Hiv/Aids
HIV/AIDS
Amber Findley
HCA/240
01/27/2013
Shannon White
HIV/AIDS
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)/AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) was first discovered in the early 1980s. These cases were seen in men who had multiple sexual partners with other men and IV drug users. “AIDS is now a pandemic.” (Zelman, Tompary, Raymond, Holdaway, & Mulvihill, 2010) The purpose of this paper is to describe what HIV/AIDS is. This paper will also explain how the disease is transmitted, environmental factors, treatments, methods used to control spreading of the disease, and how to promote prevention. HIV is an infection, an inflammatory disease and contributes to chronic inflammation. Over a period of time, HIV will weaken the immune system causing old infections to reoccur and new infections to occur which will cause more inflammation. Chronic inflammation causes scarring and tissue damage. Chronic inflammation contributes to allergies, autoimmune diseases, asthma, and chronic diseases such as, heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and kidney problems. HIV is a virus that the immune system just can’t get rid of. HIV attacks an important part of the immune system, T-cells or CD4 cells. These cells fight off infections and diseases but HIV actually takes over these cells, uses them to make copies of itself, and then destroys the T-cells or CD4 cells. Over a period of time, HIV destroys so many CD4 cells or T-cells that your body doesn’t have enough to fight off infections or diseases. When this occurs, HIV leads to AIDS. AIDS is the final stage of HIV. People who are in this stage have badly damaged immune systems making them susceptible to numerous infections and diseases. To prevent death, medical intervention and treatment will be needed. HIV/AIDS is transmitted through sexual contact, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, IV drug use, occupational exposure, and in rare cases, blood
Amber Findley
HCA/240
01/27/2013
Shannon White
HIV/AIDS
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)/AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) was first discovered in the early 1980s. These cases were seen in men who had multiple sexual partners with other men and IV drug users. “AIDS is now a pandemic.” (Zelman, Tompary, Raymond, Holdaway, & Mulvihill, 2010) The purpose of this paper is to describe what HIV/AIDS is. This paper will also explain how the disease is transmitted, environmental factors, treatments, methods used to control spreading of the disease, and how to promote prevention. HIV is an infection, an inflammatory disease and contributes to chronic inflammation. Over a period of time, HIV will weaken the immune system causing old infections to reoccur and new infections to occur which will cause more inflammation. Chronic inflammation causes scarring and tissue damage. Chronic inflammation contributes to allergies, autoimmune diseases, asthma, and chronic diseases such as, heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and kidney problems. HIV is a virus that the immune system just can’t get rid of. HIV attacks an important part of the immune system, T-cells or CD4 cells. These cells fight off infections and diseases but HIV actually takes over these cells, uses them to make copies of itself, and then destroys the T-cells or CD4 cells. Over a period of time, HIV destroys so many CD4 cells or T-cells that your body doesn’t have enough to fight off infections or diseases. When this occurs, HIV leads to AIDS. AIDS is the final stage of HIV. People who are in this stage have badly damaged immune systems making them susceptible to numerous infections and diseases. To prevent death, medical intervention and treatment will be needed. HIV/AIDS is transmitted through sexual contact, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, IV drug use, occupational exposure, and in rare cases, blood
References: Zelman, M., Tompary, E., Raymond, J., Holdaway, P., & Mulvihill, M. (2010). Human diseases: A systemic approach (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. HIV/AIDS Basics. (2013). Retrieved from http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/ HIV/AIDS. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/default.htm