Running head: THE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF HIV/AIDS

The Cause and Effect of HIV/AIDS Your Name Here Comm/105 June 10, 2010 Conrad Davies

THE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF HIV/AIDS The Cause and Effect of HIV/AIDS Today, people are suffering from different types of illnesses or diseases like cancer, heart disease, lupus, kidney failure, sickle-cell anemia, and hepatitis A, B, or C. Although some people are managing to deal with these illnesses, there is one particular infectious disease that not only affects individuals with the disease but also the people around them. This disease is known as the HIV/AIDS virus. HIV is the fifth leading cause of death ranging from ages 25-44; African

American males are at a higher risk of contracting the virus, and it is why African American males have a high rate of deaths from ages 25-44 (AIDS and HIV: STRESS, 2004). Understanding the cause and effects, and how to prevent from acquiring this disease often help people make the right choices in their lives. First, What is the HIV/AIDS virus? The HIV/AIDS virus is an infectious disease, better known as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, and it is known as the cause of AIDS (HIV, 2009). HIV is the beginning stage of AIDS, and AIDS is the advanced stage of the virus. Sexual intercourse with sexual partners, sharing needles, breastfeeding, blood, semen, childbirth, and vaginal secretions are ways of transmitting the virus from person to person (AIDS, 2009). What some people fail to realize is that if they do not use condoms, a common item males wear during sexual intercourse to prevent a female from becoming pregnant or to use for other sexual reasons, they are at risk, and so is their partner of catching a sexual disease like AIDS. However, females should take the initiative to make their partner wear a condom so they can also avoid contracting sexual diseases. Some people will take advantage of not using condoms because they always have unprotected sex, or they believe their partners do not have any type of sexually transmitted diseases because of his or her appearance, or they are going off their own instincts. A person does not necessarily have sores on his or her body, or suffer from weight loss. In fact, some people do

THE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF HIV/AIDS not suffer from any side effects from the virus. If someone is quick to have unprotected sex, there is a possibility that person may have the virus or some other sexually transmitted disease. Condoms are not 99.9% accurate, but they do lower the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Another way someone could contract the virus is by sharing needles to inject drugs into the human body.

For example, people not only use needles for drugs but also for the use of body piercings, steroids, and tattoos. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calculates that 850,000 to 950,000 people contracts the HIV/AIDS virus, with 40,000 new infections each year (AIDS and HIV : STRESS, 2004). Second, most illnesses or diseases have an effect behind the situation, but some are curable, and some are not. Unfortunately, there is no cure or vaccines for the HIV/AIDS virus, meaning this is one of the reasons people is dying each day in the United States and other countries. The effects of this virus harms the immune system and it also causes other problems such as stress. The immune system controls many viruses, such as colds that targets the body, and keeps the viruses from causing a person to become sick. On the other hand, HIV targets and attacks the same immune system cells that controls illnesses and harms the CD4 (T- cells). What are the CD4 cells? They are white blood cells that help to fight off viruses and other colds (The Well Project, 2010). When the CD4 cells are attacked by the virus, it weakens the immune system, causing the cells not to fight off germs. The virus also causes a person to lose weight, become very sick, develop loss of appetite, and sometimes develop sores on his or her body. The symptoms differ depending on the person. Stress is another issue people deal with when they discover they have the HIV/AIDS virus because they never think this is something that could happen to them. Once a person realizes he or she have this virus, sometimes he or she begin to believe his or her life is hopeless and his or her self-esteem becomes low. This virus does not only affect the person

THE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF HIV/AIDS infected, but it also has an effect on the persons family and friends. People begin to treat the person with the virus differently, and he or she do not look at that person the same. Conclusion People in society have to realize how serious the HIV/AIDS virus can be. Someone can contract this virus the first time he or she have unprotected sex. Practicing abstinence is one way

people can avoid contracting this virus. Using protection, like condoms, is another way individuals can have safe sex. When a male and a female are about to have sexual intercourse, but the male does not want to wear a condom, the female need to let the male know why it is important to wear condoms. If the male refuses, the female should not have intercourse with the male. The male should make the same decision if the female refuses to use a condom. Only certain people like therapists or counselors can help someone who is on drugs. A person who uses needles to inject drugs in his or her system should use a clean needle instead of using someone elses because this is a risk of becoming HIV positive or acquiring full blown AIDS. For the individuals who have contracted this deadly virus, and for the individuals who have not, talk to children and teens about the HIV/AIDS virus because this is an issue they should know about before it is too late. Finding information about this virus and discussing it with others can lower the risk of more people dying from it.

THE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF HIV/AIDS References AIDS. (2009).The Hutchinson unabridged encyclopedia with atlas and weather guide. Retrieved from

http://140.234.1.9:8080/EPSessionID=e496a916783d43f95ad537f7222f8f9/EPHost=credor eference.com/EPPath/entry.do?id=9083048 AIDSs and HIV: STRESS. (2004). Encyclopedia of health and behavior management, sage. Retrieved from http://140.234..17.9:8080/EPSessionID=727901fa1879f9534ec5e220395b45/EPhost=credo reference.com/EPPath/entry.do?id=5063313 HIV. (2009). HIV infection among injection-drug users-34states, 2004-2007. MMWR: Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report 58(46), 1291-1295. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=6&hid=5&sid85c9b184-437c-405a-a29912d167aa69c4%40sessionmgr10&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbG12ZQ%3d %3d#db=fde0 The Well Project: Understanding CD4 cells and CD4 cell tests. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.thewellproject.org/en_us/HIV_The_Basics/What_is_HIV.jsp