Health by dratiffarid

December 1 is World AIDS Day. Individuals and organizations from around the world will work together on this day to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and demonstrate unity to fight this deadly disease.

2008 marks the 20th anniversary of this day. This year’s theme is ‘Lead-Empower-Deliver’. It’s importance lies in the fact of highlighting both political leadership needed to fulfill commitments made earlier as well as celebrating the leadership that has been witnessed at all levels of society.

We still have a long way to go. Achieving the political commitments made on HIV will require a stronger leadership, increased financial resources as well as proper co-ordination between various agencies.

What can you do on WORLD AIDS DAY?

1. Post an article on your blog. It need not be a health blog. For example, if you have a technology blog. you can talk about the latest technology that can be used to spread awareness about HIV. And if you have a sports blog, you can talk about sports agencies supporting HIV. If you need any more suggestions for your blog or if your post is up on your blog, please post in the comments section below.

2. Write a letter to the editor or an opinion column for your newspaper.

3. Gather more information about HIV and AIDS. I’ve gathered some links that you might want to see. They’re at the end of the post.

4. Talk about HIV prevention with friends and colleagues.

Long term measures:

1. Get tested for HIV. It is estimated that approximately one in five persons living with HIV in the US is unaware of his/her infection and may be unknowingly transmitting th evirus to others.

2. Practice safe methods to prevent HIV.

3. Decide not to engage in high rish behaviors.

4. Provide support and donate money to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Further Reading:

UNAIDS: The Joint United National Programme on HIV/AIDS

National HIV and STD Testing Resources

World AIDS Campaign

WHO - World AIDS Day

AIDS.gov

You should now be in a position to diagnose depression. Remember that the symptoms should last at least for 2 weeks.

Next what?
Go to a doctor or preferably a psychiatrist.

Most people delay treatment. There are a lot of repercussions.

1. The severity increases with time.

2. With time, depression becomes less responsive to treatment.

3. You may require more number of drugs as time passes by.

4. The suicidal thoughts will increase.

5. For relief, you might take sleeping pills or alcohol or some people even resort to smoking. But, these wont help. You’ll get addicted to them.

So, it is best not to delay the treatment.

Common Misconceptions:

1. Depression will get cured by itself.

2. You think that depression is due to your stressful life and medicines wont help.

3. You will be called weak by others if diagnosed to have depression.

4. A psychiatrist is one who treats mad people.

Always remember that if you are depressed, you will lack the motivation to take the treatment. Always take a friend or a family member along with you. And it is very important to talk to a person you trust about how you feel. Never keep anything to yourself. Don’t let it mess with your mind. Just share it.

Now you know about depression and the importance of its treatment. The next time you see or feel that your friend is depressed, go and talk to them.

Further Reading: Mental Health Humor and Cartoons

 Depression is characterized by persistent low mood, loss of interest and reduced energy. The normal daily activities are impaired.

You should be in a position to diagnose depression yourself. The symptoms and signs of depression should be present for at least 2 weeks. The intensity varies from mild to severe depending on how much it affects your social life.

1. Depressed mood is characteristic. It may be worse in early morning or in the evening.

2. You will be unable to cheer up especially while doing activities you liked earlier.

3. You feel gloomy and talk less.

4. You lose interest in most activities.

5. You avoid work and take frequent leaves.

6. You have a feeling of excessive guilt.

7.  You have sleep disturbances. For example, when you wake up in the morning you still feels sleepy. You can sleep at any time of the day.

8. You feel tired and lethargic.

9. Your appetite might have decreased.

10. You have poor concentration ability and weak memory.

11. You may have headache.

12.You grade yourself inferior to others.

13. You have no interest in sexual activity and avoid it.

14. You predict a negative outcome of the future.

15. You have suicidal tendencies. You feel as though there is no meaning left in your life and wonder what’s the point of living.

The above mentioned symptoms are the commonest ones. Always remember that it is better to diagnose depression yourself rather than getting diagnosed by a doctor.

Next article will deal with important aspects of treatment of depression that are essential to know.

Further Reading: Mental Health Humor and Cartoons

Ryan (name changed) was a teacher at a school in my locality. He was married and had been working at the school since the past 10 years. All hell broke lose when he found out that he had HIV. He lost his job, people started giving him weird looks. His wife was the only one by his side.

People were wondering if they had the disease as well as they had a meal at Ryan’s house a month back. They had a drink from his glass, were they infected too?

Ignorance is the mother of all evils.

Here are ways by which HIV cannot spread.

HIV does not survive well outside the body.

#1 Casual Contact: The virus only spreads by sexual contact or needle-sharing with an infected person. It does not spread by by attending same venues like schools.

#2 Other body secretions like saliva, sweat, tears, urine or feces.

#3 Touching common objects like toilet seats.

#4 Insects. Blood sucking insects, such as mosquitoes, do not inject blood into the next person they bite.

#5 No animal (pets) has ever been shown to transmit the virus to humans.

Toothbrushes have resulted in transmission very rarely, so it’s best not to share. The risk of transmission in a household is extremely low if intimate contact does not occur.

Look at your nails. Are they strong and healthy? Or do you see ridges or change in color or shape?

Your fingernails hold clues to your health. Healthy nails should be smooth and shiny.

Normally as a person ages, vertical ridges appear on his/her nails. But are your nails discolored? Do they have a distinct yellow tinge? This could suggest a respiratory disease. Heart attack also has an effect on nails. It causes indentations across your nails. Your nails will be pale when you are anemic.

Tips:

1. Do not bite your nails. These damage the nail bed and can lead to infection.

2. Moisturize your nails often. Using a vitamin rich lotion is the easiest option.

3. Trim or cut your nails regularly.

4. Protect your nails by using rubber gloves while cleaning or washing dishes or even while gardening.

5. Do not use nail polish remover more than twice a month.

Common misconceptions:

- Adding protein to your diet strengthens your diet.
- Soaking your nails in gelatin makes them stronger.