Beauty Tips

To remove the dark marks caused by a bad sun tan, add 5 table spoons of rose water to one table spoon of lime juice and apply to face or affected area at night. Wash off with water the next morning to find clear beautiful skin.

To keep your skin and body smelling nice the whole day, add dried rose petals to your bath water. You are sure to smell lovely the whole day.. No need for an expensive perfume!
Chewing a cardamom is an excellent remedy for bad breath and also cuts down on excessive thirst.

To get rid of oily hair, just add three teaspoons of lime juice in the final rinse while washing your hair. Your hair will become much more manageable. Try this for two times in a week for two weeks to see astonishing results.

in order to get a cheap and effective face mask, grind a mixture of fruit (orange, lemon) and Vegetable (Cucumber) peels in a mixer. Apply the mixture as a face pack and wash after 20 minutes. Try this once daily, for 7 days to see a marked improvement in facial skin. Find glowing skin in a few days.

Remove scars on your hands and feet the natural way …. Rub them with lemon peels 5- 7 minutes a day, twice a day for 7 days to see a marked improvement.
Try this alternative face mask: Prepare a mixture of sandal wood paste and raw milk in the ratio 1: 3 and rub on your face and hands. Leave for 15 minutes and wash off. Find glowing, beautiful lovely smelling skin. Try this once every two days for ten days and enjoy the difference.
For sparkling teeth , try sprinkling a pinch of soda bicarbonate on your tooth brush and brushing your teeth once a day for 10 days … You will be amazed by the difference you can see after just 5 days .

Use the scrapings of bitter gourd ( Karela) to remove pimples and get rid of acne and black heads. Just rub the scrapings (peels) on your face, once a day for 3- 5 days to see, blackheads vanish and a marked reduction in pimples and acne.

To treat darkened elbows and lower arms, an effective solution is to prepare a paste of fresh milk cream, pinch of turmeric powder and two to three drops of basil ( tulsi) leaf extract . Apply this paste to the darkened are and leave overnight. Wash off in the morning. Repeat for 7 nights to find marked improvement.

To give your hair bounce, mix gram flour ( besan) with Starch from cooked rice and apply to hair . Wash after few minutes to find hair with flair.

To cure bad breath, boil a few fenugreek (methi) leaves in water and then use this water for gargling. You will find a marked improvement within 3 days of this usage.

To prevent pimples and reduce acne, wash your face with raw milk before you go to sleep. This is an effective and easy solution.

To prevent body odor, add a little ‘alum’ to your bath water.

To smoothen wrinkles and moisturize the skin the natural way, peel and core a small apple, mash it well and blend with one teaspoon of honey. Apply this mixture on the face and neck slowly in an upwards direction. Wash off with warm water after 15 minutes to see a marked improvement. Try this thrice a week for 3 weeks and then only once a week to find a distinct lack of wrinkles and moisturized skin.

For healthy and voluminous hair, heat coconut oil, add two flakes of garlic and three peppercorns to it. Cool and apply to your scalp for health hair.
One very effective way to cure bad breath is to eat a green unripe apple. It will naturally cleanse your mouth and give it a fresh feel. If apples are unavailable try a semi hard citrus fruit. It should be equally effective.

Rub your teeth with burnt almond shell powder to reduce the yellow tint. See a marked improvement in 7 days.

To moisturize and make smooth dry cracked skin, apply a mixture of glycerin, fresh cream and honey in the ratio 1: 1: 1. This is an effective cure for cracked heels also.

A Vegiterian Diet Best?

a Vegetarian Diet Best?
Learn how to create a well-balanced diet without meat.
Research shows that people who follow a vegetarian eating plan, on average, eat fewer calories and less fat than non-vegetarians. They also tend to have lower body weights relative to their heights than non-vegetarians. Choosing a vegetarian eating plan with a low fat content may be helpful for weight loss. But vegetarians—like non-vegetarians—can make food choices that contribute to weight gain, like eating large amounts of high-fat, high-calorie foods or foods with little or no nutritional value.
Vegetarian diets should be as carefully planned as non-vegetarian diets to make sure they are balanced. In our diets, animal products provide good sources of iron, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, zinc, and protein. Be sure to include the following vegetarian foods to get all the nutrients you need:
Iron: cashews, spinach, lentils, garbanzo beans, fortified bread or cereal
Calcium: dairy products, fortified soy-based beverages, tofu made with calcium sulfate, collard greens, kale, broccoli
Vitamin D: fortified foods and beverages including milk, soy-based beverages, or cereal
Vitamin B12: eggs, dairy products, fortified cereal or soy-based beverages, tempeh, miso (tempeh and miso are foods made from soybeans)
Zinc: whole grains (especially the germ and bran of the grain), nuts, tofu, leafy vegetables (spinach, cabbage, lettuce)
Protein: eggs, dairy products, beans, peas, nuts, seeds, tofu, tempeh, soy-based burgers

5 Simple Changes for a Healthier Diet

Improving your eating habits is a great way to keep your heart healthier.
Choosing a healthy eating plan is a great way to lose weight, feel more energetic, and reduce your risk of disease. But it can sometimes be difficult to quit bad eating habits cold turkey, or to know where to start changing your diet. Consider some of the following tips for adapting to your new way of life — trying one or two a week until you've completed your diet overhaul.

If you now eat one or two vegetables a day, add a serving at lunch and another at dinner.
If you don't eat fruit now or have only juice at breakfast, add a serving to your meals or have it as a snack.
Gradually increase your use of fat-free and low-fat dairy products to three servings a day. For example, drink milk with lunch or dinner, instead of soda, sugar-sweetened tea, or alcohol. Choose low-fat (1 percent) or fat-free (skim) dairy products to reduce your intake of saturated fat, total fat, cholesterol, and calories.
Read food labels on margarines and salad dressings to choose those lowest in saturated fat and trans fat. Some margarines are now trans-fat-free.
Treat meat as one part of the whole meal, instead of the focus:
Limit meat to 6 ounces a day (2 servings) — that's all you need. (A single 3-ounce serving is the size of a deck of cards.)
If you now eat large portions of meat, cut them back gradually — by a half or a third at each meal.
Include two or more vegetarian-style (meatless) meals each week.
Increase servings of vegetables, rice, pasta, and dry beans in meals. Try casseroles and pasta, and stir-fry dishes, which have less meat and more vegetables, grains, and dry beans.

5 ways to minimize your child's Asthma Symptoms

5 Ways to Minimize Your Child's Asthma Symptoms

You may be able to spare your child some asthma agony by doing simple things such as vacuuming at least once a week.
There are lots of ways you can help your child cope with asthma. Follow these steps:

Reduce the number of allergy triggers in your child's environment, starting in the bedroom, where younger children can spend as much as 12 to 18 hours a day.

Cover the pillows, mattress, and box spring in allergen-proof casings, and wash the bed linens weekly in 130-degree water.

Use area carpets that are washable, and buy only washable stuffed animals.

Vacuum once a week or more, and try not to allow pets in the bedroom or, if possible, in the entire house.

Restrict smoking in your home, as smoke can filter through the vents into all parts of a house, and if there is an animal in the home, use air cleaners with HEPA filters for children sensitive to animal dander.

5 tips for Healthy cooking

5 Tips for Healthy Cooking
1. Think positive. Cooking with poultry, fish, fruits, veggies, beans, whole grains, herbs and seasonings make meals taste better and it's a bonus that they're good for you!

2. Read labels. Informed cooks are better cooks ... avoid foods with hydrogenated oils (especially near the top of the ingredients list) and high percentages of saturated fat.

3. Use canola or olive oil. These fats may actually reduce heart disease risk - remember that even "good" fats have lots of calories, so don't go overboard.

4. Get a good skillet. Cheap pans warp and distribute heat unevenly; their handles often crack and the nonstick coating may flake off.

5. Buy produce in season. The flavor is better, nutrients aren't lost in long storage or transit, and prices are affordable.

Eye Infections

EYE INFECTIONS
· What is eye infection?
Eyes can get infections from bacteria, fungi or viruses. Eye infections can occur in different parts of the eye and can affect just one eye or both. Two common eye infections are
Conjunctivitis - also known as pink eye. Conjunctivitis is often due to an infection. Children frequently get it, and it is very contagious.
Stye - a bump on the eyelid that happens when bacteria from your skin get into the hair follicle of an eyelash.
The different eye infections are

1. conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis (commonly called "Pink Eye" or "Red Eye" in North America, and "Madras eye" in India [1]) is an inflammation of the conjunctiva (the outermost layer of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids), most commonly due to an allergic reaction or an infection (usually viral, but sometimes bacterial).
Symptoms of conjunctivitis
Redness, irritation, watering of eyes is common symptoms of conjunctivitis.
Acute allergic conjunctivitis is typically itchy, sometimes distressingly so, and often involves some lid swelling. Chronic allergy often causes just itch or irritation.
Viral conjunctivitis is often associated with an infection of the upper respiratory tract, a common cold, and/or a sore throat. Its symptoms include watery discharge and variable itch. The infection usually begins with one eye, but may spread easily to the other.
Bacterial conjunctivitis due to the common pyogenic (pus-producing) bacteria causes marked grittiness/irritation and a stringy, opaque, grey or yellowish mucopurulent discharge that may cause the lids to stick together (matting), especially after sleeping. Another symptom that could be caused by Bacterial Conjunctivitis is severe crusting of the infected eye and the surrounding skin.
· What are the causes of conjunctivitis?
Conjunctivitis is most often the result of viruses. Conjunctivitis can also be caused by bacterial infections, allergies, chemicals, irritation from contact lenses, or eye injury. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are very contagious. If both eyes are affected, with the predominant symptom being itching and a clear discharge, it is likely that allergies are the cause. A thick, crusty discharge may be the sign of a bacterial infection.

Treatment

Conjunctivitis is generally not a serious problem. But it is important to consult doctor. Bacterial conjunctivitis is generally treated with antibiotic drops or ointment. Like a cold, viral conjunctivitis will usually go away on its own, even without treatment. But eye-drops are often prescribed to help control the symptoms. Conjunctivitis caused by viruses does not respond to antibiotics, but antihistamines and anti-inflammatory medications may help relieve symptoms. Antibiotic drops may be prescribed, nevertheless, to prevent a secondary bacterial infection.

Also like a cold, viral conjunctivitis is very contagious. Coughing or sneezing can spread the infection. Sharing makeup, towels, or anything else that touches the eye may spread the infection. Washing hands frequently and avoiding rubbing the eye can help decrease the risk of spreading the infection to others. Steroid eye-drops should not be used in bacterial or viral conjunctivitis.

Prevention:

Don't touch or rub the infected eye(s).
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water.
Wash any discharge from your eyes twice a day using a fresh cotton ball or paper towel. Afterwards, discard the cotton ball and wash your hands with soap and warm water.
Wash your bed linens, pillowcases, and towels in hot water and detergent.
Avoid wearing eye makeup.
Don't share eye makeup with anyone else.
Never wear another person's contact lens.
Wear glasses instead of contact lenses. Throw away disposable lenses or be sure to clean extended wear lenses and all eyewear cases.
Avoid sharing common articles such as unwashed towels, cups, and glasses.
Wash your hands after applying the eye drops or ointment to your eye or your child's eye.
Do not use eye drops in a non-infected eye that were used for an infected one.
2. STYLE:

A stye, medically known as a hordeolum, is a small lump that appears on, inside or under the eyelid or on the eyelashes. Styes typically result from a staphylococcal bacteria infection or from a clogging of the oil glands around the eyelashes or inside the eyelid.

Symptoms

Redness, tenderness and pain are usually the first symptoms of a stye (though eyelash styes are less painful and heal with less effort than eyelid styes). These are followed by:
swelling in a small area or the entire eyelid
the affected eye may water, feel irritated or be sensitive to light
discomfort when blinking
a small yellowish spot in the center of a sty, which occurs when pus collects and expands. Pain is usually relieved when the stye ruptures, draining the pus.
Causes
The real cause of stye is the toxic condition of the child's system brought about by wrong eating habits, especially consumption of foods such as white bread, refined cereals, boiled potatoes, pudding, pies and confectionery.
Treatment
Apply a washcloth on the affected eye for 10 minutes, four times per day, to release the fluids that have built up inside the stye. Do not squeeze the stye. Antibiotic ointment, or an antibiotic-steroid combination, can be used until symptoms have cleared. If the eyelash stye lasts for more than 3 days or the infection appears to be spreading, consult an eye doctor.



Prevention

Wash hands thoroughly before touching the skin around the eye. Careful attention to cleaning excess oils from the edges of the lids may help prevent styes in susceptible persons.
Avoid sharing eye makeup, especially if you're prone to recurring styes.
Stress and strain to eyes especially working for a long time on the computer.
Contact lenses should not be worn during infection or drainage of a style.
not touching the eye and surrounding areas.
3.EYE DISCHARGE:
Eye burning with discharge is burning, itching, or drainage from the eye of any substance other than tears.
Causes
Allergies, including seasonal allergies or hayfever
Bacterial infections
Chemical irritants (such as chlorine in a swimming pool or makeup)
Conjunctivitis or pink eye
Irritants in the air (cigarette smoke or smog)
Treatment and management:
Apply cool compresses to soothe itching.
If the eyelids have crusts, gently soften them with warm compresses. Gently washing the eyelids with baby shampoo on a cotton applicator can help remove crusts.
Artificial tears used 4-6 times a day can also relieve symptoms. Avoid over-the-counter eye drops other than artificial tears because they will eventually make symptoms worse.
Itching and burning due to allergy or chemicals can be very uncomfortable. Attempt to determine the cause of the allergy, such as pet, seasonal pollen, or irritating cosmetics.
Refrigerated artificial tears can be very soothing. Antihistamine drops, available from your health care provider, can be helpful.
Pink eye or viral conjunctivitis causes a red or bloodshot eye and excessive tearing. If you suspect pink eye, remember to wash your hands often, and avoid touching the unaffected eye. The infection will run its course in about 10 days.
Bacterial conjunctivitis is not common, but if you have eye discharge that is white, yellow, or greenish, contact your health care provider
4. BLEPHARITIS:
Blepharitis / is an ocular disease characterized by inflammation of the eyelid margins. Blepharitis may cause redness of the eyes, itching and irritation of the eyelids in one or both eyes. Its appearance is often confused with conjunctivitis and due to its recurring nature it is the most common cause of "recurrent conjunctivitis" in older people
Symptoms:
Eye irritation
crusty and reddened eyelids
swollen eyelids
itching and burning eyelids
a granular sensation when blinking
loss of eyelashes



Causes:
Blepharitis is usually caused by seborrheic dermatitis, a bacterial infection, or a combination of both. Allergies or eyelash infestation with lice may less commonly cause Blepharitis. Blepharitis is characterized by excess oil production in the glands near the eyelid, which creates a favorable environment for the excess growth of bacteria which are normally present on the skin. Eyelids appear red and irritated, with scales that cling to the base of the eyelashes. Blepharitis may be associated with repeated styes and chalazia.Risk factors are seborrheic dermatitis of the face or scalp, rosacea, and allergies.
Treatment
The primary treatment is careful daily cleansing of the lid margins to remove the skin oils that the bacteria feed on.
Baby shampoo or special cleansers may be recommended by your health care provider.
Antibiotic ointments may also be helpful in controlling bacteria on the lids.
Complications
styes or chalazia
injury to the eye tissue (corneal ulcer) from irritation
inflammation of the surface of the eye (conjunctivitis)
loss of eyelashes
scarring of the eyelids

Heart Attack

Angioplasty
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In general, the treatment of choice is now angioplasty with stent insertion.


What Is a Heart Attack?
A heart attack, known medically as a myocardial infarction, occurs when a blood clot blocks one of the coronary arteries (see How a Heart Attack Happens ). Each coronary artery supplies blood to a specific part of the heart’s muscular wall, so a blocked artery causes pain and malfunction in the area it supplies. Depending on the location and the amount of heart muscle involved, this malfunction can seriously interfere with the heart’s ability to pump blood. Also, some of the coronary arteries supply areas of the heart that regulate heartbeat, so a blockage sometimes causes potentially fatal abnormal heartbeats called cardiac arrhythmias. Most people are familiar with the classic description of a heart attack: crushing chest pressure; pain radiating to the neck, jaw, back, or arm; sweating and shortness of breath; sudden "indigestion" that isn’t relieved by antacids. If you experience these symptoms or others that indicate you may be having a heart attack
Common Symptoms of a Heart Attack
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Learn the symptoms of a heart attack and seek help immediately if you think you are having one. Although the most common sign of a heart attack in both men and women is chest pain or discomfort, other symptoms tend to vary depending on your gender.
Men
Women
Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest
Pain or discomfort that radiates to upper body, especially shoulders or arms and neck
Sweating
Dizziness
Pain or discomfort in the center of the chest (though not as frequently as in men)
Shortness of breath
Weakness, fatigue
Nausea/vomiting
Back or jaw pain

Types of Heart Attacks
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Doctors analyze EKG patterns to help determine what type of heart attack you are having. In an ST-elevation heart attack, which requires the most aggressive treatment, the ST segment is usually above the baseline (middle). In a non-ST-elevation heart attack, the ST segment is below baseline (right). However, EKG patterns are seldom so clear, and blood tests and other tests will confirm a diagnosis.

The increased risk of heart attack that comes with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat arthritis pain is directly related to the specific pain-causing molecule they act against, a new study finds.
"We found a significant correlation between the degree of inhibition in vitro [in the laboratory] of whole blood cox-2, but not whole blood cox-1," said the report by researchers in Spain and Italy.
Cox-1 and cox-2 are different forms of cyclooxygenase, an enzyme whose activity increases inflammation and pain. Older NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, act primarily against cox-1. A newer generation of NSAIDs that act against cox-2 reduce the gastrointestinal bleeding, pain and inflammation that are major side effects of the cox-1 drugs, but they have been found to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Three cox-2 inhibitor NSAIDs have been marketed in the United States. Two of them -- Bextra and Vioxx -- were withdrawn from the market earlier this decade because of their association with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. A third cox-2, Celebrex, remains available, but with a label warning of cardiovascular risk.
All NSAIDs increase heart risk, according to the new study of 8,852 people who had heart attacks. And the increase was related to both the dosage and the length of time the drugs were taken. But the risk was increased by 18 percent by drugs acting primarily against cox-1, compared to a 60 percent increase for those with the greatest cox-2 activity.
The findings were published in the Nov. 11 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

AIDS

AIDS
· Definition:
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a set of symptoms and infections resulting from the damage to the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

· Route of transmission:
Transmission of HIV occur one of the following routes
1. Sexual route-homosexuality, heterosexuality, oral sex.
2. Parental route- infected blood transfusion, blood products, syringes, needles, blade, and surgical instrument.
3. Perinatal/ Tran placental- from mother to baby through placenta or breast milk.

· Causes:
Having Unprotected Sex
Most people become infected with HIV through sexual activity. You can contract AIDS by not using a condom when having sexual relations with a person infected with HIV. During sex, the vagina, vulva, penis, rectum, and mouth can provide entry points for the virus.
Other risky behaviors include having:
Sex with someone without knowing his or her HIV status
More than one sex partner
Sex with someone who has more than one sexual partner
Anal intercourse
Sharing Needles or Syringes
Using a needle or syringe that contains even a small amount of infected blood can transmit HIV infection.


Having Certain Medical Conditions
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and vaginal infections caused by bacteria tend to increase the the risk of HIV transmission during sex with an HIV-infected partner. Examples of STDs include:
Syphilis
Genital herpes
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
For men, not being circumcised can also increase the risk of getting HIV infection.
Having Certain Medical Procedures
Having a blood transfusion or receiving blood products before 1985 increases your risk of HIV infection and AIDS. Before blood banks began testing donated blood for HIV in 1985, there was no way of knowing if the blood was contaminated with HIV, and recipients could become infected through transfusions.
Receiving blood products, tissue or organ transplantation, or artificial insemination increases your risk of HIV infection and AIDS. Even though blood products are now screened for HIV, there is still some degree of risk because tests cannot detect HIV immediately after transmission.
Being a Healthcare Worker
Exposure to contaminated blood and needles puts healthcare workers at risk for HIV infection.
You cannot get AIDS/HIV from touching someone or sharing items, such as cups or pencils, or through coughing and sneezing. Additionally, HIV is not spread through routine contact in restaurants, the workplace or school.





Symptoms:
These symptoms are as follows:
extreme fatigue
rapid weight loss from an unknown cause (more than 10 lbs. in two months for no reason)
appearance of swollen or tender glands in the neck, armpits or groin, for no apparent reason, lasting for more than four weeks
unexplained shortness of breath, frequently accompanied by a dry cough, not due to allergies or smoking
persistent diarrhea
intermittent high fever or soaking night sweats of unknown origin
a marked change in an illness pattern, either in frequency, severity, or length of sickness
appearance of one or more purple spots on the surface of the skin, inside the mouth, anus or nasal passages
whitish coating on the tongue, throat or vagina
forgetfulness, confusion and other signs of mental deterioration

Test/diagnosis:
ELISA Test — ELISA, which stands for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, is used to detect HIV infection. If an ELISA test is positive, the Western blot test is usually administered to confirm the diagnosis. If an ELISA test is negative, but you think you may have HIV, you should be tested again in one to three months. ELISA is quite sensitive in chronic HIV infection, but because antibodies aren't produced immediately upon infection, you may test negative during a "window" of a few weeks to a few months after being infected. Even though your test result may be negative during this window, you may have a high level of the virus and be at risk of transmitting infection.
Home Tests — The only home test approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is called the Home Access Express Test, which is sold in pharmacies.
Saliva Tests — A cotton pad is used to obtain saliva from the inside of your cheek. The pad is placed in a vial and submitted to a laboratory for testing. Results are available in three days. Positive results should be confirmed with a blood test.
Viral Load Test — This test measures the amount of HIV in your blood. Generally, it's used to monitor treatment progress or detect early HIV infection. Three technologies measure HIV viral load in the blood — reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), branched DNA (bDNA) and nucleic acid sequence-based amplification assay (NASBA). The basic principles of these tests are similar. HIV is detected using DNA sequences that bind specifically to those in the virus. It is important to note that results may vary between tests.
Western Blot — This is a very sensitive blood test used to confirm a positive ELISA test result.
Other Tests
If you're infected with HIV, additional blood tests may be ordered to check for other infections. Tests may be administered to check the effects of medications on your liver and kidneys and other organs. Other common tests include:
CD4+T Cell Count — As soon as HIV enters the body, it begins to destroy or disable your bodys CD4+T cells, the immune system's key infection fighters. The CD4+T cell count is a blood test that measures the number of CD4+T cells and helps assess the immune system's health. The CD4+T cell count correlates with a person's risk of developing opportunistic infections and is a useful marker for HIV disease staging and treatment planning. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends CD4+T testing every three to six months in all HIV-infected patients, though the need may vary by individual.
HIV Resistance Testing — Resistance to anti-retroviral drugs is fairly common in some HIV-positive patients. Resistance testing can be useful to determine the drugs not to use in a patient with increasing levels of the virus despite therapy or in a previously untreated individual who may have been infected with a virus that is resistant to one or more of the HIV drugs.

· Treatment:
Antiretroviral medications are used to control the reproduction of the virus and to slow or halt the progression of HIV-related disease.
1. Non nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs), such as nevirappine (Viramune) and efavirenz (Sustiva), bind to and block the action of reverse transcriptase, a protein that HIV needs to reproduce.
2. Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs), such as zidovudine (Retrovir), tenofovir DF (Viread), and stavudine (Zerit), are faulty versions of building blocks that HIV needs to make more copies of itself. When HIV uses an NRTI instead of a normal building block, reproduction of the virus is stalled.
3. Protease Inhibitors (PIs), such as lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), disable protease, a protein that HIV needs reproduce itself.
4. Fusion Inhibitors, such as enfuvirtide (Fuzeon), are newer treatments that work by blocking HIV entry into cells
The goals of therapy are to:
Suppress viral load (or the amount of HIV in a sample of blood)
Restore or preserve immune function
Improve quality of life
Reduce morbidity (the occurrence of opportunistic infections or number of hospitalizations) and mortality (death)
Reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS
Prevention of AIDS and HIV Infection:
The only way to protect from contracting AIDS sexually is to abstain from sex outside of a mutually faithful relationship with a partner whom the person knows is not infected with the AIDS virus. Otherwise, risks can be minimized if they:
Don't have sexual contact with anyone who has symptoms of AIDS or who is a member of a high risk group for AIDS.
Avoid sexual contact with anyone who has had sex with people at risk of getting AIDS.
Don't have sex with prostitutes.
Avoid having sex with anyone who has multiple and/or anonymous sexual partners.
Avoid oral, genital and anal contact with partner's blood, semen, vaginal secretions, feces or urine. Unless they know with absolute certainty that their partner is not infected, a latex condom should be used during each sexual act, from start to finish. The use of a spermicidal agent may provide additional protection.
Avoid anal intercourse altogether.
Don't share toothbrushes, razors or other implements that could become contaminated with the blood of anyone who is or might be infected with the AIDS virus.
Exercise caution regarding procedures, such as acupuncture, tattooing, and ear piercing, etc., in which needles or other non sterile instruments may be used repeatedly to pierce the skin and/or mucous membranes.
Such procedures are safe if proper sterilization methods are employed or disposable needles are used. Ask what precautions are taken before undergoing such procedures.
If an individual is scheduling surgery in the near future, and is able, they could consider donating blood for their own use. This will eliminate completely the already very small risk of contracting AIDS through a blood transfusion. It will also eliminate the risk of contracting other blood borne diseases (such as hepatitis) from a transfusion.
If a person is an IV drug user, adhere to the prevention tips mentioned earlier, as well as:
Get professional help for terminating the drug habit.
Do not share needles or syringes. Be aware that some street sellers are resealing previously used needles and selling them as new.
Clean the needle before using.
Some people apparently remain well after infection of the AIDS virus. They may have no physically apparent symptoms of illness. However, if proper precautions are not used with sexual contacts and/or intravenous drug use, these infected individuals can spread the virus to others.
Anyone who thinks he or she is infected, or who is involved in high-risk behaviors, should not donate his/her blood, organs, tissues, or sperm as they may now contain the AIDS virus.