Reducing The HIV Risk Factors

What is a risk factor?  It is something that raises your chances of getting a disease or a condition.  Risk factors for AIDS are well-known and following some safety procedures can reduce your risk.  Certain lifestyles increase your risk factors of getting the HIV virus and AIDS.  It is possible to get the virus with or without some of these risk factors; but the more risks you have, the higher your chances are of developing AIDS.

Some risky behaviors that will increase your risk of developing AIDS are simple to learn and to avoid.  The first is having unprotected sex with someone you know has had multiple partners, both homosexuals and heterosexuals.  Most people who have the HIV virus or AIDS got it by not following safe sex habits.  Having sexual relations with someone who is infected with the HIV virus is the biggest risk factor getting AIDS.  The danger of having unprotected sex with multiple partners is that AIDS virus is often not detected until the person has developed serious signs of the disease. 

The signs of the HIV virus may only include mild flu-like symptoms after being infected.  As the disease progresses the flu-like symptoms occur again but are much stronger in intensity.  If you know you are at risk for getting the HIV virus, you should have a test to find out if you are positive for having HIV antibodies. 

If you are using a condom there is still a danger of being infected by the HIV virus.  Condoms are not foolproof.  They can be broken, or tiny tears can allow the virus to be transferred from one person to another.  The vagina, vulva, rectum, mouth, and penis call provide entry points for the HIV virus.  Remember, having unprotected sex with one person is like having sex with all of their previous partners also.

Did You Know? 

There are some ways you cannot get AIDS! Many of these myths persisted for years after scientists proved AIDS could not be transferred in these ways. You cannot get AIDS from food or water. Again, it is only transferred by sexual contact or contact with body fluids of an individual who has HIV or AIDS. Yes, I know there was a myth flying around you could get AIDS by getting a mosquito bite, but again this is not true. Insects and animals cannot transfer the virus to a human. It is fine to adopt a pet from a person who has AIDS. Giving blood cannot give you AIDS. The danger is in receiving tainted blood that has been donated by someone who has AIDS. Since 1985, this has been rare because all donated blood is run through tests to insure it is not infected with HIV. It is safe to give blood because all medical equipment used is sterilized and clean. Last, you cannot get AIDS from having every-day contact with a person suffering from AIDS. Shaking hands, giving a hug, or being in the same room with an AIDS patient will not cause you to be infected.

If you are a drug user you will be at higher risk for getting infected with the HIV virus.  Many drug users use contaminated needles and other drug paraphernalia.  If you are a drug user, contact your community health service to ask about a needle and syringe exchange program.  Many times, they will provide you with clean needles and syringes to help prevent the spread of AIDS.  Even a tiny speck of blood can transfer the HIV virus.

There are certain medical conditions that can put you at higher risk for developing AIDS.  If you already have a sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis, genital herpes, gonorrhea it gives you an increased risk of getting the HIV virus from an infected partner. 

AIDS Facts If you have increased risk factors for developing AIDS, you should have a test done regularly every year.

Some medical procedures may put you at an increased risk too.  Blood supplies were not tested for the HIV virus before 1985.  Contaminated blood, platelets, or plasma can infect an otherwise low risk, healthy person with the HIV virus.  Since the blood was not tested, there were many cases of a person getting AIDS because of a blood transfusion.  Two other risk factors are from receiving transplanted organs and from artificial insemination.

Important Information in AIDS and HIV Issues

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