Doing Sports or Eat First??

Jakarta, There are people who choose to eat a new sport or otherwise. Which is correct before exercise or eat first? The following scientific explanations.

According to health experts, the correct behavior is to exercise first. But that does not mean someone should exercise without eating any food, because these people will not have the energy to exercise but not in the form of heavy food.

Why after eating may not directly exercise?

Because once a person eating a heavy meal, the blood will automatically flow into the stomach. Meanwhile, in the stomach was going on absorption of nutrients from food that is consumed. Body also are dumping leftover food into a specific body part and deliver oxygen throughout the body.

Some people feel cramps when exercising after eating caused by a stomach full of food were forced to pull ligaments . It also raises uncomfortable feeling in the stomach and in some people can cause vomiting.

As quoted from Yourtotalhealth, Saturday (20/11/2009), how long will it take to wait before doing exercise depends on what is consumed.

Usually takes between 30 minutes to 2 hours just to exercise. But if you eat foods that are more severe then the waiting time even longer. But if you only eat a light snack or a few low-fat crackers, do not require a long time to exercise.

What foods can be consumed before exercise? Good food consumed before exercise depends on the time when we will do excercise.

If exercising in the morning to eat fruit, juice or water is sufficient. If working out in mid-morning and a high carbohydrate breakfast is enough to provide energy. But if you exercise before lunch to eat enough alone and snacks for the afternoon exercise can consume yogurt or cookies.

But this is a general guideline for anyone who does not have a problem with the digestive system or health. Someone should find out what food does not interfere with the body's health.

If you want to get the full benefit of the sport, should avoid eating heavy meals just before exercise and adequate water consumption to replace lost body fluids.

Snacking While Watching Movies Popcorn Hide Much Fat

Los Angeles, Snacks popcorn is often regarded as a low-calorie snacks. But the researchers found that eating popcorn snacks with drinks in the cinema, especially in the United States has the equivalent calories 3 three-quarters the size of a hamburger.

From the results of research by the Center for Science and Public Interest (CSPI) found that medium-size popcorn and drink on average companion has 1160 calories.

This amount is high enough for the popcorn snack is not a staple food. While the caloric needs of adults on average 1800-2000 calories.

Imagine eating popcorn and drink, almost three-quarters of the caloric needs are met when the food was not filling. Even popcorn is also sharing the equivalent of taking a full day's saturated fat.

CSPI senior nutritionist Jayne Hurley said the little habits of the American public does in fact make them difficult to maintain weight.

"Who would notice when just watching a movie and eat popcorn filled calorie value very much," as reported by Jayne rich from the Telegraph, Friday (20/11/2009).

The study, published in the Nutrition Action Healthletter also found that Reese's snack that many movies sold in the U.S. has 1160 calories and 35 grams of saturated fat equivalent of eating 16 ounces of steak and baked potato butter.

Popcorn as a mandatory meal while watching a movie. High calories for sweet and salty taste that is used plus the use of coconut oil to cook it. Not to mention the addition of butter or margarine high contribution of calories and fat.

Hepatitis - jaundice

Description
Hepatitis disease commonly known as jaundice. Actually hepatitis is liver inflammation (liver) caused by various factors. Factors that cause hepatitis or jaundice, among others, is a viral infection, metabolic disorders, alcohol consumption, autoimmune diseases, results complications from other diseases, side effects from the consumption of drugs and the presence of parasites in the liver,

Symptoms
One of the symptoms of hepatitis is the emergence of yellow color on the skin, nails and the whites of the eyeball.

Therapy
Usual medical therapy medical therapy is usually given to patients with hepatitis among other diseases, bed rest, healthy diet, and administration of drugs and antiviral.

Alcoholic - "Misuse of Alcohol"

Description
For convenience of reference for people with alcohol abuse and dependence, so in this article will be referred to as alcoholic. This term may be less precise, but it is technically and medically may be more easily understood.

Misuse of alcohol is in the habit of drinking alcohol is dangerous, such as drunk every day or drank in large quantities at any time. Misuse of alcohol can damage the social relations of the patient. Why, people will lose their jobs and may conflict or deal with legal problems. If the abuse continues then continuously in effect alcohol addiction.

In addition to knowledge, the doctors in the U.S. only allows women to drink 3 sips a drink or 7 sips of the week with a standard (a bottle of beer, 1 glass of wine, or a mixture of alcohol 1). Whereas for men, 4 sips of a drink or 14 sips in a week.

Symptoms
The doctor will check the patient's health if found in clinical symptoms. They also know the mental patient, whether or not depression.

Treatment
Treatment for alcoholism depends on how bad a result for people with alcohol. But most of all in the treatment of alcoholics is the awareness to reduce or stop drinking alcohol altogether.

Fainting - "loss of consciousness"

Description
Fainting is loss of consciousness for a while. Loss of consciousness is followed by a weakening of the muscles work, so people fall. Fainting is caused by blood flow to the brain decreases. Lack of blood flow made possible by several factors, heart failure, blood vessels are unable to maintain blood pressure to a scrambled, not enough blood, or can be due to three reasons.

Treatment
First aid to the patient unconscious, among others:
1. Check respiratory patients. If urgent contact the nearest medic.
2. Loosen clothing and accessories around the neck.
3. Keep the patient 10-15 minutes, place the patient in room shady and tube free.
4. If the person vomits, tilt the head so that vomit can come out easily and not go back into the breathing path.
6. If you are conscious, give water.

Anthrax

Description
Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, which lives in soil. Such as bacterial spores to survive the fierce conditions. Spores thrive in a colony in the animal or human body.

Anthrax sometimes attack livestock away from the man, but - as known in the 2001 anthrax attack the United States - fear anthrax as a weapon of modern biology. Atraks transmission through meat or skin anthrax-affected animals eaten by humans.

Symptoms
The average incubation period of anthrax is more than 7 days, 60 days can be even more depending on the duration of symptoms is formed. Patients usually have symptoms of anthrax, among others, swollen, fever, anxiety, headaches, and generally feel uneasy.

Medical
If diagnosed early, anthrax easily treated with atibiotik. But sometimes, people ignore the early symptoms of anthrax before they actually had symptoms become more severe. Antibiotics for anthrax can kill bacteria, but antibiotics have no effect on anthrax toxin.

Acne

Description
Acne is caused by dead skin cells or because the production of excessive oil glands. There are 3 types of acne:
1. Blackheads
Caused blackheads pores clogged because the dead skin cells and the production of excessive oil glands. Other causes of sweating, hot and humid air.
2. Common acne
Small bulge, pink. Caused by clogged pores bacteria. Another cause for dirty air or stress.
3. Acne stone
Tonjonlannya hard and big. Cause kalenjar oil production in excess skin or sensitive skin.

Symptoms
As known acne appears on the face and shoulders, but can spread to the trunk, arms and legs.

Medical
X-ray therapy is not recommended to overcome acne. This therapy can damage the skin. If the acne blackheads appearing type compressed enough warm water. The goal soften blackheads making them easier to lift. If acne in or stones should take antibiotics at the direction of a dermatologist.

5 elements that greatly affect our health

1. Morning Sunshine:
How can the benefits of sunlight to humans? Energy analysis of 5 elements, the sun was an important role on human health with the energy contribution of 25%. Direct sunlight is very beneficial for the health of the energy in the human element 5.

Human beings can directly receive the energy from the 5th element of sunlight through the five elements of human beings, namely the element Ether, the Air element, fire element, the element Water, and the element Earth. This is one man advantage compared to other creatures on this earth.

Own plants receive the sun's energy through the Earth element, and then circulated to the other elements.

When it has a relationship with the effectiveness of the health of sunlight 5 elements. The most useful sunlight between pk. 05.30 - 09.00 am. Optimal time we can use to receive the 5 Elements of energy from the sun is approximately 15 minutes. These are discussed below:

1. 05.30 - 06.30 a.m: Elements of Awareness, healthy frequency 1 / 6 Hz
2. 06.30 - 07.00a.m : Element Ether, healthy frequency 1 / 5 Hz
3. 07.00 - 07.30 a.m : Air Element, healthy frequency 1 / 4 Hz
4. 07.30 - 08.00 a.m : Element of Fire, the frequency of a healthy 1 / 3 Hz
5. 08.00 - 08.30 a.m : Water Element, the frequency of sound 1 / 2 Hz
6. 08.30 - 09.00 a.m : Elements of Earth, the frequency of 1 Hz healthy

Because the benefits of solar energy is very large for human health, then we need to take advantage of morning sunlight well. We have more kids happy to be in air-conditioned room. Therefore, to improve health, children need to be socialized to sunbathe in the morning.

2. Healthy Fresh Air:
Healthy fresh air that has a healthy frequency 1 / 4 Hz, which is very useful for the four elements, namely air elements. Air healthy energy contribution of 25%. Therefore, very important for us to maintain the freshness of the air by planting trees around our house. In addition to improving the freshness of air, the trees can also prevent global warming.

In addition, we also can increase the freshness of the air by not smoking, clean room, and with clean air conditioned regularly. We can also use the Ionizer to improve the freshness of air in the room.

3. Healthy Fresh water:
Healthy fresh water well has a frequency of 1 / 2 Hz, so useful for the element Water. Healthy water is essential for our health, because healthy energy contribution of 25%. Organs in desperate need of water is the blood and kidneys, organs of the element Water. Drinking water will be healthy enough blood circulation, clearing toxins in the blood, nourish the kidneys, and aid digestion.

Therefore, very important for us to drink enough healthy water as many as 8 glasses a day. Drinking sweet drinks or carbonated drinks should not be construed as a substitute for healthy water.

Currently we have more and more difficult to obtain healthy water. Generally healthy water from clear springs in the mountains. One way to obtain healthy water is to use a Reverse Osmosis or RO.

4. Healthy and Fresh Food:
Healthy food healthy energy contribution of 20%. Healthy food composition based on the elements are as follows:

* Element Awareness: 1%. Healthy food for the element has a frequency of consciousness is a healthy 1 / 6 Hz and contains many enzymes.
* Element Ether: 5%. Healthy food for the Ether element that has a healthy frequency 1 / 5 Hz and contains many antioxidants.
* Element Air: 5%. Healthy food for the Air element is having a healthy frequency of 1 / 4 Hz.
* Element of Fire: 3%. Healthy food for the Fire element is having a healthy frequency 1 / 3 Hz and contains lots of unsaturated fatty acids, and vitamin A.
* Element Water: 3%. Healthy food for Water is the element that has a healthy frequency 1 / 2 Hz and contains lots of carbohydrates, protein, B vitamins and vitamin C.
* Element Earth: 3%. Healthy food for the Earth element is having a healthy frequency of 1 Hz and contains many minerals, vitamin D, and vitamin E.

Healthy diet should be a combination of healthy foods each element. This will balance and nourish the energy of all elements. For example, if the lack of healthy food element of Earth, people can suffer from ill mineraldan osteoporosis because of calcium deficiency. If healthy food shortages Water element, people can suffer from diabetes and gout because of lack of healthy carbohydrates and healthy proteins.

5. Moving and Exercise:
Movement and exercise contribute to healthy energy by 5%. So we also need a healthy exercise regularly.

"Ovarian Channel" Cancer

Description
Although this cancer include malignant tumors in the category, until now the cause of the Fallopian tubes cancer is unknown. These cancers most commonly strike women who have menopause, although in some cases are also young women who experience it also.

Symptoms
In stage I, cancer is confined to the oviduct only. However, if you've reached the stage II, can strike up to the pelvis. Even if it had reached stage II and IV, the cancer reaches the Fallopian tubes into the pelvis and spreads out to other parts of the body.

Medical
The only medical treatment for this disease is by appointment cancer. After a new elected to do radiation to kill the roots of cancer.

Oral Hygiene Influence Thinking Ability

Had a problem with the ability to think? If so, it never hurts to go to the dentist. Because an oral hygiene study reveals greatly affect one's ability to think.

The experts advise that a good mouth care in terms of regular brushing teeth, cleaning teeth and diligently checked regularly to the dentist, can help adults to improve the capacity to think.

In one study, scientists found that adults aged 60 years or older and have health problems such as mouth porphyromonas gingivalis, tends to three times more often have difficulty in remembering words after a certain period of time.

"Adults who have high levels of pathogens in the mouth hygiene two times more likely in a test failure rate reduction," said Dr. James M. Noble from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, as quoted by Reuters on Sunday (15/11/2009).

The results of this study are reported in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. In a 2300 study participants included men and women who are tested for completing various tests related to his thinking skills.

As a whole by 5, 7 percent of adults are having difficulty in completing tasks related to memory and as much as 6.5 percent failed the test reduction. This failure likely due to the level of pathogens or participants who have health problems with his mouth.

Based on this study also found a strong relationship between poor mouth kesehaatn with heart disease, stroke, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. In addition gum disease can also affect the person's brain function, such as gum disease can cause inflammation in the body of a risk factor for loss of mental function.

Therefore important to always maintain oral hygiene to maintain good thinking skills, although elderly, and also protected from disease risk factors.

5 Things Cause Fat

Keep in mind that obesity is not just due to how many calories intake that comes into your body, but also influenced by several factors. There are at least 5 factors that helped support the weight crept up.

Sleep Deprivation
Metabolism process can work well if your body enough rest. If less rest, the body can lead to stress that the chemical reactions in the body increases, this will stimulate the emergence of appetite. Some people believe that eating before bedtime will make sleep more soundly, but the truth is you are saving your body fat. Therefore, sleep about 8 hours a day.

High Stress
Stress was also a factor supporting weight gain. If experiencing stress, some people have a tendency to run on food. This is because food, especially those containing elements of high carbohydrate, can increase levels of serotonin in the brain, causing a calming effect. Therefore, if the stress hit, find other activities to ease, for example with exercise.
Drug Influence
The effect of each drug is different for consumers. There are effects that can cause drowsiness, increased appetite, change blood sugar into fat, and so on. Therefore, do not forget to always consult with your doctor or specialist about medication you consume vitamins.

Health Problems
One other reason why the body is easily stretched hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a disorder of the body caused by lack of thyroid hormone production in the body of a person. Thyroid deficiency causes the body's metabolism is less smooth, decreased appetite, and increased body weight. Symptoms of people with this disorder are easily tired and weary, raspy voice, simple flu, easy sleepy (so much sleep), or a simple headache. If you experience symptoms above to see a doctor immediately.

Menopause
When entering menopause, women no longer as nimble as when I was young. The process slows down your metabolism and hormonal system changes (diminishing estrogen hormone), causing excessive appetite, depression, and even less sleep. It is therefore recommended that from now on, before it even reached menopause arrives, so that every time a woman has a routine exercise. Besides good for health, fitness, keeping body weight remained stable, diligent exercise can also strengthen your bones.

So let's live a healthy life from now on! Think positive and keep exercising while keeping your diet healthy.

WORLD CANCER DAY

WORLD CANCER DAY

World Cancer Day is marked on 4 February to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. It is led by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), a global consortium of more than 280 cancer-fighting organizations in over 90 countries. World Cancer Day targets the public through global communications marking, and encourages policy makers and UICC member organizations to make cancer a political priority.

The campaign emphasizes that 43% of cancers can be prevented through these healthy behaviors:

* Provide a smoke-free environment for children
* Be physically active, eat a balanced, healthy diet, and avoid obesity
* Learn about vaccines for virus-related liver and cervical cancers
* Avoid over-exposure to the sun

SUPER "AIDS"

SUPER "AIDS"

"Super AIDS" is an informal term used by some for a strain of the human immunodeficiency virus that arose in New York City in 2005.
The phrase "Super AIDS" is not used in formal contexts, but it was used in the South Park episode The Death of Eric Cartman

Typically, the "wild" type of HIV (the strain of HIV found in individuals not treated with Antiretroviral drugs) is much more effective at attacking the human immune system than the types that evolve in the presence of antiretroviral drugs. Thus, by changing the selection pressure (from being infection driven to being drug-avoidance driven) retroviral drug treatment causes HIV to evolve to a more innocuous form, less efficient at infecting T-cells.

Super AIDS, however, was a strain that was not only resistant to anti-retroviral drugs, but it was more effective than "wild" HIV at infecting T-cells.

The strain retained vulnerability to enfuvirtide.

WORLD AIDS DAY

WORLD AIDS DAY

World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. It is common to hold memorials to honor persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day. Government and health officials also observe the event, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements.

AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007, and an estimated 33 million people worldwide live with HIV as of 2007, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007, of which about 270,000 were children.

THEME
From its inception until 2004, UNAIDS spearheaded the World AIDS Day campaign, choosing annual themes in consultation with other global health organizations.

As of 2008, each year's World AIDS Day theme is chosen by the World AIDS Campaign's Global Steering Committee after extensive consultation with people, organizations and government agencies involved in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. For each World AIDS Day from 2005 through 2010, the theme will be "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.", with a yearly sub-theme.This overarching theme is designed to encourage political leaders to keep their commitment to achieve universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care, and support by the year 2010.

This theme is not specific to World AIDS Day, but is used year-round in WAC's efforts to highlight HIV/AIDS awareness within the context of other major global events including the G8 Summit. World AIDS Campaign also conducts "in-country" campaigns throughout the world, like the Student Stop AIDS Campaign, an infection-awareness campaign targeting young people throughout the UK.

HOW TO PREVENT AIDS ??

HOW TO PREVENT AIDS ??

The three main transmission routes of HIV are sexual contact, exposure to infected body fluids or tissues, and from mother to fetus or child during perinatal period. It is possible to find HIV in the saliva, tears, and urine of infected individuals, but there are no recorded cases of infection by these secretions, and the risk of infection is negligible.

1. SAFE SEX (use condom)
During a sexual act, only male or female condoms can reduce the chances of infection with HIV and other STDs and the chances of becoming pregnant. The best evidence to date indicates that typical condom use reduces the risk of heterosexual HIV transmission by approximately 80% over the long-term, though the benefit is likely to be higher if condoms are used correctly on every occasion.

2. Exposure to infected body fluids
Health care workers can reduce exposure to HIV by employing precautions to reduce the risk of exposure to contaminated blood. These precautions include barriers such as gloves, masks, protective eyeware or shields, and gowns or aprons which prevent exposure of the skin or mucous membranes to blood borne pathogens. Frequent and thorough washing of the skin immediately after being contaminated with blood or other bodily fluids can reduce the chance of infection. Finally, sharp objects like needles, scalpels and glass, are carefully disposed of to prevent needlestick injuries with contaminated items. Since intravenous drug use is an important factor in HIV transmission in developed countries, harm reduction strategies such as needle-exchange programmes are used in attempts to reduce the infections caused by drug abuse.

3. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT)
Current recommendations state that when replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe, HIV-infected mothers should avoid breast-feeding their infant. However, if this is not the case, exclusive breast-feeding is recommended during the first months of life and discontinued as soon as possible.

What is HIV ?

What is HIV ?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a lentivirus (a member of the retrovirus family) that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in humans in which the immune system begins to fail, leading to life-threatening opportunistic infections. Previous names for the virus include human T-lymphotropic virus-III (HTLV-III), lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV), and AIDS-associated retrovirus (ARV).

How HIV Infect People ?
Infection with HIV occurs by the transfer of blood, semen, vaginal fluid, pre-ejaculate, or breast milk. Within these bodily fluids, HIV is present as both free virus particles and virus within infected immune cells. The four major routes of transmission are unprotected sexual intercourse, contaminated needles, breast milk, and transmission from an infected mother to her baby at birth (Vertical transmission). Screening of blood products for HIV has largely eliminated transmission through blood transfusions or infected blood products in the developed world.

In general if infected blood comes into contact with any open wound, HIV may be transmitted. This transmission route can account for infections in intravenous drug users, hemophiliacs and recipients of blood transfusions (though most transfusions are checked for HIV in the developed world) and blood products. It is also of concern for persons receiving medical care in regions where there is prevalent substandard hygiene in the use of injection equipment, such as the reuse of needles in Third World countries. Health care workers such as nurses, laboratory workers, and doctors have also been infected, although this occurs more rarely. People who give and receive tattoos, piercings, and scarification procedures can also be at risk of infection.

Since transmission of HIV by blood became known medical personnel are required to protect themselves from contact with blood by the use of Universal precautions.

Virus Transmission
* Mother to Child Transmission
The transmission of the virus from the mother to the child can occur in utero during pregnancy and intrapartum at childbirth. In the absence of treatment, the transmission rate between the mother and child is around 25 percent. However, where combination antiretroviral drug treatment and Cesarian section are available, this risk can be reduced to as low as one percent.
Breast feeding also presents a risk of infection for the baby.

* From Saliva, Tears & Urine
HIV has been found at low concentrations in the saliva, tears and urine of infected individuals, but there are no recorded cases of infection by these secretions and the potential risk of transmission is negligible.

HIV Treatment
There is currently no vaccine or cure for HIV or AIDS. The only known method of prevention is avoiding exposure to the virus. However, a course of antiretroviral treatment administered immediately after exposure, referred to as post-exposure prophylaxis, is believed to reduce the risk of infection if begun as quickly as possible. Current treatment for HIV infection consists of highly active antiretroviral therapy, or HAART. This has been highly beneficial to many HIV-infected individuals since its introduction in 1996, when the protease inhibitor-based HAART initially became available. Current HAART options are combinations (or "cocktails") consisting of at least three drugs belonging to at least two types, or "classes," of antiretroviral agents. Typically, these classes are two nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NARTIs or NRTIs) plus either a protease inhibitor or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). New classes of drugs such as Entry Inhibitors provide treatment options for patients who are infected with viruses already resistant to common therapies, although they are not widely available and not typically accessible in resource-limited settings. Because AIDS progression in children is more rapid and less predictable than in adults, particularly in young infants, more aggressive treatment is recommended for children than adults. In developed countries where HAART is available, doctors assess their patients thoroughly: measuring the viral load, how fast CD4 declines, and patient readiness. They then decide when to recommend starting treatment.

The Meaning Of AIDS

SYMPTOMS:
The symptoms of AIDS are primarily the result of conditions that do not normally develop in individuals with healthy immune systems. Most of these conditions are infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites that are normally controlled by the elements of the immune system that HIV damages.

Opportunistic infections are common in people with AIDS. HIV affects nearly every organ system.

People with AIDS also have an increased risk of developing various cancers such as Kaposi's sarcoma, cervical cancer and cancers of the immune system known as lymphomas. Additionally, people with AIDS often have systemic symptoms of infection like fevers, sweats (particularly at night), swollen glands, chills, weakness, and weight loss. The specific opportunistic infections that AIDS patients develop depend in part on the prevalence of these infections in the geographic area in which the patient lives.

MAIN CAUSE :

Sexual Relation

The majority of HIV infections are acquired through unprotected sexual relations between partners, one of whom has HIV. The primary mode of HIV infection worldwide is through sexual contact between members of the opposite sex.

During a sexual act, only male or female condoms can reduce the chances of infection with HIV and other STDs and the chances of becoming pregnant. The best evidence to date indicates that typical condom use reduces the risk of heterosexual HIV transmission by approximately 80% over the long-term, though the benefit is likely to be higher if condoms are used correctly on every occasion.

Sexual transmission occurs with the contact between sexual secretions of one person with the rectal, genital or oral mucous membranes of another. Unprotected receptive sexual acts are riskier than unprotected insertive sexual acts, and the risk for transmitting HIV through unprotected anal intercourse is greater than the risk from vaginal intercourse or oral sex.

However, oral sex is not entirely safe, as HIV can be transmitted through both insertive and receptive oral sex. Sexual assault greatly increases the risk of HIV transmission as protection is rarely employed and physical trauma to the vagina frequently occurs, facilitating the transmission of HIV.

Exposure to blood-borne pathogens

This transmission route is particularly relevant to intravenous drug users, hemophiliacs and recipients of blood transfusions and blood products. Sharing and reusing syringes contaminated with HIV-infected blood represents a major risk for infection with HIV.

Needle sharing is the cause of one third of all new HIV-infections in North America, China, and Eastern Europe. The risk of being infected with HIV from a single prick with a needle that has been used on an HIV-infected person is thought to be about 1 in 150. Post-exposure prophylaxis with anti-HIV drugs can further reduce this risk.

Perinatal transmission
The transmission of the virus from the mother to the child can occur in utero during the last weeks of pregnancy and at childbirth. In the absence of treatment, the transmission rate between a mother and her child during pregnancy, labor and delivery is 25%.

Misconceptions
A number of misconceptions have arisen surrounding HIV/AIDS. Three of the most common are that AIDS can spread through casual contact, that sexual intercourse with a virgin will cure AIDS, and that HIV can infect only homosexual men and drug users. Other misconceptions are that any act of anal intercourse between gay men can lead to AIDS infection, and that open discussion of homosexuality and HIV in schools will lead to increased rates of homosexuality and AIDS.