{"id":1525,"date":"2022-12-01T22:17:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-01T22:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikhamhealthcare.com\/provider-resources\/?p=1525"},"modified":"2026-02-03T16:20:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T16:20:04","slug":"december-1st-is-world-aids-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bikhamhealthcare.com\/provider-resources\/december-1st-is-world-aids-day\/","title":{"rendered":"December 1st is World AIDS Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since the first outbreak of HIV\/AIDS in June 1981, AIDS<\/a> is estimated to have caused a total of 40.1 million deaths<\/a> worldwide. We\u2019ve come a long way since the virus first appeared decades. While a cure for AIDS still eludes medical researchers, better treatments along with improved awareness and prevention strategies have drastically reduced the number of AIDS-related deaths in the United States and across the world. (Xanax<\/a>)<\/p>\n

To help continue this campaign for improved AIDS awareness, treatments, and prevention, December 1st has been designated as World AIDS Day<\/a>. At Bikham Healthcare, we wanted to take the opportunity to promote this important cause by compiling everything you need to know about HIV and AIDS, including what they are, AIDS symptoms and complications, how AIDS is diagnosed and treated, and how you can lower your HIV\/AIDS risk.<\/p>\n

What is HIV\/AIDS?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There is a lot of confusion regarding the difference between HIV and AIDS and what these two terms mean, so covering the definition of each is an important place to start. HIV stands for \u201chuman immunodeficiency virus\u201d and is the name of a virus that attacks the body\u2019s immune system. AIDS, meanwhile, stands for \u201cacquired immune deficiency syndrome\u201d and is the name of a condition that HIV infection can lead to if left untreated.<\/p>\n

Even without treatment, HIV can often persist for a decade or longer until it progresses into AIDS. Today, HIV treatment is able to slow this progression even further and can often even prevent it entirely, giving those with HIV a much longer lifespan. Without HIV treatment, though, people whose condition has progressed into AIDS typically only survive an average of three years. This is due to the fact that AIDS leaves the body with a severely damaged immune system, eliminating its ability to fight off infections.<\/p>\n

How is HIV Spread?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

HIV can be spread through contact with infected blood, semen, or vaginal fluids. In most cases, HIV is transmitted sexually. However, HIV is also commonly spread by the practice of sharing needles, syringes, and other drug injection equipment.<\/p>\n

HIV\/AIDS Symptoms<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A big part of what makes HIV so difficult to combat is the fact that it presents very few symptoms. Many people will experience flu-like symptoms upon first contracting HIV. However, HIV having flu-like symptoms means that these symptoms are most often dismissed as actually being the flu. Once these initial symptoms have passed, HIV doesn\u2019t typically present any symptoms despite the fact that the disease is progressing and the person who is infected remains highly contagious to others.<\/p>\n

Once HIV progresses into AIDS, though, the disease\u2019s symptoms become a little more obvious. Symptoms of AIDS can include:<\/p>\n