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HIV, Children and Teens

HIV is not only a problem for adults. Children and teens suffer from HIV as well. Here is some important information for the parents of children living with HIV.

Growing up with HIV

AIDS / HIV Spotlight10

AIDS / HIV

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Tuesday March 8, 2011

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in men and fourth leading cause of cancer in women in the United States. The frequency of colorectal cancer varies around the world; common in the western world and rare in Africa and Asia. According to the American Cancer Society, almost 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed and approximately 50,000 people died from the disease last year in the US. Because it's so common and potentially devastating, colorectal cancer awareness is very important. That's why March is colorectal cancer awareness month. While colorectal cancer affects so many people, it is preventable through regular screenings, regular exercise, and a healthy diet. Simply put, colorectal cancer awareness is necessary if colon cancer is going to be beaten.

Talk to your doctor at your next appointment. Do you have risk factors that increase the chance you may get colorectal cancer? Come to think of it you do...HIV. HIV increases your risk of colorectal cancer. That along should urge you to speak to your doctor and see if you are in need of a colorectal cancer screening.

More About Colorectal Cancer

Source

Scotti, P.; "March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month"; Mayo Clinic; 2 Mar 2009.

Ten Facts About HIV Everyone Should Know

Thursday March 3, 2011

HIV is a complex disease that continues to take its toll around the world. For those living with the disease, understanding it is key to staying healthy. For those of us who aren't infected, an important key to staying that way is to understand how the disease spreads from person to person. This feature presents ten facts about HIV that everyone should know. Read more....

Even More About HIV

A Letter to Charlie Sheen - Please Use a Condom!

Tuesday March 1, 2011

Everyone wants a piece of Charlie Sheen. Every talk show host, radio personality, and news outlet wants Charlie to unload for them. In fact, there are porn stars, prostitutes, and gold diggers looking for a share of Mr. Sheen as well. And according to Charlie, he is all to happy to oblige. He has admitted to a wild life, filled with wild parties, drugs, beautiful women, and lots and lots of sex. Everyone wants to talk with Charlie, including myself. My chances are slim, so instead, I have written him a letter.

Dear Charlie,

I'm worried about you my friend...very worried. In fact, I'm worried about all those women you party with too. For many, Charlie, you're living a dream; fast women, wild parties, drugs, and sex. But I wouldn't be an educator; I couldn't live with myself if I didn't reach out to you with some sound advice. Charlie...please use a condom. It's such a simple thing...inexpensive, plentiful, colorful, and even a bit tasty depending on your brand, lube, and sexual practices. I know what you're thinking...condoms ruin the spontaneity. Not so. There are plenty of ways to add a condom to your sex life and make it fun. And yes, Charlie...you can feel as much with a condom as without...there are tricks to help with that...really there are. Why not set a good example for all of those guys that can only dream to have a sex life like yours...stand up and say...I"M CHARLIE SHEEN and I USE a CONDOM! You could do so much good for so many people...keeping you and your partners safe at the same time.

Charlie, you have the right to live your life the way you choose. But I hope you take my letter to heart and say YES to a condom...and yes Mr. Sheen they come in packages of 12 for those real busy nights.

With concern,

Mark

More About Condoms

Cholesterol Lowering Drugs May Slow HIV Progression

Friday February 25, 2011

Because many HIV medications raise cholesterol levels, it is not uncommon for people living with HIV to be taking cholesterol lowering drugs. Results of a small study funded by the National Institutes of Health suggest that a class of these cholesterol lowering drugs, "statins" as they are referred to, may in fact benefit HIV positive people in a way other than just lowering their cholesterol levels. Dr. Brian Agan, director of HIV research with the Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Md. reports that this study suggests that statin drugs may suppress the inflammatory process of HIV positive people. Chronic inflammation is common in people living with HIV and if left unchecked can be very detrimental to the health of the HIV positive person.

In this study, researchers recruited 24 people to randomly take high doses of the cholesterol lowering drug Lipitor (atorvastatin) or a placebo. While the Lipitor did not affect HIV levels it did appear to decrease inflammation in those people taking the drug. While the study is far from conclusive, the results are promising enough that researchers are looking at expanding investigations to encompass more patients for longer periods of time. It's known that the persistent inflammation associated with HIV can be very damaging. The suggestion that statins may be able to diminish that inflammation is definitely cause for further study.

More About Cholesterol and Triglycerides

Source

Dotinga, R.; "Statins Might Help HIV Patients, Study Suggests"; US News and World Report; 24 Feb 2011.

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