Beautify Me !

HIV/AIDS continues to dramatically affect people all over the world despite preventive measures such as educational awareness and testing programs and treatment initiatives such as drug research and development. Even in the United States, where government funding, medical technology, and education would seemingly defeat this disease, the epidemic continues. According to the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) over 1,000,000 people are living HIV/AIDS in this country and approximately 40,000 new cases are reported each year. Although high, this is a significant drop from the new annual cases reported during 1980’s, which approached 150,000.

The statistics from the CDC are an important resource for tracking changes and measuring the impact of efforts, whether focused on treatment or prevention. An overview of recent data reveals important trends. First, prevention awareness and educational programs that aim to inform and promote less risky behavior are reducing the number of new cases within the United States.

Second, despite the efforts of these programs people are continuing to transmit HIV/AIDS. This is largely due to risky behavior revolving around drug use and unprotected sex, but continued lack of HIV/AIDS testing is also to blame. It is estimated that close to thirty percent of people infected with HIV are asymptomatic and do not know it. Routine testing remains major priority, and as such, officials have tried to institute these blood tests as a routine clinical procedure.

Third, while the number of new active cases has decreased, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS has increased. This illustrates the improvements of drug therapy. Successful drug regimes help contain HIV so that it does not become AIDS and help the body fight off opportunistic infections – infections or diseases that can capitalize on a weakened immune system of an HIV/AIDS patient, but not in a healthy person – which are normally the ultimate cause of death.

Thanks to these efforts and more, today’s picture is brighter than the past. People with HIV/AIDS are now living longer and healthier lives, but they still face serious health problems. These complications include aversion to medicine, afflictions stemming from a weakened immune system, and adverse effects of the infection itself. Because of these on-going vulnerabilities, in 2004 HIV/AIDS was reclassified from an infectious disease to a chronic disease. As such, the treatment strategy, adopted from the Guide to Primary Care for People with HIV/AIDS, stresses a comprehensive long-term model that involves clinical attention, proactive community groups, and self-management.

Within this model, the contributions of community groups provide HIV/AIDS patients with resources and support to improve their lives. Services and direct care programs help patients with financial matters, housing, nutritional needs, counseling, support groups, and transportation. Given that the national budgets are invested in large-scale educational programs and research, individual impact is felt most strongly when contributions go to organizations that provide services directly to individuals in need.

Like everyone else, we’ve all suffered from acne; only thing is this time it’s years past puberty. If this has happened to you, rest assured, you’re in good company. 1 in 5 women between the ages of 25 and 40 suffer from adult acne. Here are 3 critical facts about adult acne that could change the way you battle acne for good.

Fact #1: Cheese and chocolate have nothing to do with your acne. Although adult acne is often a cause of bad diets, it is more of a long term effect rather than short. Indulging in a few late night cravings has nothing with the acne that might sprout a few weeks later. Instead acne is often caused by an inefficient digestive system – resulting from years of an improper diet, causing stress to your intestines. What can you do? The best way to combat adult acne is to start by a proper detoxification diet, to properly cleanse out any waste and toxins that have built up over the years.

Fact #2: There are several causes of adult acne. On top of a bad diet as mentioned above, stress, bad cosmetics, hormones and birth control pills are among many factors in the production of acne. Stress for instance, can cause your oil glands to overcompensate, while bad cosmetics lead to clogged pores filled with bacteria. There are many unsuspecting factors that cause adult acne to form, the best way to narrow it down is to start a log of your daily routine and review what goes on in your life that could use a change.

Fact #3 Acne usually begins with blackheads. Contrary to common beliefs, blackheads are not dirt. They are actually the result of oil and dead cells trapped in a pore mixed with bacteria, blocking the duct. Blackheads only turn black when they are exposed to air. When a blackhead becomes inflamed and spread when touched with dirty hands, a red pimple is formed – increasing the chance of breaking and causing a scar. How to deal with blackheads? Instead of a heavy and harsh facial scrub, look to use an alpha-hydroxy based cleaner, and gently massage it into your face. Salicylic acid based cleansers are also a good substitute, both types of cleansers clean out blocked pores and are highly recommended in place of facial scrubs.