According to the CDC, In the United States about 1.1 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2016 and 1 out of 7 did not know it. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, which attacks the immune system, destroying important cells that fight disease and infection.

Anyone can get HIV but some important factors that affect some more than others are sex partners, risk behaviors, and location of where they live. HIV has three different stages, which are the following:

Stage 1: Called acute HIV infection, usually happens between 2-4 weeks after becoming infected. During this time, people might experience a flu like illness, that can last for a few days.
Stage 2: Clinical latency, during a period in which HIV is active but reproduces at very low levels, lasting even decades but others can also progress faster in this phase.
Stage 3: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the most severe phase because people have badly damaged immune systems. Their CD4 cell count can drop below 200 cells.

Although no cure exists, it can be controlled through medical care. The treatment for HIV is called antiretroviral therapy or ART. By taking the treatment, people with HIV can live for as long as someone with no HIV and has no risk of transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative partner through sex. If you’d like for information about how we can help, contact us. We can help you get a medical second opinion at an affordable price. Nothing is more important than your health and peace of mind. Let us help you.