What is IBD? Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) refers to conditions that cause bowel inflammation. The two most common diseases are Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. These diseases are separate from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Though abdominal pain can occur for all three conditions, Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis can cause lasting damage to the intestines and…
Co-morbidity: two or more chronic conditions occurring at the same time to a single person.
December 3rd is the International Day for People with Disabilities. 61 million adults in the United States live with disabilities, which is 1 in 4 people. Adults older than 65, non-Hispanic Native Americans/Alaskan Natives, and women are more likely to have at least one disability. Americans with disabilities are more likely to smoke, have heart…
Major life activity: caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, and participating in community activities. Impairment in one or more is the ADA definition for disability.
Some exciting developments in HIV prevention were presented this past July at the IAS Conference on HIV Science. Initially, prevention of HIV transmission was only safe sex practices. Then in 2012 the drugs we know as PrEP and PEP were approved to prevent the transmission of HIV. PrEP is a prevention drug that can be…
Antibody: A protein produced by the immune system to recognize a foreign threat, attach to it, and begin the necessary process for neutralizing or killing it
Older Americans who are diagnosed with HIV are more likely to be diagnosed in later stages, attributing symptoms to normal signs of aging.
Relative Contraindication When two medicines or treatments may cause negative outcomes if used together. Caution must be used when two medicines are relatively contraindicated.
The first treatment for HIV, Azidothymidine (AZT) or the generic name zidovudine was introduced in 1987. Though initially developed as a potential cancer therapy, it was included in a screening program to identify drugs that could treat HIV. Though AZT was an exciting medical development, there were serious side effects, so further testing and trials…
“I’m a homeless, transgender Army veteran beating HIV. It’s easier for me to be myself instead of worrying about what society is thinking.”
“I decided that having HIV was never going to be the end of the world for me. Today I feel more empowered, secure, and blessed.”
“What’s happening in my life now would not be possible without Philadelphia FIGHT. The help I get here has been life-changing.”
“What I love about FIGHT is that I’m treated like a person and not a homeless person. I don’t think I’ll find anything better than FIGHT.”
HAART Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy became the standard of HIV care in 1997 because it is a customized cocktail of medications that controls viral load and delays or prevents progression to AIDS.
The struggle around HIV/AIDS in the United States is an important part of our history. Reflecting on our past helps to show how far we have come and how far we still have to go. Life expectancy before HIV treatment was incredibly low, just 10-12 years of life after diagnosis. Now, people are living longer…
Generic Drug: A drug that uses the same active ingredient as a brand-name drug once the brand patent has expired; often costs less.
It’s the first day of National Diabetes Month! If you’re living with diabetes, knowledge and management are key to preventing further problems and living a full life. Eating healthily, staying active, and monitoring your blood sugar and general health are the basics of managing diabetes. Having a team of people, including friends, family, and doctors…
A drug sold by a drug company under a specific brand name with an exclusive formula patent for a period of time,
1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime, is the 2nd leading cause of death for Native American women, and in some states is the leading cause of cancer-related death. General factors that increase risk are genetics, family history, breast density, and age. When the tumor is small and most treatable is…
Also called Stage IV Breast Cancer, it is when the cancer has spread from the breast to other areas of the body, like bones, brain, lungs, or liver.
We’re heading into flu season, and October is a great time to get that vaccination. Though the flu is a relatively normal part of human life, it is important to remember that many people are hospitalized and die every year due to the influenza virus. The flu vaccine helps not only to reduce your chance…
A weakened immune system, making it more difficult to fight off infections and other diseases. May be caused by diseases or conditions, genetic disorders, or specific medical treatments.
IPV, or Intimate Partner Violence affects 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men. Even higher rates of IPV are true for certain populations of people. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the National Organization for Women report that LGBT people and women of color experience higher rates of intimate partner violence, yet…
