The Human Immunodeficiency Virus ( Hiv, Tuberculosis ) And Health Behaviour

The social and cultural factors influencing the initiation of tobacco, Alcohol and other substances use vary from country to country, from developed world to developing nations, region to region and culture to culture.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 50,000 people are infected with HIV each year. In 2010, the most recent year for which this information is available, there were around 47,500 new HIV infections in the United States (p. 1). The population of people with HIV is diverse due to the fact that it does not discriminate. Men and women of any age,

The term Human Immunodeficiency Virus is commonly known as (HIV), which is a virus that attacks the immune system of humans by destroying the amount of CD4 cells in their bodies. Without CD4 the human body is unable to fight against diseases, which can lead to Acquired Immune deficiency syndrome known as AIDS for short. The first case of the HIV/AIDS virus in the U.S. occurred in the early 1980’s. The first spark of the virus was found in San Francisco with couple of homosexual Caucasian American males. Today African Americans account for the largest proportion of HIV and AIDS in this country, represent approximately 13% of the U.S. population, but accounted for an estimated 44% of new HIV infections in 2010(the last year a study was

“Drug policy regarding the control of the traditional illicit substances (opiates, cocaine, cannabis) is currently moving through upbeat times in almost all Western countries. Prohibition on the basis of repressive law enforcement not only seems to fail on a large scale, but also to create vast additional costs, problems, and harm for drug consumers, who often find themselves in extreme social, economic, and health conditions” (Fischer 1995: 389).

As a disease, HIV, or the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a blood-borne virus that is transmitted from person to person via sexual intercourse, mother to child, or intravenous drug paraphernalia. The virus itself causes, usually over a period of time, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. AIDS actually targets the immune system and causes an immunosuppression which makes people who have the virus more susceptible to cancers and infections. This is the most unique feature of the HIV/AIDS virus and is the most deadly since its implications are destructive if not properly treated (Moore 51). The significance of this disease is one that began in the 1980’s and initially was thought to be a virus only found within homosexual communities and was even originally called Gay-Related Immunodeficiency Virus. However, in 1981, it was found that the virus was spreading beyond the gay community when Blacks accounted for 25% of the HIV/AIDs population and a trend began where Blacks continued to contract HIV significantly more than

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is viral infection that weakens the immune system of the body and eventually causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) the last stage of the disease where a person can die. The virus has plagued the African American communities and continues to disproportionately impact the black race more than any other racial or ethnical group.

Treatment programs should test patients HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases. (Abadinsky) They should also provide targeted risk-reduction counseling. Counseling will help patients reduce or even avoid substance-related and other high-risk behaviors. Also, help those who are already infected to manage their illness.

Substance abuse including drugs, alcohol, or both is combined with an area of devastating social conditions, including family separation, financial problems, lost capacity, failing in school, domestic violence, child abuse, and crime. Furthermore, both social characters and legal responses to the use of alcohol and drugs make substance abuse one of the most complicated public health issues. Understanding these aspects is key to lowering the number of people who

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a viral infection that can be life-threatening and is a lifelong disease. HIV attacks the body and weakens the immune system. HIV stays in the body for life and some of the symptoms are diarrhea, headache, fever, night sweats, and flu-like symptoms.

Healthy People 2020 Health and Human Prevention strategy I chose is the National Drug Control Strategy. Drug abuse affects the whole nation economically, socially physically and mentally. Some of the problems caused by drug abuse includes highway accidents, crimes, school drop outs, sexually transmitted diseases, suicide, and teenage pregnancies (Healthy People 2020 n.d). This is a relevant topic to the advanced nurse practitioner because of the effects drugs have on human life. Drug abuse is associated with cardiac failure, mental problems, pulmonary and infectious diseases. According to president Obama’s remark illicit drugs and its consequences challenges that dream of the nation which is to build a safer and healthier country for our children. (Whitehouse.gov, n.d)It is the duty of the nurse practitioner to create awareness on the dangers of drug abuse and also help in the treatment of patients dealing with drug abuse. These treatments include patient education on the importance of abstaining from illicit drugs, medication and group therapy. Further more the advance nurse practitioner follows up with drug abuse patients to avoid relapse and for support.

Through the use of illegal drugs, and needle sharing these individuals are at greater risk of contracting infections such as HIV from infected needles (Health Care

Human Immunodeficiency Virus, also known as H.I.V is a virus with a self-explanatory name, if we understand the meaning behind each word. Humans are the only ones affected with this particular virus. When a person becomes infected their immune system becomes impaired due to the fact that the virus destroys the T cells. These T cells help the body to fight disease. The only way for the virus to replicate is through taking control of the cells in the body of the host.

HIV and AIDS- a virus that attacks the body's immune system (its defense against disease and infection).

HIV is the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS. A member of a group of viruses called retroviruses, HIV infects human cells and uses the energy and nutrients provided by those cells to grow and reproduce. AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a disease in which the body's immune system breaks down and is unable to fight off certain infections, known as "opportunistic infections," and other illnesses that take advantage of a weakened immune system. When a person is infected with HIV, the virus enters the body and lives and multiplies primarily in the white blood cells. These are the immune cells that normally protect us from disease.

HIV is a virus that is spread almost all over the world. Although in some places health care isn’t as developed and therefore it spreads more in those regions. Sub-Saharan Africa holds more than 70%, 25 million, of all HIV positive people in the world. Second highest is Eastern Europe together with Central Asia with 1.3 million. It is spread over most of the world, including Asia and the Pacific, the Caribbean, Central and South America, North Africa and the Middle East and Western and Central Europe (“The Regional Picture”).