The number of people over 50 years old who are HIV positive being under-reported. With current information stating that the infection rate is around 8 % of all newly reported infections. In addition to this, the number of people who are HIV positive and are 50 years old and older, is rising. The fact that HAART’s (highly active antiretroviral therapy) are now helping people to live longer, means that men and women with HIV/AIDS are now facing the challenges of living with the disease, along side the effects of aging.

Many of the effects that HIV/AIDS or the ARV’s (anti-retrovirals) have on health are similar to that of aging. This creates challenges in knowing what the causes of certain conditions are. The following conditions are common to both age, and HIV infection:

- Immune function decline

- Cardiovascular diseases

- High blood pressure

- Kidney disease

- Cancers

- Diabetes

- Dementia

- Depression

- Nutritional problems

- Sexual dysfunctions

It is unfortunate, but adults over 50 years of age do not participate in many clinical trials. This is helping to fuel the lack of data on the older adults and antiretroviral therapy. Some studies do indicate that the ARV’s are just as effective in older people as they are for younger people.

However, it may be partly due to the fact that older adults tend to follow their HIV prescription therapy better than younger adults. Adherence to HIV therapy is important as it offers fewer chances for the virus to adapt and grow strong again. Non-adherence often leads to patients having to switch from a single ARV therapy to a cocktail of two or three anti-AIDS medicines.

Side effects of the medicine do not seem to be any more frequent in older adults, however they may be felt to be more severe. Also, it is worth noting that CD4 counts may not increase as much in older people.

There is a mistaken belief out in society that older adults are not at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. This is simply not true, but due to this belief, many older people are diagnosed late. A consequence of this is delayed treatment, depending on which specialist you refer to, can be a good thing or a bad thing.

Those who are diagnosed later in life also face a dual stigma. Our society holds negative attitudes towards HIV and AIDS, as well as aging. As a consequence, older adults who are diagnosed more commonly experience depression.

For those who are newly diagnosed, there are some very specific screening tests which should accompany routine tests for monitoring HIV. These following tests can be an effective tool for you and your doctor to measure health, and identify early on, conditions related to HIV, AIDS, and aging:

- Bone density exam

- Blood pressure

- Fasting blood glucose

- Lipids profile

- Kidney function

Recognizing and addressing problems early on is key to successful treatment. Addressing depression and anxiety in older adults, as well as young adults, can ensure adherence to the treatment guidelines as set out by the doctor. It also serves to ensure regular health care visits, participation in social activities, and personal relationships which include a healthy sex life. Non-adherence can lead to declining health for individuals, and more virulent strains of HIV/AIDS which require more financial resources to manage.

If you think you may have been exposed to HIV or AIDS, through unprotected sex with a stranger or accidental exposure to an infected person’s blood, then there’s no time to delay – an HIV test is essential, both for your peace of mind and for the sake of your health. Here are the essential facts that you need to know about HIV and AIDS…

How can HIV/AIDS be caught?

HIV and AIDS are transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. There are several common ways that people are infected:

• Sexual contact through vaginal or anal sex
• Sharing needles with an infected individual. Rarely, this can include tattoos and piercings
• Blood transfusions or accidental exposure to infected blood
• Mother to child transmission during pregnancy or during birth. Breast feeding, in some cases, can also lead to HIV infection

How can it be prevented?

The most important precautions to take are to make sure that you always use a new, sterile needle for any injection that you take, and to always use a condom during sex unless both you and your partner have had an HIV test. The contraceptive pill, diaphragms and spermicidal jelly cannot prevent infection during sex – only condoms are an effective preventative.

What are the symptoms?

Unfortunately, HIV and AIDS do not present any clear symptoms. Approximately 4 weeks after infection, most people will suffer a fever, glandular swelling, rashes, a sore throat and muscle aches. Since these symptoms are so general, they are frequently mistaken or misdiagnosed. The only way to be certain is to take an HIV or AIDS test.

What are the treatments?

There is currently no cure or vaccine for HIV or AIDS. However, there are various courses of retroviral drugs that can help to manage the symptoms and greatly increase the quality and length of life. Early diagnosis is critical, which is why HIV tests are so important for anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to the virus.

How do I get an HIV test?

There are numerous sexual health clinics around the US that offer confidential HIV tests. Most people choose to purchase them privately rather than through their insurance for the sake of privacy.

The first HIV test that is usually administered is the HIV-1 test. This is a blood test that checks for the antibodies that the body produces to fight the HIV infection. However, it can only be taken six weeks or more after exposure, as it takes time for the body to generate these antibodies. Another HIV test, the HIV PCR, can detect the virus 4-11 days after exposure. If either of these initial tests gives a positive result, follow tests are required to confirm it (the HIV-1 test can occasionally give false positive results, as it is very sensitive.)

How often should I have an HIV test?

Comprehensive STD screening, including an HIV test, is recommended once a year for all sexually active adults who have three or more sexual partners in that year. An HIV test is also recommended if you intend to start having unprotected sex with a partner, and, due to the risk of transmission to a child, is usually part of a standard health check up at the start of a pregnancy.

It will be a stupid question, if you ask, did you know that the term STD HIV and AIDS. My God! Every school-age children are familiar with the full form above names. Them with appropriate training and sex education to know about the evil influence of these sexually transmitted diseases with HIV

In the past, people were not too concerned about AIDS or any kind of issues related to HIV. Society was very reserved, and there were few opportunities for sexual investigation.

But with the advent of modern times, human lives are quickly changing contemporary culture and the hospitable spirit of rock. Now, if you feel that there is good exposure to various sexual acts, and sex becomes a commodity in trade.

In various films and novels, you’ll feel the presence of sexual activity. Become the main source of entertainment.

Honestly, young people should be well informed about the devastating effects of STDs for HIV, which reduce the force of vengeance and self-defense. This will lessen the possibility of resistance to various diseases in front of sexually transmitted HIV. How will you affect the venereal diseases or AIDS? Frankly, due to massive sexual intercourse with multiple partners, you can cultivate the victims chances of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. In addition, you may be exposed to HIV infection through blood transmission.

Therefore, you must have self-control powers to regulate my mind, so it should not be encouraged to use sex in the wild by encouraging sexual perversion. Sex is a very important factor in increasing the possibility of AIDS.

Of course, accelerate HIV causes AIDS. If you view the on-line expert opinions, we certainly see that, especially for those who love sex cartoon natural, engaging in various sexual activities and invite the risks and dangers of HIV invasion.

You need to have your head a few relevant facts before him to make a commitment to increase sexual. A condom is the mast to resist the abnormal growth of HIV in the body. Please include a good penis condoms, which is hollow and therapeutic fully refined.

Use a condom and put it into a sexual relationship. It will be risky selection of used condoms. Ask your partner, whether infected or not STD related diseases. If she has HIV, not to engage without wearing a condom.

Proper clinical trials are needed to detect HIV. You should know that HIV / AIDS is not curable, and should therefore seek preventive measures against AIDS. Before sending your blood, it must determine whether the blood is clean and free from STD, HIV and AIDS virus. Consult with physicians, how to overcome this deadly virus HIV.

Amidst the pessimism springing from the recent failure of about 150 prevention trials that failed to shield subjects against HIV infection, there’s the resolve to continue research on developing a vaccine, and battle through all the challenges the process poses.

On a pessimistic note, hope of a vaccine in the short term isn’t anywhere in sight as France’s National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis (ANRS) has expressed. Though not in the short run, the Scripps Research Institute expressed optimism with a possibility of a vaccine in about 10 years. Till that time, the available HIV drugs need to reach one and all.

Apparently, HIV/Aids is quite a multi-headed monster. While efforts to curtail it continue, research reveals newer risky trends among people, and unravel findings that appear to be quite startling.

Risky Trends

Consider the case of India where and estimated 2 to 3.1 million HIV infected persons reside. Researchers inform that young call center workers are becoming a breeding ground for the infections because of unprotected sex with many partners amongst the staffers. About 1.3 million people graduate in India, many of whom choose to work in call centers due to good starting salaries of US$ 600 (from Indian standards).

But if you thought that India was alone, leading the trend, look at the trend in the UK, where about 33% men who have men as their sexual partners, and are aware of their HIV status, engage in unprotected and risky sexual behavior. The study was released by the Medical Research Council.

Research

Research, while it unravels mysteries, sometimes it does so at the cost of shaking you out of comfort zone. For instance, the report, from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, notices increasing HIV/AIDS infection rates among intravenous drug users, sex workers and gay men. Or that, as a study published in the Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases reveals, that many people think their partners aren’t infected, even without an STD/HIV testing.

However, not all is grim about the HIV/Aids scenario, a lot of efforts to fight it are underway.

A Shining Workplace Program

Realizing the gravity, the corporate sector in Mozambique has stepped forward to take the bull by the horns. Mozambique’s Confederation of Business Associations (CTA) has unveiled a program called EcoSIDA that’s meant to address the malady in workplaces. The aim of the body is to test workers find their HIV status. Perhaps, there are lessons in the initiative, for Indian call center industry to learn from.

Education

In Florida, US, and with the National HIV Testing Day approaching on Friday, June 27, the health agencies and not-for-profit groups would host several educational events to inform and seek active participation Southwest Florida’s minority communities. Minorities have higher than average infection rates.

Policy

Recently, the teenagers of the New York state made a request to the political leadership asking them to enact a Healthy Teens Act meant to provide fund for comprehensive sex education in schools. Similarly in India’s National AIDS Control Board has approved the country’s National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) to make care centers for kids with HIV.

Although it’s heartening to see efforts on many fronts, however a lot remains to be done. While governmental policies do take time to take effect, education and initiatives to improve the reach of existing pharmaceutical drugs for HIV can perhaps be accomplished much faster.