How do you get infected with HIV?
HIV enters the body through open cuts, sores or breaks in the skin; through mucous membranes, such as those inside the anus or vagina; or through direct injection. There are several ways by which this can happen:
•Sexual contact with an infected person. Anal or vaginal intercourse without a condom with a partner who is either positive or does not know his or her HIV status account for the vast majority of sexually-transmitted HIV cases in the U.S. and elsewhere. Oral sex is not an efficient route of HIV transmission. Kissing, massage, masturbation and "hand jobs" do not spread HIV.
•Sharing needles, syringes or other injection equipment with someone who is infected.
•Mother-to-child transmission. Babies born to HIV-positive women can be infected with the virus before or during birth, or through breastfeeding after birth.
•Transmission in health care settings. Healthcare professionals have been infected with HIV in the workplace, usually after being stuck with needles or sharp objects containing HIV-infected blood. As for HIV-positive healthcare providers infecting their patients, there have only been six documented cases, all involving the same HIV-positive dentist in the 1980s.
•Transmission via donated blood or blood clotting factors. However, this is now very rare in countries where blood is screened for HIV antibodies, including in the United States.
HIV has been detected in saliva, tears and urine. However, HIV in these fluids is only found in extremely low concentrations. What's more, there hasn't been a single case of HIV transmission through these fluids reported. HIV cannot be transmitted through day-to-day activities such as shaking hands, hugging or casual kissing. You cannot become infected from a toilet seat, drinking fountain, or sharing food or eating utensils with someone who is positive.
You also cannot get HIV from mosquitoes.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
What is AIDS?
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is a condition caused by a virus called HIV. This virus attacks the immune system, the body's "security force" that fights off infections. When the immune system breaks down, you lose this protection and can develop many serious, often deadly infections and cancers. These are called "opportunistic infections (OIs)" because they take advantage of the body's weakened defenses. You have heard it said that someone "died of AIDS." This is not entirely accurate, since it is the opportunistic infections that cause death. AIDS is the condition that lets the OIs take hold.
And what is HIV?
HIV is a virus, like the flu or cold. A virus is really nothing but a set of instructions for making new viruses, wrapped up in some fat, protein and sugar. Without living cells, a virus can't do anything—it's like a brain with no body. In order to make more viruses (and to do all of the other nasty things that viruses do), a virus has to infect a cell. HIV mostly infects CD4 cells, also known as T cells, or T-helper cells. These are white blood cells that coordinate the immune system to fight disease, much like the quarterback of a football team. Once inside the cell, HIV starts producing millions of little viruses, which eventually kill the cell and then go out to infect other cells. All of the drugs marketed to treat HIV work by interfering with this process.
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is a condition caused by a virus called HIV. This virus attacks the immune system, the body's "security force" that fights off infections. When the immune system breaks down, you lose this protection and can develop many serious, often deadly infections and cancers. These are called "opportunistic infections (OIs)" because they take advantage of the body's weakened defenses. You have heard it said that someone "died of AIDS." This is not entirely accurate, since it is the opportunistic infections that cause death. AIDS is the condition that lets the OIs take hold.
And what is HIV?
HIV is a virus, like the flu or cold. A virus is really nothing but a set of instructions for making new viruses, wrapped up in some fat, protein and sugar. Without living cells, a virus can't do anything—it's like a brain with no body. In order to make more viruses (and to do all of the other nasty things that viruses do), a virus has to infect a cell. HIV mostly infects CD4 cells, also known as T cells, or T-helper cells. These are white blood cells that coordinate the immune system to fight disease, much like the quarterback of a football team. Once inside the cell, HIV starts producing millions of little viruses, which eventually kill the cell and then go out to infect other cells. All of the drugs marketed to treat HIV work by interfering with this process.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Practice What You Preach
Let's Do This...Get Tested For HIV Today!!
Well I went to my local Health Department this morning and had an HIV test done. And I took one of my boys along with me so that he will know what to expect when he's grown enough to handle the issues and responsibilities that come along with having sex with another person. I don't want him to be afraid to go and get tested. Of course I got the "crazy-look" when I explained why I wanted him to witness the proceedure! ANYWAY!!!
I'm really glad I decided to go, because now I can explain to others what to expect when they go the "the clinic" (of course you can go else where to be tested) and it was an educational field trip for one of my kids. In Alabama they do the Ora Quick (Real) mouth swab and it takes 20 minutes to get the results. But here in NC they do a blood draw and it takes 2-3 weeks to get the results.
An hour or two of passion and then 2- 3 weeks to find out if it was deadly or not! Wow!!
Well I went to my local Health Department this morning and had an HIV test done. And I took one of my boys along with me so that he will know what to expect when he's grown enough to handle the issues and responsibilities that come along with having sex with another person. I don't want him to be afraid to go and get tested. Of course I got the "crazy-look" when I explained why I wanted him to witness the proceedure! ANYWAY!!!
I'm really glad I decided to go, because now I can explain to others what to expect when they go the "the clinic" (of course you can go else where to be tested) and it was an educational field trip for one of my kids. In Alabama they do the Ora Quick (Real) mouth swab and it takes 20 minutes to get the results. But here in NC they do a blood draw and it takes 2-3 weeks to get the results.
An hour or two of passion and then 2- 3 weeks to find out if it was deadly or not! Wow!!
So you go in and sign a couple of consent forms and then the blood draw is done. Afterwards a councelor speaks with you and answers any questions that you might have. They ask you a few questions to help determine how high your risks of being or getting infected in the future are and they give you some information and a couple of packs of male condoms. I asked about the female condoms too and was told that they're so much more expensive than the male condoms they hardly ever have them available.:( They make sure that you understand what date your results should be ready and that's all there is to it! Now for the wait...but in the meantime...
They have FREE condoms at the front desk and friendly staff in the back!
While I was making my rounds there weren't but a few people in the HIV/AIDS clinic. But there were several young mothers in the Immunization clinic waiting to get thier babies vaccinated though. There is something backwards going on in our society, but what can we do to change it? Maybe we should do a "Take your youngster to the doctor day" where the focus is specifically on the management of thier own birth control and HIV/AIDS status? Just askin.. Because if the numbers keep rising at the current rate, the day will come when the number of people infected will out number those that are not.
When all our women are infected who is going to have the babies?
People want to act like nobody's having sex. Especially our young girls and young boys. It's as if they are not under any kind of pressure to "do it" or "give it up". But the truth is that they are and they do! And we can't always be there to protect them. I personally believe that our kids are smart enough to avoid risky behaviors that they have been educated about. For example, you tell your kids to stay in the shallow end of the pool when they don't know how to swim, right? Well I sure do! And I'm going to tell them to keep themselves protected from other peoples bodily fluids and know that they understand how to do that.
Think about it...Who taught you how to use a condom?
Just trying to practice what I preach...
Sunday, August 8, 2010
“It won’t happen to me.”
WAKE UP! It's a fact that a great number of people who have tested HIV positive, are still sexually active. They often experience feelings of despair, hopelessness, denial and even fatalism. Some plunge into sexual activity with a vengeance. Some turn bitter. This is not to condemn those individuals; who knows how we would act, but many who know they are carriers, are very active sexually. And many overwhelmed with their own distress are not protecting their partners. Some go so far as to hide it from them.
THIS REALLY HAPPENS! You see, this is not hearsay. I worked as a correctional officer in a male facility for several years and it always amazed me to see an inmate living as a gay man amongst his peers, go to a convalescent visit with his wife as if it were nothing. I'm not judging anybody. There is a point that I'm trying to make here. It's about the things we take for granted. And it's a fact that stuff happens sometimes.
GO TOGETHER AND GET TESTED! Cause like my girl Rae Lewis-Thornton said...if it ain't in your pocket, then you don't know where it's been! And that's the truth. Maybe your man shared tattoo needles. Innocent enough, but a potentially deadly decision just the same. So if it's a ride that you feel you just have to take, make sure he's willing to take the test. As a matter of fact go together and get tested. It'll help put his mind at ease about your status too. I'm just sayin.
THIS REALLY HAPPENS! You see, this is not hearsay. I worked as a correctional officer in a male facility for several years and it always amazed me to see an inmate living as a gay man amongst his peers, go to a convalescent visit with his wife as if it were nothing. I'm not judging anybody. There is a point that I'm trying to make here. It's about the things we take for granted. And it's a fact that stuff happens sometimes.
GO TOGETHER AND GET TESTED! Cause like my girl Rae Lewis-Thornton said...if it ain't in your pocket, then you don't know where it's been! And that's the truth. Maybe your man shared tattoo needles. Innocent enough, but a potentially deadly decision just the same. So if it's a ride that you feel you just have to take, make sure he's willing to take the test. As a matter of fact go together and get tested. It'll help put his mind at ease about your status too. I'm just sayin.
Keeping It Real
This blog is in no way a substitute for the advice of a qualified health-care provider. Because I am not an expert on the subject of HIV or AIDS, nor do I claim to be.
I am just a woman who has been blessed enough to live through my wreckless and foolish past of getting jiggy with it and not worrying about wrapping anything up. I was one of those women who made love to a person because I wanted them to love me. I know now that that's as backwards as it gets! But back then I didn't know about loving or respecting myself. I had nobody in my life to share that very important life lesson with me. They say God protects babies and fools! And for that I am thankful.
My purpose here on the blog is not to bring embarrassment upon myself or anyone else for that matter. I am merely being willing to share my life in order for someone else to hopefully learn something from it. Because when you're going though troubled times it's too easy to believe that nobody else cares or understands where you're coming from. It feels like it's only happening to you, right? Well that is wrong! Look at the record number of unintended pregnancies (CDC says 49% of all pregnancies are unintended!), and domestic violence (is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States, more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined). Am I getting through to you yet?!
We have to begin talking about this stuff! And that's all I'm trying to do here is give a safe place to do just that...talk about it.
And given my experiences I am of the opinion that it starts at home, a young person learning to love him or herself enough to make healthy choices for themselves. I believe it's called values. I'm from a family that doesn't talk. I know it has to sound crazy to someone reading this, but it's true. For example, when I was a child and I questioned why something was a certain way I was always told 'because I said so'. And so when I met my husband I thought he would eventually drive me crazy!...because he is from a family of talkers. So it's been a process for us to find a balance that works for the two of us. I've always been quick with the pen and paper whereas he's quicker to want to actually talk through it.
Don't let HIV happen to you or someone you care about!
People come into your life for a reason...I really believe that. Because we can learn so much from each other if we allow it to happen. I'm getting some really good feedback to my inbox on FB. Thanks for believing in what I'm attempting to do here, it means a lot. I'm looking forward to the time when we can all be comfortable enough to post here on my blog page. I understand the reservations and the fear of being tagged or whatever. I really do. I just don't care. I read a post on FB that says if you're talking behind my back then you're in a good position to kiss my butt. So make up a username if you want too! Just stop not talking about these issues that are destroying our families and our community.
I am just a woman who has been blessed enough to live through my wreckless and foolish past of getting jiggy with it and not worrying about wrapping anything up. I was one of those women who made love to a person because I wanted them to love me. I know now that that's as backwards as it gets! But back then I didn't know about loving or respecting myself. I had nobody in my life to share that very important life lesson with me. They say God protects babies and fools! And for that I am thankful.
My purpose here on the blog is not to bring embarrassment upon myself or anyone else for that matter. I am merely being willing to share my life in order for someone else to hopefully learn something from it. Because when you're going though troubled times it's too easy to believe that nobody else cares or understands where you're coming from. It feels like it's only happening to you, right? Well that is wrong! Look at the record number of unintended pregnancies (CDC says 49% of all pregnancies are unintended!), and domestic violence (is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States, more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined). Am I getting through to you yet?!
We have to begin talking about this stuff! And that's all I'm trying to do here is give a safe place to do just that...talk about it.
And given my experiences I am of the opinion that it starts at home, a young person learning to love him or herself enough to make healthy choices for themselves. I believe it's called values. I'm from a family that doesn't talk. I know it has to sound crazy to someone reading this, but it's true. For example, when I was a child and I questioned why something was a certain way I was always told 'because I said so'. And so when I met my husband I thought he would eventually drive me crazy!...because he is from a family of talkers. So it's been a process for us to find a balance that works for the two of us. I've always been quick with the pen and paper whereas he's quicker to want to actually talk through it.
Don't let HIV happen to you or someone you care about!
People come into your life for a reason...I really believe that. Because we can learn so much from each other if we allow it to happen. I'm getting some really good feedback to my inbox on FB. Thanks for believing in what I'm attempting to do here, it means a lot. I'm looking forward to the time when we can all be comfortable enough to post here on my blog page. I understand the reservations and the fear of being tagged or whatever. I really do. I just don't care. I read a post on FB that says if you're talking behind my back then you're in a good position to kiss my butt. So make up a username if you want too! Just stop not talking about these issues that are destroying our families and our community.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Awareness Is Always In Style
I was talking to a friend of mine last night on the way to our Mocha Mom's Nite Out event and she made the comment that she thinks HIV and AIDS have become stale..lost it's flavor so to speak and so nobody is really interested in hearing about the issues anymore. WOW! I had to think about that one for a minute and I against my will, agreed that she had a point.
Because look at how politicians spring up seemingly out of nowhere at us every time there is a new election coming up. They come with a new set of promises, kissing the babies and posing with people that they ordinarily wouldn't give the time of day, right? But they keep politics fresh in their own way giving us something to check out and investigate. They seem to be on every network all day and all night long. And we want to be sure of which one is going to come through for our community because we’re the ones who have to live here.
Well let me help to refresh and energize your mind just a little bit about HIV and AIDS. Because it’s your body! And unless you have a clone you better get it together honey. But if you have it together then keep it together and PLEASE help someone you love to do the same. This infection has been around since the early 1980’s but there is always more to know. In fact, there's so much to learn about HIV/AIDS that it can seem overwhelming.
HIV is the infection that causes AIDS.
HIV has few or no symptoms for up to 10 years or more before symptoms of AIDS develop.
There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but treatment is available.
HIV can be spread during sex play.
Latex and female condoms offer very good protection against HIV.
Safer Sex reduces the risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
Using condoms makes vaginal or anal intercourse safer sex
Using condoms or other barriers makes oral sex safer sex
Having sex play without intercourse can be even safer sex
Safer sex can be very pleasurable and exciting
We all need to care about protecting ourselves and the ones we love. For sexually active people that means practicing safer sex. We can use it to reduce our risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It lets us protect ourselves — and our partners — while we enjoy sex play with them. Safer sex is for responsible people who care about their and their partners' pleasure and health.
Bt the way, I don’t know about you but I’m not seeing any ads on my TV screen trying to educate me and my kids about AIDS or HIV these days. I’ve said before that we have got to start teaching our children about how important it is to protect their bodies. There is no way around it.
I told my boys that it’s like putting a drop of food coloring into a cup of water. What happens? The water turns from clear to whatever color you dropped into it, right? Ok, now how do you get the color out? You can’t! That’s how I drew a picture for them to see that if you make bad choices and get infected then that’s just the way it is, you’re infected now…period. Your momma and daddy can’t love it away.
I’ll talk more about my views on our children and HIV/AIDS on another day. I just wanted to share that with you this morning. But my kids are awake now and so it’s time for me to cook some breakfast around here! I like to either get up early to write or stay up late because I have less distractions then. So until next time…Peace & Blessing to you and yours.
Because look at how politicians spring up seemingly out of nowhere at us every time there is a new election coming up. They come with a new set of promises, kissing the babies and posing with people that they ordinarily wouldn't give the time of day, right? But they keep politics fresh in their own way giving us something to check out and investigate. They seem to be on every network all day and all night long. And we want to be sure of which one is going to come through for our community because we’re the ones who have to live here.
Well let me help to refresh and energize your mind just a little bit about HIV and AIDS. Because it’s your body! And unless you have a clone you better get it together honey. But if you have it together then keep it together and PLEASE help someone you love to do the same. This infection has been around since the early 1980’s but there is always more to know. In fact, there's so much to learn about HIV/AIDS that it can seem overwhelming.
HIV is the infection that causes AIDS.
HIV has few or no symptoms for up to 10 years or more before symptoms of AIDS develop.
There is no cure for HIV/AIDS, but treatment is available.
HIV can be spread during sex play.
Latex and female condoms offer very good protection against HIV.
Safer Sex reduces the risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
Using condoms makes vaginal or anal intercourse safer sex
Using condoms or other barriers makes oral sex safer sex
Having sex play without intercourse can be even safer sex
Safer sex can be very pleasurable and exciting
Have I got your attention yet?
We all need to care about protecting ourselves and the ones we love. For sexually active people that means practicing safer sex. We can use it to reduce our risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It lets us protect ourselves — and our partners — while we enjoy sex play with them. Safer sex is for responsible people who care about their and their partners' pleasure and health.
Bt the way, I don’t know about you but I’m not seeing any ads on my TV screen trying to educate me and my kids about AIDS or HIV these days. I’ve said before that we have got to start teaching our children about how important it is to protect their bodies. There is no way around it.
I told my boys that it’s like putting a drop of food coloring into a cup of water. What happens? The water turns from clear to whatever color you dropped into it, right? Ok, now how do you get the color out? You can’t! That’s how I drew a picture for them to see that if you make bad choices and get infected then that’s just the way it is, you’re infected now…period. Your momma and daddy can’t love it away.
I’ll talk more about my views on our children and HIV/AIDS on another day. I just wanted to share that with you this morning. But my kids are awake now and so it’s time for me to cook some breakfast around here! I like to either get up early to write or stay up late because I have less distractions then. So until next time…Peace & Blessing to you and yours.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)