Category: Medical News

When HIV and AIDS were first discovered, they were commonly thought to be one in the same. Nearly everyone who had HIV would eventually get AIDS. But as treatment for AIDS and HIV has continued to progress, HIV does not always turn  into AIDS.

Today, there are special medicines called antiretroviral therapy (ART) that can help keep HIV from getting worse. These drugs can help a person live a long, healthy life with HIV, preventing them from getting AIDS later on.

HIV: What it is and how it’s treated

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is spread through certain bodily fluids. Most commonly, it is spread through sexual contact or sharing needles.

HIV attacks the body’s immune system, destroying the body’s cells that fight off infections. There is no cure for HIV, but there is treatment.

Early treatment with ART is important. Someone who begins HIV treatment in the early stages of the infection can live nearly as long as someone who doesn’t have HIV.

About 166,000 people have HIV and don’t know it. This means they aren’t getting the treatment they need to live longer and they can spread HIV to others.

HIV is NOT spread through:

*  Hugging or casual kissing

*  The air, such as sneezing or coughing

*  Mosquito or other insect bites

Symptoms of HIV

Within 2 to 4 weeks of getting HIV, a person may feel like they have a bad case of the flu. Symptoms include:

*  Fever

*  Headache

*  Swollen glands

*  Sore throat

*  Body aches

*  Rash

These symptoms may last a few days or several weeks. Having these symptoms does not mean you have HIV.

Some people do not feel sick at all after getting HIV. That’s why it’s important to get tested if you think you may have been exposed.

To find an HIV testing site near you, go tolocator.hiv.gov.

AIDS

The last stage of an HIV infection is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Once HIV has progressed to AIDS, the body’s immune system is badly damaged. A person with AIDS may get sick often, and may get infections and cancers because the body cannot fight them off.

Starting treatment at this late stage can still be helpful to someone with AIDS. But, it is much better to begin treatment as soon as possible after getting HIV.

Sources: HIV.gov and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, more than 15 million adults have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This means they cannot stop or control their drinking.

It can be hard to admit that you or someone you love has AUD. Plus, someone with AUD can’t just decide to stop drinking. AUD is a health condition that requires treatment and support. Knowing the signs can help a person seek medical help.

Alcohol abuse is defined as:

*  A woman who has more than 7 drinks per week or more than 3 drinks per sitting.

*  A man who has more than 14 drinks per week or more than 4 drinks per sitting.

*  A person older than 65 who has more than 7 drinks per week or more than 3 drinks per sitting.

Questions to ask about alcohol abuse

If you’re not sure whether your drinking is a problem, ask yourself:

*  Have I tried to stop drinking, but keep slipping up?

*  Do I feel that once I start drinking, I can’t stop?

*  Have I been told by others that my drinking is a problem?

*  Do I drink in the morning to “get my day started”?

*  Have I ever hurt myself or others because of my drinking?

*  Do I ever hide my drinking from others or lie about how much I’ve had?

*  Do I have “blackouts” or memory lapses  after drinking?

*  Is drinking interfering with my relationships?

*  Is my alcohol use getting in the way of success at work?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may have AUD. Talk to your doctor about treatment that may help you.

Preventing alcohol abuse

Alcohol problems can run in families. If you have a close family member with AUD, you may have to work harder than others to avoid alcohol problems. But, preventing alcohol abuse is possible. Follow these tips to help:

*  Be extra cautious about signs of AUD and ask yourself the questions in this article on a regular basis.

*  If you decide to drink, stop after one drink and switch to non-alcoholic beverages.

*  Get regular checkups with your doctor. Follow any recommended treatment for health conditions.

*  Avoid people who drink too much or abuse alcohol.

*  Consider joining a support group.

Did you know?

As adults grow older, our bodies are less capable of tolerating addictive substances like alcohol, and are more susceptible to their negative effects.

Source: American Academy of Family Physicians

Be wary when watching those ads for drugs on TV because 6 out of 10 claims could potentially mislead you, say researchers in an article in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

False claims are illegal, but some claims were misleading, left out important information, exaggerated facts, provided opinions, or made meaningless links with lifestyle, the researchers found in reviewing TV drug commercials. Their findings also included problems with ads for over-the-counter drugs as well as prescription medication.

Don’t believe everything you see on TV, and when it comes to making medication decisions, your doctor and pharmacist are your best sources.

Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer, is the fourth most common cancer in the United States. It is the second leading cause of death from cancer. Colorectal cancer affects all racial and ethnic groups and is most often found in people ages 50 and older.

The best way to detect colorectal cancer is to get screened regularly starting at age 50. When caught early, colon cancer can be treated and cured. There are often no signs or symptoms of early colorectal cancer – that’s why it’s so important to get screened. You may also be at higher risk if you are African American, smoke, or have a family history of colorectal cancer.

Everyone can take these healthy steps to help prevent colorectal cancer:

*  Get screened starting at age 50.

*  Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.

*  Get plenty of physical activity and eat healthy.

A new alternative to colonoscopy?

Many people delay or avoid a life-saving colonoscopy because they are nervous about the procedure, or don’t want to do the necessary prep of cleansing the colon. A new test, approved in 2014, may be an option for some lower-risk individuals.

A stool DNA test, which can be done at home and mailed to a lab, may detect certain changes that are found in cancer cells. There’s no special diet, laxatives or enemas required. For those who have been putting off colon cancer screening, the DNA test may be a good place to start.

If the DNA test shows possible cancer, however, a colonoscopy would most likely need to be done. Before choosing a colorectal cancer test, be sure to talk with your doctor about his or her recommendation. You may also need to contact your insurance company to find out which screening tests are covered.

Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. If everyone age 50 and older had their screening tests done as recommended, up to 60 percent of all colorectal cancer deaths could be avoided. Though no one looks forward to a colonoscopy, it’s worth the inconvenience. It could save your life!

Source: American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Did you know that diabetes can affect your eyes? If diabetes isn’t well controlled with a doctor’s help, it can cause problems that can lead to vision loss. Eye problems that are caused by diabetes are called diabetic eye disease.

Diabetic eye disease includes:

*  Diabetic retinopathy

*  Diabetic macular edema (DME)

*  Cataracts

*  Glaucoma

What’s the link between diabetes and your eyes?

When blood sugar is too high, it can change or damage the delicate blood vessels in the eyes. This can lead to too much pressure in the eye, bleeding in the eye or swelling in some of the eye’s important tissues. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness for adults ages 20 through 74.

Diabetic eye disease is dangerous because many people don’t know they have it. These eye problems may have no signs or symptoms at first. Then, a person may start to lose their vision after eye damage has already occurred. Unfortunately, it is harder to treat these problems at a later stage.

The good news

Diabetes can be controlled. When you have good control over your diabetes and blood sugar, you can manage or avoid diabetic eye disease.

You control your diabetes by:

*  Taking your medications as prescribed by your doctor

*  Monitoring blood sugar levels

*  Getting regular exercise

*  Eating a healthy diet

*  Working toward a healthy weight

*  Not smoking

*  Getting a full eye exam at least once a year, including an exam that includes dilating of the eyes

The diabetes ABCs are important measures of good diabetes control. Your ABCs are:

*  A = A1C, which is a blood sugar (glucose) measurement. Your doctor can test this. Most people should have an A1C below 7 percent. This should be checked every 3-6 months.

*  B = Blood pressure, which should be checked at each doctor appointment. Discuss your blood pressure target with your doctor.

*  C = Cholesterol, which may need to be checked yearly or more often. Ask your doctor about a healthy cholesterol goal.

Getting regular checkups and following your doctor’s recommendations for managing your diabetes will greatly reduce your risk of these problems. Most people with well-controlled diabetes can keep their eyes healthy.

Sources: American Diabetes Association, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases