HIV/AIDS

             Over the years technology has continually advanced in health care and medicine. The leading cause of death has also changed from acute illnesses or infectious diseases to chronic conditions. This is due to the fact that we are now more knowledgeable in our health care practices. Today, health care is much more sanitary, and the use of antibiotics and vaccines has helped to cure many diseases. Taking this into consideration, one must also be aware that there is a difference between the concept of disease and illness.
             Disease, as defined in our text, Health Psychology, is a collection of physical findings and symptoms that, when taken together, form a definable entity. "A disease has clear symptoms, a method for diagnosis, and sometimes a course of treatment that is likely to result in a cure, or the elimination of the symptoms," (DiMatteo/Martin, 35.) Illness is different in where our text states that it involves the person's perceptions of his or her symptoms, his or her reactions to them, and societal norms regarding these symptoms.
             A chronic condition that is now one of the greatest killers after respiratory diseases is HIV/AIDS. "AIDS is a leading cause of death for American men and women between the ages of twenty-five and forty-four," (Slowick, 3.) Another fact is that nearly one million people were confirmed to be HIV positive in the year 2000. For this reason it is very important that people are educated on this disease, so that there can be prevention of people becoming infected in the future. There are many biological, psychological, and social components of this disease that can be discussed.
             Biologically speaking, AIDS, or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, results from an infection with a virus call HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This virus suppresses ones immune system, attacking its CD4+ T cells. To be diagnosed with this disease one most have fewer than 200 CD4+ T cells p...

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HIV/AIDS. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 15:39, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/15213.html