AIDS

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), a disease first recognized in 1981 and caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV. Once infected with HIV, a person can expect to develop AIDS within an average of 10 years depending on their lifestyle. The HIV virus is a ribonucleic acid (RNA) retrovirus that may have arisen from a similar virus found in monkeys. Its precise origins are not known, but cases of AIDS have been identified as far back as the mid-1950s. So far two active forms have been found, HIV-1 and HIV-2, both of which cause immunodeficiency.

There are 2 main methods by which HIV is transmitted - by heterosexual or homosexual sex and by direct transplantation of the virus from one indivudual to another, that is blood product transfusion, organ transplant and sharing needles by intravenous drug users. The virus is not transmitted by casual contact, for example coughs, handshake, sneezes or kissing.

HIV can be passed from a mother to her unborn baby by the placenta or via blood mixing during delivery. Breast milk can also pass the virus to the baby. Overall there is a 30 per cent chance of a baby being infected if the mother has HIV. Most babies with HIV and AIDS die before the age of four.

Transmission of the virus through infected blood or blood products is now largely eliminated in the developed world as all donations are tested. Blood in some developing countries may be infected as not all donations are adequately screened. Similar testing procedures are carried out on donated eggs and sperm in the developed countries. Formerly, some hemophiliac men were infected with HIV by blood products that were not screened, and similar accidental transmissions occurred with contaminated blood transfusions. Transmission of HIV through sexual intercourse appears to be facilitated if a woman is suffering from vaginal lesions caused by vaginitis, fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, herpes or thrush, or if she is menstruating. The use of an intrauterine device also increases the risk of infection.

At the moment the best defence against HIV and AIDS is to prevent infection by practicing safe sex: use a condom and spermicide for each act of sexual intercourse (look for latex condoms with the BSI kite mark): use a condom and spermicide for each act of sexual intercourse (look for latex condoms with the BSI kitemark); avoid contact with semen, blood, faeces, urine, vaginal fluids, etc; avoid multiple partners, especially if not known personally; avoid oral sex with a high-risk partner; use a condom if engaging in anal intercourse; don't use oil-based lubricants as they weaken condoms and make them ineffective; intravenous drug users should avoid sharing needles; sex toys or vibrators should be thoroughly washed if shared or used with a partner. These practices help to reduce the transmission of the virus through the population.

Wednesday, Sept.13 , 2006

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Fitness Tip

Try to get your spouse and your kids to work out with you. Play catch or frisbee with your kids, make fake microphones and dance to some music, or even run alongside your children as they learn to ride a bike. In fact, a recent study in Canada suggests that if you are active, your children are 6-times more likely to be active too.

Beauty Tip

While sensitive skin isn’t considered skin type, it is true that some skin regardless of whether it is oily, normal or dry – reacts to more factors than others. To ensure your skin remains reaction-free, you might want to avoid beauty products that contain these common irritants: preservatives, fragrance, dyes, vitamin E, PABA, oxybenzone, etc.

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