Healthy Living With HIV-August/September 2012

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September is

National Cholesterol Education Month!

E

very September, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute runs National Cholesterol Education Month. This is a good time to get your blood cholesterol checked and to learn more about steps you can take to lower it if it’s high. National Cholesterol Education Month is also a good time to learn about lipid profiles as well as food and lifestyle choices that can help you reach personal cholesterol goals.

Don’t Ignore

Mouth Problems

P

ain or bleeding in your mouth can be a sign of infection. It can keep you from eating normally, and the pain may become serious enough that you could skip taking antiHIV drugs. Serious infections in your mouth can cause other health problems. Be sure to see a dentist or let your healthcare provider know if you have: • Trouble swallowing. • Changes in how food tastes. • Pain or other problems with your mouth or teeth.

Quitting smoking, eating healthier, and exercising regularly can help lower cholesterol. Some anti-HIV drugs can raise cholesterol levels, but your healthcare provider can adjust your HIV drug regimen if cholesterol levels are poor. Be sure to talk this over with your doctor first. Remember, HIV medications are only one of many potential factors that increase a person’s risk of heart disease or stroke. Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/cholmonth).

Several problems with the teeth, mouth, and gums can show up in people with HIV. Some of the more common conditions in the mouth associated with HIV include dry mouth and tooth decay, candidiasis (thrush), canker and cold sores, and gum disease, among others.

Be Proactive to Prevent Mouth Problems HIV infection and some medications can cause dry mouth. So too can coffee, carbonated beverages, alcohol, and smoking. To avoid these symptoms, try to limit intake of these items…or better yet, stop using them completely. If you have dry mouth, take frequent drinks of water. You can talk to your healthcare provider about using sugar-free gum or candy, or a saliva substitute. For canker and cold sores, there are ointments, creams, or rinses that can help. To battle gum disease, be sure to brush your teeth, floss, and see a dentist regularly. Get your teeth cleaned regularly by a dental health professional. Hairy leukoplakia, Kaposi’s sarcoma, and oral warts from HPV are other signs in the mouth associated with HIV. Oftentimes, the best treatment for these problems in someone with HIV is effective antiretroviral therapy. Good dental hygiene can go a long way toward stopping these problems before they ever occur. If you’re concerned about any mouth problems, be sure to see a health or dental care provider, especially for any serious issues. Source: TheBody.com (www.thebody.com/content/treat/art56299.html).

August/September 2012

Lessons on

Valley Fever

C

occidioidomycosis, commonly known as “valley fever,” is an opportunistic infection that is caused by a soil-dwelling fungus. Most cases in people with HIV have been reported from the southwestern United States, but some have also been diagnosed outside this area. The risk for developing symptomatic coccidioidomycosis increases when CD4 counts are lower than 250 cells/μL or when someone has an AIDS diagnosis.

Feature:

Getting Help for

Drug Abuse

There are things that you can do to prevent being afflicted with this opportunistic infection. First, take your anti-HIV drugs as prescribed. Second, try to avoid long exposures to disturbed native soil. This means staying away from building excavation sites and steering clear of events like dust storms whenever possible. Third, there are prophylactic drugs that may protect you if you’re at risk. If you suspect you have coccidioidomycosis or if you’re diagnosed with it, talk to your healthcare provider about treatment options. Source: AIDSInfo.nih.gov (www.aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/Adult_OI.pdf).

Also in this issue: The editorial content for this brochure was developed and created solely by the Patient Education Center. The content does not necessarily represent the opinions and/or views of our advertisers. Healthy Living With HIV is published by the Patient Education Center. Offices: 2445 Kuser Road, Suite 202, Hamilton, NJ 08690; and 180 Mount Airy Road, Suite 102, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920. Reproduction without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Publication of an advertisement or other product mention in Healthy Living With HIV should not be construed as an endorsement of the product or the manufacturer’s claims. Such advertising or product mentions should similarly not be construed as either influencing or controlling the editorial content of Healthy Living With HIV. The appearance of or reference to any person or entity in the editorial material (including photographs) in this brochure does not constitute an expressed or implied endorsement of the product advertised. Readers are encouraged to contact the product manufacturer with any questions about the features and/ or limitations of any product mentioned. The reader also is advised to consult appropriate medical literature and the product information currently provided by the manufacturer of each drug to verify indications, dosage, method, duration of administration, and contraindications. Copyright 2012, Patient Education Center

PEC-HL-AUG-040

Lessons on Valley Fever National Cholesterol Education Month Don’t Ignore Mouth Problems

Visit us online at www.patientedu.org/hiv


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Healthy Living With HIV-August/September 2012 by Physician's Weekly - Issuu