AIDS and HIV Information
 

AIDS Medical Terms

Once you have been diagnosed with the HIV virus or AIDS you will be bombarded with medical terms that may or may not be understandable to you.  It is important you take an active part in your medical care and treatment and to do that you will need to know some of the major terms used for your disease.  If you have picked a doctor or clinic you are comfortable with, you should be able to ask any questions that come to mind.  There are a few basic and common terms you should know as you begin the long journey through HIV and AIDS treatment.

Cancer:  This is a term for a disease in which abnormal cells divide totally out of control.  Cancer cells can spread to nearby tissues and spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to all parts of the body.  There are three main types of cancer.  Carcinoma cancer begins in the skin or tissues that line internal organs.  Sarcoma begins in fat, bone, cartilage, muscles, blood vessels and other supporting tissue.  Leukemia starts in the blood and in the tissue that forms it such as the bone marrow.

Chemotherapy and high-dose chemotherapy:  High dose chemotherapy is used for advanced stages of AIDS.  It is an intensive treatment that will destroy cancer cells, but will also destroy bone marrow.  It will cause extreme side effects and is normally followed by a stem cell or bone marrow transplant.

HAART:  This is a treatment developed for those patients who have HIV virus.  It is a combination of several antiretroviral drugs.  These drugs slow down the ability of the virus to multiply in the body.  The use of HAART will slow down the growth and development of AIDS.

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma:  This is a cancer of the immune system and includes enlargement of the lymph nodes, spleen and other tissues involved in the immune system.  Symptoms can include fatigue, weight loss, fever and night sweats.

Infection:  An infection occurs when germs multiply in the body.  They can occur anywhere and spread through the body.  These germs can be viral, bacterial, yeast or fungi in character.  They cause fever and other problems that depend on where the infection is occurring in the body.  Healthy people can fight off these infections, but if the immune system is weakened, the infections are difficult to fight.

Did You Know? 

Since 1981 when the HIV and Aids was first recognized as something new in the medical world, researchers and scientists have been working to learn as much about the new disease as possible.

So far they have determined the virus is spread by contact with another contaminated person’s body fluids. This could be through contact with blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. Once the body has the HIV virus it begins to produce more HIV particles and these begin attacking the T-cells. The T-cells or CD4 cells burst and that allows the virus to enter the bloodstream and invade other cells. You should already know the difference between HIV and AIDS.

HIV is a subgroup of retroviruses that cause AIDS. The virus kills cells in the body’s immune system and progressively destroys the body’s ability to fight infections. This inability to fight off infections also affects some cancers too. HIV gradually gets worse until the body is no longer able to fight off the infections and other bacteria that would normally not make people sick. These opportunistic infections will attack the body and could be potentially life threatening.

AIDS is the acronym for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. It was first recognized in New York City in 1981. The virus was isolated and identified in 1983, but it wasn’t until 1985 that a diagnostic test was developed to test for the disease.


Lymphoma:  This is a cancer that begins in the immune system.  There are two forms Hodgkin’s and nonHodgkin’s lymphoma. These two kinds of lymphomas can occur both in children and adults.  The treatment is based on the stage the cancer is in and if it is Hodgkin or nonHodgkin’s lymphoma.



NonHodgkin’s Lymphoma:  Also called NHL, this is a group of cancers that occur in the immune system.  Symptoms include enlarged or swollen lymph nodes, fever, and unexplained weight loss.  NonHodgkin’s lymphoma can be a fast-growing or slow-growing cancer.

Radiation Therapy:  High-energy radiation rays are used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

 

AIDS Facts

Unprotected sex is the number one reason why people get HIV and Aids.


Side Effect:  A side effect is a medical problem that attacks the body because of the drugs used to treat AIDS.  It causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, and sores in the mouth.

White Blood Cell:  A white blood cell does not contain hemoglobin.  It does contain infection-fighting lymphocytes that are made by bone marrow to fight infections.

 

 

Better Your Health

HIV and AIDS Information and Resources
◦ World Health Organization’s AIDS Staging
◦ History of AIDS Looking Closer at the HIV Virus and AIDS
◦ Living With HIV and AIDS
◦ Know the Basics about AIDS
◦ What are the Causes of AIDS
◦ Homeopathic Ways of Treating the AIDS Patient
◦ AIDS and the Nervous System
◦ Options If You Are HIV Positive
◦ The AIDS Patient and Opportunistic Infections
◦ Advanced Signs of the HIV Virus
◦ Tests For the HIV Virus
◦ Other Health Concerns For The AIDS Patient
◦ Prayer And Spirituality Used In The Treatment Of AIDS
◦ How To Prepare For Your AIDS Medical Appointment
◦ Aids and Viral Complications
◦ Parasitic Infections Common to HIV Patients
◦ AIDS Related Lymphoma
◦ Treating AIDS Related Lymphoma
◦ Serious Complications Associated With The HIV Virus
◦ White Blood Cells And AIDS
◦ Neurological Complications Associated with AIDS
◦ What To Do If You Think You Might Have Aids
◦ New Developments In AIDS Research
◦ Coping With Your AIDS Diagnosis
◦ The Symptoms of HIV Infection
◦ Education Is The Key To Stopping the AIDS Epidemic
◦ The Emphasis Must Be On Prevention for HIV and AIDS
◦ AIDS Medical Terms
◦ Take An Active Role In Your AIDS Medical Treatment
◦ Reducing The HIV Risk Factors
◦ Keeping A Positive Outlook For AIDS Patients
◦ Acupuncture To Relieve The Side Effects Of AIDS Treatment
◦ A Healthy Lifestyle Can Help You Treat AIDS
◦ AIDS Patients Are In It For Life
◦ Basic AIDS Information
◦ Do You Need To Let Everyone Know That You Are HIV Positive
◦ Important Vitamins and Minerals for a Person with HIV
◦ Treatments Available for the Patient with HIV or AIDS
◦ Ways You Cannot Get The HIV Virus
◦ Treatments Available for the HIV Positive Woman
◦ Understanding the Basics of HIV
◦ The United States AIDS Policy
◦ Treatment Guidelines for the AIDS Patient
◦ Treating Serious Illnesses in The AIDS Patient
◦ HIV Transmission
◦ How The HIV Virus Progresses
◦ The Fear the AIDS Stigma Brings
◦ I Tested Positive For the HIV Virus: What Now
◦ How To Tell Other People You Are HIV Positive
◦ Facts And Myths Regarding HIV Transmission
◦ Some Recent Advances In The Fight Against AIDS
◦ Preventive Measures You Can Take Concerning HIV Infection
◦ Dates In AIDS History
◦ The Impact of AIDS On MSM, Men Who Have Sex With Men
◦ Dealing With Malnutrition For The HIV Infected Person
◦ Know Your Personal HIV Risk Factors
◦ Keeping Yourself AIDS Free
◦ Are Condoms Effective As Protection Against AIDS Transmission
◦ Juicings Possible Benefits To The Person With HIV
◦ What Are The Initial Signs and Symptoms of HIV Infections
◦ AIDS Faqs
◦ Five Classes of Antiretroviral Drugs for Treating AIDS
◦ Dietary Needs And The HIV Patient
◦ Misconceptions About AIDS
◦ Oh No I have AIDS
◦ The Staggering AIDS Statistics
◦ Exercise May Boost Your Imune System
◦ Aids And The Toll On Families
◦ Immunization Needs For Adult AIDS Patients
◦ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome: The Basic Facts
◦ Is There A Silver Lining in The Cloud of AIDS
Site Map

Click Here to add this page to your favorites

 Only Health Topics