Web www.albaspectrum.com

Popular articles

The Human immunodeficiency Virus or HIV as it is popularly known, is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). HIV causes a person's immune system to weaken dramatically. The immune system is the body's defense mechanism against all forms of infection and undesirable intrusions. When HIV attacks the body's immune system, the body becomes more prone to infection. These infections are oftentimes called "opportunistic" infections since the take the "opportunity" of infecting the body at its weak state. Once infection has taken place, illnesses can occur. Some of these illnesses can be arrested by a healthy immune system. However, a considerably weakened immune system will not be able to fight the infection.

Having HIV does not mean that one has AIDS. The HIV weakens the immune system but AIDS sets in when infections have already take place. AIDS thus consists of the weakened immune system and the infections that have affected the body to a great extent.

Individuals who are affected with HIV may not know it. The virus can remain dormant for weeks, months or even years. Once the virus multiplies, the body may not even detect it. It may take time for the body's immune system to respond to the virus. HIV can progress to AIDS when: an HIV-infected individual's CD4 T cell count drops below 200 cells/mm; an HIV-infected individual develops an illness that is very unusual in someone who is not HIV-positive .

The HIV cannot reproduce outside a living host, nor can it survive well in the environment. HIV cannot be transmitted with handshakes, breaths, or sharing clothes. There is no evidence that insects can be carriers or transmitters of HIV.

HIV is transmitted via blood transfusion. There are many ways wherein blood may be transfused from one individual to another. One example is blood donation. The other common example is through sexual intercourse, especially when there are open wounds within the genitals or genital area.

An individual can lessen the chances of acquiring HIV by being careful in matters that relate to the occasions when blood can be transferred from one individual to the other.

At present, researchers are still very active in researching on the cures or alleviations for HIV. Since HIV attacks the immune system, it is important to take vitamins and minerals that strengthen the immune system. These vitamins include vitamin A, the B-complex vitamins, and vitamin C. University studies have found that colloidal silver can kill the HIV virus in a petry dish but don't know if it will work in humans

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that contributes to the health of the immune system. Zinc increases the reproduction of infection-fighting T-cells. Selenium increases the production of natural killer cells and mobilizes cells to fight complications that may be arise from HIV.