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). The immune cells are impaired or killed, devastating the body's ability to ward off infections and certain cancers....
Donating one pint of blood takes about an hour and can save the lives of up to three people. Blood components--red blood cells, plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitates--are used to treat a variety of conditions, including cancer, sickle cell...
Children involved in health programs have a decreased risk of obesity and health-related issues. They will feel less stressed, perform better in school, maintain a healthy weight, sleep better each night, and build and keep healthy bones, muscles...
Some diseases are common to the African American community. They are attributed to genetic and cultural factors that are more prevalent in this particular group. These diseases include coronary heart disease, diabetes and HIV/AIDS. These are...
AIDS is the last stage of the HIV virus. Doctors usually make a diagnosis of AIDS when an HIV-positive person's CD4+ cell count drops below 200. This means the body is critically lacking in white blood cells to fight disease and, as a result, has...
Health diseases and conditions can start in childhood, they can develop over the years or you can be born with them. Everyone in the world has had at least one type of disease or condition in their lives, and the conditions can range in severity.
The virus that causes AIDS, human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, destroys the body's immune system, compromising an individual's ability to fight disease. HIV is transmitted through body fluids, such as semen, blood or vaginal fluid, according to...
The best fruits and vegetables to lower blood pressure are high in magnesium, potassium and nitric oxide. Some provide specific blood pressure lowering benefits. Dr. Gary Plotnick, a cardiologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center and...
Despite efforts at education, many misconceptions exist about the likelihood of catching HIV through various situations such as casual contact, sex, and drug abuse. The actual probability of becoming infected with HIV varies greatly among common...
The human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, attacks the immune system, making victims vulnerable to infections and diseases. HIV causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), a disease first noticed by researchers in the early 1980s when...
An enzyme test performed to determine liver injury or damage is the serum alanine aminotransferase, also called ALT. The ALT enzyme is released into the bloodstream in response to cellular level damage resulting from liver disease or injury from...
Cholesterol aids in the production of hormones, which contribute to cell formation. When your levels are too high, it can lead to heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Cholesterol can affect other organs, though, one of which is your...
Posture is the way we humans stand, sit and lie against gravity, all the while maintaining proper alignment of the spinal column by using various muscles. Good posture has several requirements: Normal muscle mobility and strength, flexibility of...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 2007, there were approximately 1,051,875 Americans diagnosed with AIDS. The HIV virus attaches to CD4 lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, and destroys them. People have...
Eating a variety of fruits combined with vegetables, low-fat dairy and lean meats can help prevent obesity, type 2 diabetes, perhaps certain types of cancer and even eye disease, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. Fruits can be...
The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's definition of blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. There are both normal, 115/75 to 120/80, and high, 140/90 or greater, blood...
While many people are well aware of the major causes and risk factors for various cancers, such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, the idea of actively preventing the possibility of cancer is somewhat overlooked, especially in the area...
Yeast, or candida, infections can affect different parts of the body, including the vagina, skin, mouth, esophagus and bloodstream. An immune system weakened by antibiotic therapy or medical conditions, such as diabetes and AIDS, is the main risk...
The effects of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) are disfiguring and occasionally painful, but they're not usually lethal. The most common sign of KS is the presence of tumors directly beneath the skin. These skin lesions are often red, purple or brown in...
Individuals struggling to lose excess weight often look for quick and easy ways to drop a few pounds. One readily available and natural food that receives plenty of attention in regards to fast weight loss is the grapefruit. This acidic, slightly...
