Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), is a global epidemic that affects over 39.5 million people according to the Mayo Clinic. HIV damages the body's immune system by infecting and eliminating CD4 cells, which are a specific type of white blood cell necessary to fight infections. When the level of CD4 cells falls below 200, or 14 percent, according to Aids.org, the HIV infection officially becomes AIDS. AIDS is a completely preventable disease that most commonly affects those with certain risk factors.
Sexual Habits
HIV infection and the resulting AIDS disease is a chronic and life-threatening condition that is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids including vaginal secretions and semen. Therefore, participating in unprotected sex with someone infected with HIV puts you at risk of contracting the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control reports that approximately 21 percent of the 1.1 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS do not know they are infected. The highest risk therefore is for those that not only have unprotected sex but also have more than one sexual partner.
Illegal Drug Use
Since HIV can also be transmitted through exposure to contaminated blood, those who share needles with others are at risk of contracting HIV and AIDS. Therefore, those who use illegal drugs or inject steroids are at an increased risk. In addition to sharing needles, sharing other equipment such as cotton, syringes, or even water to wash injection sites, is a risk.
Contact With Blood
Receiving a blood transfusion or any blood product also increases your risk of infection. However, today blood products are thoroughly screened and tested for the presence of the HIV virus, so becoming infected through a transfusion is very rare. Those who received a transfusion prior to 1985, the year they began routing testing of all blood products, are those at the highest risk.
Those working in the health care field have a somewhat increased risk. Being continually exposed to other people's blood, and the risk of an accidental stick with a contaminated needle, is a risk for nurses, doctors and paramedics.
Non-Education
Becoming infected with HIV is completely preventable as long as people are educated on the virus and how to protect themselves. Young people especially need to be educated on the disease and how to prevent it. With education people can practice abstinence, the only 100 percent positive way to prevent AIDS, be faithful to their partners, use condoms and not participate in illegal drug use.
