Get to know your words: Prostatectomy
An operation to remove part or all of the prostate. Radical (or total) prostatectomy is the removal of the entire prostate and some of the tissue around it.
FIGHT
Get to know your words: Influenza
Woo, #WordWednesday is here! Our word of the week is influenza, commonly known as the flu. influenza is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory passages causing fever, severe aching, and catarrh, and often occurring in epidemics (flu season). The best way to avoid getting the flu this year? A flu shot! Every year the CDC…
Get to know your words: Periodontitis
It is #WordWednesday again! Our word of the week is Periodontitis. Periodontal disease or periodontitis is a disease that affects the structures around teeth – the gums. It is one of the two main types of gum disease (alongside gingivitis). Gums become infected with bacteria and if the infection spreads, it can cause irreparable damage to your…
Get to know your words: Tuberculosis
It’s #WordWednesday! Our word of the week is tuberculosis. Tuberculosis or TB, is an infectious bacterial disease characterized by the growth of nodules (tubercles) in the tissues, especially the lungs. Are you interested in why we picked tuberculosis as our word this week? Come back on Friday for our #HealthFactFriday! An infectious bacterial disease characterized by the…
Get to Know Your Words: Microbiome
Mai- kruh- bai- owm The microorganisms in a particular environment (including the body or a part of the body). The gut microbiome plays a very important role in your health by helping control digestion and benefitting your immune system and many other aspects of health.
Get to know your words: PEP
Post-exposure prophylaxis PEP stands for post- exposure prophylaxis. It means taking antiretroviral medicines (ART) after being potentially exposed to HIV.
Get to know your words: Acetylcholine
uh- seh- tuhl- kow- leen A chemical in the brain (neurotransmitter) that appears to be involved in learning and memory- Acetylcholine is greatly diminished in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
Get to know your words: Hepatitis
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Viruses are the mosr common cause of hepatitis, but the condition can also be caused by other factors. There are five main virus types that can cause hepatitis- type A, B, C, D, and E.
Injection Drug Use and HCV
Injection drug use accounts for most of the incident infections with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the United States. HCV infection is a complex and challenging medical condition in injection drug users. Caring for patients who use illicits drugs presents challenges to the health-care world that require cultural competence, patience, and an understanding of the…
Get to Know Your Words: Analytic Treatment Interruption
Analytic Treatment Interruption is the cessation of a study participant’s antiretrovital therapy (ART) while carefully monitoring their viral load. One of the goals for the HIV research field is to achieve a functional cure for HIV, the elimination of detectable virus without the use of ART. Interested in learning about HIV Cure research? Register for…
An Apple a Day
Everybody knows the importance of fruit as a part of a well-balanced diet, but most people do not know just how good fruit is for health physical and mental health. Studies show that increases in the consumption of fruit (and veggies) are linked to increases in mental well-being and life satisfaction. Eating the suggested amount…
HIV Cure Research, part II
In an earlier health fact, we discussed the advances in technology that led us to having effective treatment for HIV however, the search for a cure is important even if we have effective treatment. Significant discoveries about the body’s immune system have been made on the road to finding a cure with some promising attempts…
Get to Know Your Words: Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)
HIV is a type of virus called a retrovirus, and the combination of drugs used to treat it is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART is recommended for all people living with HIV, regardless of how long they’ve had the virus or how healthy they are. ART must be taken every day, exactly as your health…
Better Sleep Month
Refreshing sleep is important in staying healthy. May is recognized as Better Sleep Month, which aims to raise awareness about the benefits of sleep and how poor sleep can disruptive our day to day activities. Better sleep does not refer to just the length of time we sleep, but the quality of sleep, environment (uninterrupted,…
Get to Know Your Words: Leukapheresis
Leukapheresis is a laboratory procedure in which white blood cells are separated from a sample of blood. It is a specific type of apheresis, the more general term for separating out one particular component of blood and returning the rest to the body. Interested in learning about HIV Cure research? Register for our upcoming introductory…
HIV Cure Research
Advances in treatment for HIV has made it possible for people with HIV to live long and healthy lives. We now have more tools and technology than ever to navigate the epidemic through treatment, prevention, and education. Many organizations and researchers are pushing for the development of a functional cure. Connect with FIGHT Research if…
Get to Know Your Words: Double Blinded Study
Research studies can be quite informing but confusing! Now that you know what a blinded study is, it’s time to learn what a double blinded study is! In a double blinded study, neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is receiving which treatment to ensure that the results are not affected by their hopes,…
May is Mental health Awareness Month
Mental health is a level of psychological, emotional, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress and make choice. Positive mental health allows people to realize their full potential, work productively, cope with every day stresses, and make meaningful contribution to their communities. Early signs…
Get to Know Your Words: Blinded Study
Research studies can be quite informing but confusing! Ever wonder what a “blinded study” is? It is a study done in such a way that the participants do not know what treatment they are receiving to ensure that the results are not affected by their hopes, expectations, previous knowledge, etc. in order to reduce experimental…
National Primary Immunodeficiency Awareness Month
Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases (PIDD) are chronic illnesses causes by hereditary or genetic defects in the immune system that make the immune system not function properly. Throughout their lives, people with PIDDs are more susceptible to infections, endure recurrent health problems, and may develop serious long-term illness. Signs and symptoms of a PIDD can include: delayed…
Get to Know Your Words: Prostatitis
Prostatitis Prostatitis is a bacterial infection of your prostate gland. The infection can be either chronic or acute. Chronic prostatitis causes a dull pressure or pain in your rectum or pelvis. What begins as dull pressure quickly turns into severe pain with chills, high fever, and an enlarged prostate that can prevent you from being able…
Understanding Anal Health
There tends to be a lack of understanding of anal health care, which can lead to misdiagnoses and stigma. This also usually prevents people from getting the information and care they need to maintain good health. Anal sex is a common practice amongst Americans, but we must know risks, signs, and symptoms of health issues…
Get to Know Your Words: Molluscum Contagiosum
The anus is one of the most common points of infection, but these pimples can also be found frequently on the inner thighs, groin, genitals, and lower abdomen. People living with HIV may also be at risk for the infection to spread all over the body. Sometimes the infection goes away on its own, but…
April 10th is National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
The day was created to educate the public about the impact of HIV/AIDS on young people and to highlight the work going on across the country to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Find out more about who’s most at risk and the treatment and prevention strategies that are most effective. See more information about FIGHT’s…