Keep the Conversation Going - Voices of HIV

Everyone is so different, after all we are uniquely and wonderfully made. Why wait for World Aids Day, awareness month or a celebrity affected by the virus in order for us to bring out the alarms? For those living with HIV/AIDS, the health regimen serves as a daily reminder.

The Center for Disease Control has a wonderful campaign - Let's Stop HIV Together. Let's be sure to share as HIV/AIDS is still a disease that needs to be stopped.

AIDS - The Awareness Continues as A New Strain Develops

As we celebrate the progress made in the treatment of people with AIDS, we are faced with another challenge. The World Health Organization indicated that the number of people with HIV/AIDS virus increased in 2012. Now there are reports from researchers that a new strain of the virus has been found in West Africa. As we all know, this is not something to brush off as it being over there. Needless to say, as people travel - viruses spread. The AIDS/HIV awareness campaign continues which is necessary. Above all, your health and wellness depends on you :-) Be informed!!!

Know Your Status - Get Checked.......

Sometimes you have to get a bit graphic to get your point across. From time to time, we have covered the topic of HIV/AIDS. One of my biggest concerns is that the stigma of HIV/AIDS have been replaced with a complacent attitude as many are living longer with the disease.

As with all graphic advertising campaigns, there are groups who will protest citing that it further promotes a stigma to the people with the disease - especially the gay community and may prevent others from being tested out of fear. However, what is undeniable, is that there are some truths to this disease that must be shared no matter how scary they may be. And... while I applaud the advances of the research scientists and the medical/pharmaceutical companies, the main goal is to promote healthy habits and practices to avoid being diagnosed with the virus. The saying an ounce of prevention is worth much more than a pound of cure is oh sooooo true.

Is it AIDS Awareness Month? No it's not. Why wait until it's World AIDS Day, or the anniversary of any particular AIDS related campaign/organization? There is no time like the present to discuss the reality of this disease.

Staying Aware - AIDS

2011 and the Center for Disease Control reports that The New York State Department of Health is recommending a shorter HIV and hepatitis screening window and nucleic acid testing (NAT) for living organ donors following a recent HIV transmission from a kidney donor to a recipient in New York City. The advisory also urges hospitals to question living donors about risky behaviors, including injection drug use. This is the first documented case of HIV transmission by way of a live-donor transplant since improvements in the screening process were initiated in 1985, said a health department spokesperson. The hospital, which, in the interest of patient privacy, the spokesperson declined to identify, followed appropriate protocols in screening the kidney donor. However, the donor apparently had unsafe sex after testing and before surgery to harvest the organ. “Of course this is a rare case, but we felt like we needed to alert centers to this possibility so they can talk to potential donors about risks and do testing closer to the time of surgery,” the spokesperson said. The advisory calls for HIV and hepatitis B and C testing to be performed within 14 days of living-donor donation using NAT, which can detect virus antibodies weeks to months before standard blood tests. NAT is not recommended for organs from deceased donors due to time constraints, as organs soon begin to deteriorate. Infectious disease screening has virtually eliminated HIV transmission through donated organs, blood or tissue. CDC’s most recent HIV-specific organ donation screening recommendations were issued in 1994; updated guidelines from the agency are expected this year.

It was 1981 when the first cases of what is now known as AIDS were reported in the U.S. During the 1980s there was a rapid increase in the number of reported AIDS cases and AIDS deaths. The lack of knowledge had many people fighting to isolate the people with the disease. As the cases grew from gay men to women, children,seniors and drug abusers the debates were intense. It was brutal.

Somewhere between then and now efforts to manage the disease have improved yet it is not good enough. Yes, I said it! It was during the 1980's that my brother contracted the disease through a blood transfusion from the place where one goes to be made well - the hospital. Surprisingly, the screening for HIV/AIDS was not enforced at that time. Many families lost their loved ones due to contaminated blood. Unfortunately, that was then and is in no way acceptable now. Not with the advances made through the awareness and fundraising campaigns, not with the powerful support of the celebrities or even most importantly, the researchers/scientists who have developed drugs to maintain the disease while working to find the cure - NO!

We must be ahead and proactive in taking the precautions, leading confidently, being the exemplar of delivering medical care. The old proverb 'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure' is oh so true and appropriate in everything especially - health.

Minority Health Awareness Month- April

Many are unaware that April is the month where we focus on promoting Minority Health. It is an effort to bring awareness to the health disparities that exist and to also educate and encourage minorities to take charge of their health and wellness. The statistics from the Office of Minority Health, clearly indicates that minorities have taken the lead in mortality rates in the following areas:

Asthma

• From 2003-2005, African American children had a death rate 7 times that of non-Hispanic White children.
• African Americans had asthma-related emergency room visits 4.5 times more often than Whites in 2004.
• American Indian/Alaska Native adults were 60% more likely to be diagnosed with asthma, in 2006.
• Asian Americans generally have lower rates of asthma than the White population, but they had a 50% greater death rate in 2003.
• Puerto Rican Americans have almost three times the asthma rate as compared to the overall Hispanic population.
• Puerto Ricans report 2.5 times more asthma attacks per year than non-Hispanic Whites.

Cancer

• Although breast cancer is diagnosed 10% less frequently in African American women than White women, African American women are 34% more likely to die from the disease.
• American Indian Women are 1.7 times as likely to die from cervical cancer as compared to white women.
• Asian/Pacific Islander men and women have higher incidence and mortality rates for stomach and liver cancer.
• In 2004, Hispanic women are twice as likely as non-Hispanic white women to be diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Chronic Liver Disease

• African American men are 80% more likely to have chronic liver disease than non-Hispanic White men.
• Asian Americans are 2.2 times more likely to die from chronic liver disease, as compared to non-Hispanic Whites.
• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders are seven times more likely to be diagnosed with chronic liver disease, as compared to non-Hispanic Whites.
• Both Hispanic men and women have a chronic liver disease rate that is twice that of the White population.
• Hispanic men and women are almost twice as likely to die from chronic liver disease, as compared to the non-Hispanic White population.
• In 2004, chronic liver disease was the fifth leading cause of death for all American Indian/Alaska Native men, and the third leading cause of death for men, ages 35-44.
• The overall death rate for American Indian/Alaska Natives is 2.6 times higher than for the White population, in 2005.

Diabetes

• African American adults were 1.9 times more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician.
• American Indian/Alaska Native adults were 2.3 times as likely as white adults to be diagnosed with diabetes.
• In Hawaii, Native Hawaiians are more than 5.7 times as likely as Whites living in Hawaii to die from diabetes.
• Mexican American adults were 1.9 times more likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes by a physician.

Heart Disease

• African Americans are 1.4 times as likely as non-Hispanic whites to have high blood pressure.
• American Indian/Alaska Native adults are 1.3 times as likely as White adults to have high blood pressure.
• Overall, Asian/Pacific Islander adults are less likely than white adults to have heart disease and they are less likely to die from heart disease.
• Mexican American women are 1.2 times more likely than non-Hispanic white women to be obese.

Hepatitis

• In 2005, non-Hispanic Blacks were almost twice as likely to die from viral hepatitis, as compared to non-Hispanic Whites.
• In 2006, American Indian/Alaska Natives were 2.7 times more likely to develop a case of Hepatitis C, as compared to the White population.
• In 2006, Asian Americans were 1.8 times more likely to contract Hepatitis A, as compared to Whites.
• Hispanics are three times more likely to be diagnosed with Hepatitis A than non-Hispanic Whites.
• In 2002, Black children were 3.2 times more likely than White children to be diagnosed with acute viral Hepatitis B.

HIV/AIDS
• African American males have 7.7 times the AIDS rate as non-Hispanic white males.
• American Indian/Alaska Native women have 2.8 times the AIDS rate as non-Hispanic white women.
• Hispanic females have almost 5 times the AIDS rate as non-Hispanic white females.
• Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander are twice as likely to be diagnosed with AIDS as the White population.
Obesity

• From 2001-2004, African American women were 70% more likely to be obese than Non-Hispanic White women.
• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders are 3.7 times more likely to be obese than the overall Asian American population.
• In 2003- 2004 Mexican American children, between the ages 6-11, were 1.3 times more likely to be overweight as Non- Hispanic White Children.
• American Indian/Alaskan Natives are 1.6 times as likely to be obese than Non-Hispanic whites.

Stroke

• African American adults are twice as likely than their White adult counterparts to have a stroke.
• In general, American Indian/Alaska Native adults are 60% more likely to have a stroke than their White adult counterparts.
• In general, Asians/Pacific Islander adults are less likely than white adults to have suffered a stroke, and they are less likely to die from a stroke.
• In 2005, Hispanic men were 15% less likely to die from a stroke than non-Hispanic white men.

These are just a few of the many other diseases that affect the mortality rates of the minority population. The main purpose of this article is not only to bring awareness but to also activate a change in behaviors. Take advantage of the free and low cost screenings; visit your doctors regularly; eat healthy; exercise and pass on the information to others. Do not become complacent with these themed months,awareness pins, buttons or symbols but take a good look at yourself - realize that your actions may determine the time you have here to enjoy life with your loved ones.