HIV/AIDS are considered life-threatening. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, and AID, which is an advanced stage of HIV stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Contracting an HIV infection and living with it can have emotional, social, and financial consequences that can be tumultuous to an individual. There are a number of changes that take place in a person’s lifestyle after being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Medications are started immediately after a positive diagnosis. Adhering to the antiretroviral therapy (ART) schedule is imperative to ensure that the therapy is effective. Missing one day’s dose can prove detrimental as there is the possibility of the virus becoming resistant to the drugs. Also, there are chances of the virus being transmitted to other individuals through the known transmission routes. Once the medication is started, the patient has to cope with the side effects, which include tiredness, headache, nausea, rash, diarrhea, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. The caregiver will provide clear instructions on how to manage these symptoms. Physicians will be able to identify the correct use of medications that do not interfere with the ART. For older people, age-related diseases may manifest, and these too need to be managed. Again, the caregiver will know which medications, if required, will work well with the ART.

Athlete’s foot is a fungal skin infection that can affect anyone and is not restricted to athletes only. Contrary to its name, anyone who sweats a lot can easily be susceptible to this contagious fungal skin infection. Also known as tinea pedis this condition infects the toe webs and the soles of the feet. It causes inflammation, cracked skin, scaling, itchiness, and burning sensations and may even spread to the groin, palm and other parts of the body, if untreated. Love and pamper your feet Athlete’s foot is caused in the feet, which is the most neglected yet an important part of our body. People groom themselves daily and focus on the face, hair, hands, and fingernails. But never the feet. We need to wash our feet regularly with soap and water and dry them in the areas between the toes. Alternatively, you may use a hair dryer to dry your feet during damp weather. This prevents the fungi from thriving if infected. Regular pedicure and soaking of feet in warm, medicated or saline water discourages the growth of this fungi too. The ones suffering from poor blood circulation due to diabetes are more prone to athlete’s foot. Use pure coconut oil to massage your feet regularly.

Herpes simplex virus infections do not get completely ridden off from the body, and the sores tend to appear on and off due to the recurrence of the infection. While the main medication is focussed on providing comfort from the symptoms, the medication associated with genital herpes, in particular, also focuses on limiting the spread of the disease between sexual partners or transmitting it to new-born children through the mother. Cold sores In the case of oral herpes, or cold sores as it is commonly called, they usually go away by themselves within a period of 7-10 days, and the most common mode of treatment for this type is the use of either topical or oral specific antiviral medication. There is no need to actually take medication unless the pain is bad and you need something to make it go away quickly while decreasing the pain. In most of the cases, the initial course of action for herpes treatment the first time is to use oral antiviral medication and then for each recurrence topical antiviral medication should be sufficient. However, if the symptoms appear to be severe then the topical medication would simply not be enough. Some of the most common medicines prescribed for oral herpes include Zovirax (acyclovir), Abreva (benzalkonium), Valtrex (valacyclovir), and Famvir (famciclovir).

Diagnoses for rheumatoid arthritis are not a single test but a series of evaluations that determine medical history, symptoms, physical examination and blood tests to identify the antibodies and rheumatoid factors. Imaging tests such as X-ray, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imagery (MRI) evaluate the extent of the damage. There is no proven cure for rheumatoid arthritis, though it can be contained and managed by modern medicines. Treatment commonly includes medication and physical therapy when diagnosed at an early stage. However, joint surgery may be considered in case of severe progression of the disease. Doctors may prescribe Nonsteroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) to moderate pain and inflammation. These medications do not slow down rheumatoid arthritis and are given only with prescription: as they need to be consumed in higher dosage for long-lasting results. The NSAIDs are not risk-free and they may cause increased blood pressure with risk of stroke/heart attack, stomach irritation/ulcers. It’s wise to evaluate the potential benefits versus the risk factors with the doctor while choosing the right medication. Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs), particularly methotrexate, made dramatic improvements in severe rheumatoid arthritis. In conditions where DMARDs couldn’t ease the symptoms, doctors considered Biologics (genetically engineered proteins) that block specific parts of the immune system responsible for inflammation, slowing rheumatoid arthritis or arresting it as a result.

Cirrhosis, a degenerative condition, is caused when the liver’s tissues are affected by various conditions, such as hepatitis or excess consumption of alcohol. Cirrhosis can be fatal as it advances. A scar tissue forms when the liver tries to repair itself from any disease or injury. When more and more scar tissues replace the liver’s healthy tissues, its functioning is compromised. Furthermore, intense scarring restricts the blood flow to the liver. As a result, the blood finds a different path to return to the heart, usually through the veins along the stomach and esophagus. This, in turn, increases the pressure on the veins, causing them to enlarge or even rupture. Cirrhosis mainly occurs due to long-term injuries to the liver. This could either be due to excessive alcohol consumption, obstruction of bile flow, exposure to drugs and other toxic substances, viruses or genetic deficiencies. Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the major causes of cirrhosis. Women who drink are heavy drinkers are at a higher risk of developing cirrhosis as their bodies cannot process large quantities of alcohol. The effects of alcohol on the liver vary from person to person. While for some people, a single drink can cause the formation of scars, it can take several drinks to have the same effect on others.