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Did you know that chronic neck pain could be a symptom of HIV? Here are the early symptoms!

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HIV typically has no symptoms, especially in the early stages but chronic neck pain can be a sign that something is gravely wrong.

In as little as two weeks to as long as three months, signs can occur in your body, which are reactions to an HIV infection.

If you have recently engaged in unprotected sex or shared an injectable needle with someone whose HIV status you cannot confirm, you should consider being tested for the HIV virus. An early HIV test is a good idea for your health, safety and benefit of others.

Many, but not all people who are infected, experience flu-like symptoms, sometimes described as the “worse flu ever.” There are between nine and sixteen different symptoms experienced by people living with HIV and AIDS.

Common early symptoms of HIV

Here are some of the most common, indicating early-stage HIV infection:
Fever: One of the first signs of an HIV infection can be a mild fever, up to about 102F/39C. At this point the virus is moving into the blood stream and starting to replicate in large numbers. You are highly contagious in the early stages of an HIV infection because the undetected, unchecked virus is making millions of copies of itself as it destroys cells your immune system uses to fight disease.

Swollen Lymph Nodes: Lymph nodes often become inflamed, or swollen, when the body is trying to fight an HIV infection. Major lymph nodes are located in the armpit, groin, and neck areas. Often, lymph nodes in the neck are involved, become tender and may be called “swollen glands.”

Lymph nodes are a part of your lymphatic system. This system plays an important role in your immune system. Lymph, a clear fluid that circulates throughout your body, is partly made of white blood cells that attack bacteria and viruses.

Lymph nodes are located in certain parts of the body, including your neck, groin, and armpits. They’re shaped like beans and measure no more than 2.5 centimetres long. Your lymph nodes are responsible for filtering lymph and producing mature immune cells.

Lymph nodes protect both your blood and immune system by:
Swollen lymph nodes may also be the first signs of an infection, including HIV.

Sore Throat: People living with HIV may have a chronic or recurring sore throat, and it’s not uncommon for people living with HIV and AIDS to develop thrush, an opportunistic, secondary infection. Candida is the fungus that causes thrush; flourishes when the immune system is compromised; is found in the mouth and throat; and contributes to difficult swallowing.

Rash: If a rash can’t be easily explained or treated and you have participated in high-risk behaviour, you should consider an HIV test. Rashes can occur anywhere on the skin but are often found on the trunk of the body. These rashes may or may not itch.

Fatigue: The inflammatory response generated by the besieged immune system can also cause tiredness, general listlessness and a lack of energy to do tasks you may consider normal or routine. Fatigue can be debilitating and occurs as both an early and later sign of HIV infection and AIDS.

Muscle and Joint Aches and Pains: Other common symptoms of infection include muscle ache and joint or body pain, rheumatic disease. These can be caused by the HIV infection alone or by other viruses or bacteria, and inflammation often accompanies.

Headache: This symptom can present itself as unrelenting headaches. They are often caused by low CD4 T-cell counts but may also be the result of infections, nervous system maladies or malignancies, HIV-related systemic disease and toxicity caused by medication. A new or severe headache should always be carefully checked out.

Diarrhea, vomiting and nausea: Many people with an early HIV infection develop nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and lack of appetite. This can be caused by fungal, bacterial, viral and parasitic infections, which overwhelm an already-compromised immune system. In some cases, these symptoms can also be a side effect to HIV medication.

Night sweats: Night sweats means sweating which soaks the bedding while sleeping and is not related to exercise. Night sweats can be a side-effect of a fever due to another infection in the body, such as the bacterial infection Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), the fungal infection histoplasmosis or tuberculosis (TB).

No symptoms? Remember, a large amount of people are unaware of their infection and have experienced no signs of their illness.

The symptoms that accompany an HIV infection can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks. However, you cannot assume you have HIV from symptoms alone.

Each of these ailments can be caused by other illnesses too. The only certain way to know your HIV status is by getting an HIV test.

If you think you may have been exposed to HIV, regardless of whether you have experienced any symptoms, it is important to get tested as soon as possible.

Health

Eating too much meat could cause heart failure in older women

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Women above 50 who consume a lot of protein stand a high risk of heart failure, researchers say.

The risk becomes even more increased when the source of the protein is meat.

Although the study did not prove exactly how a high protein diet affects the health of the heart, postmenopausal women with the most protein in their diet had a 60 percent increased risk of heart failure, as opposed to those who ate little protein, the study found.

Mohomad Firas Barbour, an internist at Brown University’s Alpert medical school and memorial hospital of Rhode Island in Pawtucket, said that most of the risks appear to come from animal protein.

In comparison, the women who got most of their protein from vegetable sources appeared to have a nearly 20 percent reduced risk of heart failure, Barbour said.

“The higher total dietary protein intake, that will increase the risk of heart failure, but higher vegetable protein intake appeared to be protective against heart failure,” he added.

The findings have been presented at the American Heart Association annual meeting in New Orleans, U.S.

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Health

Wrong arm position can result in false blood pressure reading, Study says

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A recent study has found that a wrong arm position during blood pressure (BP) checks may lead to misdiagnosis and overestimation of hypertension.

BP is the pressure of circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels. It is measured in units of millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The reading consists of two numbers — with the upper (systolic) value first, followed by the lower (diastolic) value. A person is considered hypertensive if they have consistent readings of 130/80 or higher.

The new study, published on Monday in Journal JAMA Internal Medicine, analysed the blood pressure readings of 133 adults from August 2022 to June 2023. The study volunteers’ ages ranged from 18 to 80.

The blood pressure readings were measured and compared while the people held their arms in three different ways — leaning on a surface, resting on the lap, or hanging by the side of the body.

The researchers from Johns Hopkins University discovered that when participants had their arms hanging by their sides during the reading, their systolic pressure was 6.5 points higher than when their arms were resting on a desk, while the diastolic blood pressure — the bottom number — was 4.4 points higher than in the supported condition.

The experts also found out that when their arms were on their laps, the systolic blood pressure was 3.9 points higher than when their arms were supported by a surface, while the diastolic pressure was 4 points higher than in the supported condition.

For example, if a person’s actual blood pressure is 134, and blood pressure is measured on a dangling arm, the reading could end up over 140, which is considered to be stage 2 hypertension.

Tammy Brady, the vice-chair for clinical research in the department of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said the two other positions were tested because it was realised that they are the most used positions during blood pressure readings.

“I did not expect there to be that much of a difference when the arms were placed in the two alternative positions,” he said.

“We tested those positions because those are the positions that most people have their blood pressure measured, according to data and personal observations.

“We thought there’d be a difference, but I was surprised by how much of a difference there was.”

According to the study, the wrong positioning of the arm during BP readings leads to overestimation due to several physiological reasons.

First, there can be muscle contraction when the arm is not supported which can lead to an increase in BP reading.

Also, a greater vertical distance between the heart and where the cuff is placed can increase hydrostatic pressure in the arteries, or the blood pressure against the wall due to gravity’s pull. This can lead to an overestimation of blood pressure.

Brandy said the study was conducted to educate people on the appropriate arm position for BP reading.

“I just hope that it raises awareness regarding how important things like arm position are to blood pressure measurement accuracy,” he added.

“I also hope this study educates patients, empowering them to advocate for proper measurement when they’re in a clinic setting.

“But also, because so many patients rely on home blood pressure measurements for hypertension diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment.

“I hope this educates them on how to properly position their arms because our findings absolutely extend to measurements in the home.”

The researchers also gave the following steps to achieve an accurate BP measurement.

The steps include:

  • Wear the appropriate cuff size
  • Have your back supported
  • Keep feet flat on the floor with legs uncrossed
  • Have the appropriate arm position – the cuff should be positioned at heart level with the arm supported on a desk or table

Wearing the appropriate cuff size was found to be the most important step.

Because an improperly sized blood pressure cuff can distort blood pressure readings taken by automated blood pressure devices.

Also speaking, Gail Adler, a cardiovascular endocrinologist in the Hypertension Clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, disclosed some steps that should taken 30 minutes for BP measurement.

“Before you take your blood pressure, you want no smoking, exercise, caffeine, alcohol, major arguments. Don’t be psychologically stressed,” Adler said.

“Sit in the chair, get in the right position. And for five minutes, you relax, you don’t talk, make sure you don’t have to pee. If you have to pee or urinate, that’s going to raise your blood pressure.”

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Health

NAFDAC warns Nigerians against purchase of unregistered condom brand

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians against sale and distribution of Foula Condoms.

In a statement on Wednesday, the agency said officials from the post-marketing surveillance (PMS) directorate discovered Foula condoms (packaged in threes) in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, and Zango, Katsina state.

The agency said the condom is not registered by NAFDAC for use in Nigeria, and the labeling of the product is not in English Language.

“Condoms are a proven effective barrier method that can be used as a dual-purpose method for both prevention of unintended pregnancy and protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs),” the statement reads.

“To be most effective, any barrier method used for contraception or preventing infection must be used correctly.

“The illegal distribution or sale of unregistered condoms poses a risk as the safety, quality, and efficacy of the products are not guaranteed.

“The purchase and use of poor-quality condoms will adversely affect every aspect of condom promotion for the prevention of unintended pregnancy and protection against HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections.

“If condoms leak or break, they cannot offer adequate protection.

“All NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the unregistered products within the zones and states.

“Importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and consumers are hereby advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of illegally distributed products.

“All medical products/ medical devices must be obtained from authorized/licensed suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.”

“Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified medicines or medical devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.”

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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