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What Is The Difference Between HIV And Aids?

The two words are so often grouped together that many people think that HIV aids is one and the same thing. They would actually be wrong. Hold on and let me explain what I mean.

HIV aids refers to two aspects of the same disease, it is true. But these two aspects are actually two different things.

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. So the HIV part of HIV aids actually refers to the actual virus that causes all the problems. This virus attacks certain cells in your immune system and uses these cells to reproduce. Your body does not really have any defences against this as the virus attacks the very cells that are meant to fight it off. As a result your immune system will continue to deteriorate at quite a rate. This opens you up to infection from other virus and bacteria. It is these other infections that ultimately take your life. If you were able to live in an environment that contained absolutely no other bacteria and virus at all you might actually be able to live your life to the end with HIV in your system.

The aids part of HIV aids actually refers to the condition where you are already infected with the virus and it has started to take a large toll on your system. Aids stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. You can be HIV positive and not have aids. This sound really confusing, I know, but think about it for a second. You might be infected with the virus, but it is dormant for some reason. This means that you are HIV positive, but you are not going to suffer any ill effects unless the virus becomes active. You can still pass the virus on to other people who may well have the required chemicals in their body to allow the virus to become active.

So basically, contracting HIV will most likely cause you to develop aids, but you cannot just get aids without getting the virus in your system first. This is why there is such a lot of emphasis placed on having protected intercourse. This is supposed to stop the virus from infecting other people. Of course, it does not always work. This is why the other option of abstinence is so very popular, side from religious reasons of course.

Because of advancements in medical technology, getting HIV aids is not a death sentence. It has become possible to live for a number of years with the full blown symptoms of HIV aids. You do have to follow your medication schedule religiously though and eat as well as you can. If you suspect that you may have contracted HIV then it is very important that you get a blood test to determine whether or not you have indeed contracted the virus. If you catch it early enough, the anti retroviral drugs that you are given may even be able to get rid of the virus entirely. The earlier you catch it the better your chances of getting rid of it.