Pregnancy and HIV

The Good News
Due to advances in HIV care and treatment, many women living with HIV (HIV+ women) are living longer, healthier lives. As HIV+ women think about the future, some women are deciding to have the babies they always wanted.

The good news is that the advances in HIV treatment have also brought down the rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission significantly. If the mother takes appropriate medical precautions, including taking HIV drugs, the rate of transmission can be reduced from about 25 percent to below 2 percent. In addition, studies have shown that being pregnant will not make HIV progress faster in the mother.
Before You Get Pregnant
It is important to plan carefully before getting pregnant:
Discuss your plans with your HIV doctor to make sure you are on the right treatment for your own health and to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to your baby (more about this in the next sections).
Find an obstetrician (OB) who is familiar with HIV care. He or she can explain your options for getting pregnant with as little risk to your partner as possible.
Ask your HIV doctor and your OB to communicate and coordinate to insure you receive appropriate care before and during your pregnancy.
Get screened and treated for sexua
Give u, drinking, and drugs. All of these can have a negative impact on your health and the health of your baby.
Start taking prescription pregnancy vitamins that contain folic acid and calcium while you are trying to become pregnant. This can reduce the rates of some birth defects.
If friends and family are unsupportive or critical of your decision to have a child, put together a support network of people who are caring, non-judgmental, and well educated about HIV and pregnancy. Your network can consist of medical providers, counselors, and other HIV+ women who are considering pregnancy or have had children.
HIV Drugs and Pregnancy
HIV drugs can reduce the risk of transmitting HIV from mother to baby. For this reason HIV drugs are recommended for all pregnant women regardless of CD4 and viral lo Even if the mother does not need HIV treatment for her own health, it is important for her to take HIV drugs to lower the risk of transmission. The drugs need to be taken just as they are prescribed to have the best chance of working. (See TWP sheet on for more info.)

A group of experts on pregnancy in women with HIV has developed pregnancy guidelines to help HIV+ women and their doctors make treatment decisions. The first step is to have a thorough check up, including blood tests, to find out about your health and the status of your HIV infection. A resistance test can also help you and your doctor choose the best drugs to take. The guidelines recommend pregnant women take a they:
Have never taken HIV drugs before
Are taking HIV drugs, but have a detectable viral load
There are certain HIV drugs that should be avoided or used with caution because of possible side effects in the mother or the developing baby. Some examples are Sustiva (efavirenz) and the combination of Videx (didanosine or ddI) and Zerit (stavudine or d4T). Viramune (nevirapine) is not recommended for first-time treatment in HIV+ pregnant women with CD4 cell counts over 250. Discuss the risks and benefits of the HIV drugs with your doctor so that you can decide which treatments are best for you and your baby.
The Pregnancy Guidelines
Deciding when to start treatment depends on your own health and when you find out you are pregnant. The pregnancy guidelines make the following recommendations:
For HIV+ Women Not Taking HIV Drugs
If it is determined that HIV treatment is needed for the health of the woman, she should receive a combination of HIV drugs based on treatment guidelines for non-pregnant adults. Retrovir (zidovudine or AZT) should be used as one of the drugs in the combination if possible. HIV treatment should start as soon as possible, including in the first trimester (three months) of pregnancy.
HIV+ pregnant women who do not need HIV treatment for their own health should also receive HIV treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Retrovir should be used and, in most cases, combined with other HIV drugs. Women in the first trimester may consider waiting to start the HIV drugs until after the first 10 – 12 weeks of pregnancy. After the birth of the baby, the mother should be evaluated to see if she needs to continue HIV treatment for her own health.
In both of the above cases, HIV drug treatment should continue during labor and delivery. At that time, the Retrovir should be switched to intravenous (IV) administration. The baby should receive liquid Retrovir for 6 weeks.
For HIV+ Women Already Taking HIV Drugs
Continue current HIV drugs if they are working well to control the virus. If the drugs are not working, switch to a more effective combination. Retrovir should be used as one of the drugs in the combination if possible. The drugs should be continued during labor and delivery, during which time IV Retrovir should be given to the mother. The baby should receive liquid Retrovir for 6 weeks.
For HIV+ Pregnant Women in Labor Who Have Not Taken HIV Drugs
A woman in labor who has not taken HIV drugs can still reduce the risk of infecting her baby by using HIV drugs during labor and delivery and to treat the baby for a short time after birth. The guidelines recommend the following options:
IV Retrovir for the mother during labor and liquid Retrovir for the baby for 6 weeks after birth.
Single-dose Viramune for the mother at the beginning of labor and IV Retrovir during labor. Consideration should be given to adding Epivir (lamivudine or 3TC) during labor and continuing Retrovir and Epivir for 3-7 days. This may reduce the possibility of the mother’s virus becoming resistant to Viramune. The baby receives single-dose Viramune plus liquid Retrovir for 6 weeks.
IV Retrovir given to the mother during labor and liquid Retrovir plus additional drugs for the baby. However, it is unclear if this strategy further reduces the risk of transmission.
After the baby is born, it is recommended that the mother be evaluated to determine whether HIV treatment is recommended for her.
For Babies Born to HIV+ Women Who Have Not Taken HIV Drugs Before or During Labor
The baby can still receive treatment to reduce the risk of transmission. The guidelines recommend the following options:
Liquid Retrovir given to the baby for 6 weeks, started as soon as possible after birth.
Liquid Retrovir, plus additional drugs, given to the baby. However, it is unclear if this strategy further reduces the risk of transmission.
After the baby is born, it is recommended that the mother be evaluated to determine whether HIV treatment is recommended for her.
Invasive Tests, Procedures and Delivery
HIV+ women may want to avoid some of the more invasive prenatal tests, such as amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS), and percutaneous umbilical blood sampling. Talk to your doctor about whether you need these tests. Certain procedures during delivery, such as invasive monitoring and forceps- or vacuum-assisted delivery, should be avoided if possible.

There are 2 types of delivery: Cesarean (C-section) and vaginal delivery.

Elective or planned C-sections are done before labor begins and before the mother’s "water" (membranes that surround the baby) breaks. This reduces the baby’s contact with the mother’s blood and may reduce the risk of transmission in certain cases. Since C-sections require surgery, they carry some risks. Women who have C-sections are more likely to get infections than those who give birth vaginally. C-sections are recommended for HIV+ pregnant women whose:
Viral load is unknown or is greater than 1,000 copies at 36 weeks of pregnancy
Have not taken any HIV drugs or have only taken Retrovir during pregnancy
For a woman on combination HIV treatment with a low viral load (less than 1,000), a C-section is not likely to further reduce her already low risk of transmitting HIV. The decision of which type of delivery is most appropriate should be discussed with your doctor early in your pregnancy.
After the Baby is Born
The baby will receive several HIV tests during the first 6 months of life. The test results will give you a good idea of whether your baby is infected or not. A definitive test is done at 12-18 months to make the final determination.

During the first few months, the baby will need to take HIV medication and anti-pneumonia medication. This doesn’t mean the baby is sick; it is just a precaution to decrease the chances of transmission and illness.

Since a baby can be infected with HIV through breast milk, it is important not to breast feed if you have other options. You can still have a strong bond with your child even if you bottle feed.
In Conclusion
Deciding to have a baby is a big step for any woman, but for an HIV+ woman, it is even more complicated. Talk to your doctor and OB for "preconception" health care and counseling before you start trying to get pregnant. If you plan ahead, there are many things you can do to protect your health and the health of your new baby.

One final note: Researchers are interested in learning more about the effects of HIV drugs during pregnancy. HIV+ pregnant women are encouraged to register (through their doctors) with the Antiretroviral

~~**Side Hip Pain**~~

**Side hip pain causes

great discomfort and therefore must be treated according to the cause. Side hip pain can have various causes and depending upon the cause the exact location and severity of the hip pain Let us discuss the causes of side hip pain in detail.Side Hip Pain: Causes pain in the hip region can occur due to a number of causes. Given below are a few of the causes for side hip pain:Trochanteric BursitisTrochanteric bur, also known as hip bursitis, is a common cause of side hip pain. Bursa is a sac of filled with fluid and is present in between the tendons and the bones. Due to the inflammation of this fluid, the tendons rub over the bones and this results in pain which is called bursitis. When this happens at the hip joint, it is called hip bursitis. Due to the rubbing of the tendons with the bone there is severe hip pain at the outer side of the upper thigh. There are many causes of hip bursitis viz., hip injury and post surgical bursitis. Hip injury can cause hip bursitis. Also, after the surgery of the hip fracture or any other hip related surgery, hip bursitis can occur. In addition, athletes or runners or any sportsperson involved with running can get hip bursitis which results in side hip pain. Read more on eHip ArthritisDue to the wear and tear of the hip joint, there can be degeneration of the joints. One of the most common type is hip arthritis. The cartilage of the joint is worn out due to arthritis and the bone is exposed. Obesity is the main cause of hip arthritis, along with traumatic conditions like fractures.

Hip arthritis

of the left hip can cause left side hip pain. Similarly, pain in right side of hip can be caused due to in the right side of the hip. Read more on .results from the inflammation of the tendons, which are the structures that offer smooth gliding motion of the joint, and due to tendonitis, the motion of the joint is very painful.

Tendonitis

can be age related, though excessive exercising can cause tendonitis in the hips. is tendonitis in the hip joint. The iliotibial band extends from the hips to the outer side of the shin bone.

Fractures

Fractures and stress fractures in hips is one of the common causes of side hip pain. Stress fracture is a result of high intensity sports, and athletes are the most common victims of these kind of fractures. Also, injuries can be a reason for fractures, which can then result in side hip pain. Read more on

Dysfunction of Lumber Spine

The dysfunction of the lumber spine can cause lower right side hip pain. This dysfunction further results in sacroiliac dysfunction. The hip flexion is affected due to the strain on the sacroiliac joint. This strain does not aid the movement of the hip joint. Herniated discs or the sciatica can be the reason of side hip pain. Sleeping on side can cause hip pain in many cases like bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis or even Read more on the following:

Side Hip Pain: Treatment

Thus, depending upon the cause of the side pain in hips, the treatment is decided. The treatment can vary from rest to medications, and from massage to surgery and use of . Heat can also soothe hip pain to a great extent. Henceforth, if you are experiencing any pain in the hips, it is best to consult your doctor immediately.This was all about side hip pain causes and treatment. However, these causes are for your reference only, and you must consult a doctor immediately if you experience side hip pain, to ensure that it does not aggravate any further, leading to complications.

Green Tea, Wild Blue-Green Algae, Weight Loss and Premature Ageing

Introduce four or five cups of green tea a day into your dietary routine and you can win from its weight-loss properties. A growing number of studies are throwing light upon an impressive and growing number of health benefits inherent in green tea and some have even shown that people can shed a few pounds by the mere fact of swapping coffee for green tea!Dropping coffee out of your diet and replacing it with green tea as your beverage of choice has been shown to have numerous benefits, not least because coffee is just plain bad for you.However, this health step becomes a little pointless if one at the same time perseveres with a suicidal diet of burgers, french fries and take-out pizzas chased down with a few beers and followed by a pack of cigarettes, whilst glued firmly to the couch and the TV remote.Some people of course seem dedicated to seeking out an early grave and becoming Jabba the Hut look-alikes whilst awaiting the early arrival of the Grim Reaper and who are we to deny them this right: in a democracy it is the God-given right of every citizen to make himself ill.But for those who would like to live a bit and have some fun, invest in a teapot and some organic green tea and make sure you also enjoy an overall healthy diet that includes a lot of filtered or spring water, fresh green vegetables and fresh fruit and meat and dairy products that are as organic and un-tainted by the unethical practices of rapacious food corporations as possible. Such a diet must also exclude your health and waist-line’s most mortal foes: refined sugars, refined flour and fast- and processed foods.The optimum way to lose weight is not food fads or only eating turnips but by becoming overall healthy and that is achieved by a healthy, balanced diet and plenty of exercise. This is mostly common sense and one does not need to be an expert nutritionist or indeed become obsessively food-conscious to arrive at a basically wholesome diet that will lose you a few pounds, gain you more years of life and even save you a few dollars. Green tea is, however, a great weapon to add to your health arsenal and should most definitely be part of your new diet. It requires after all not much more effort than remembering to put the kettle on.Green tea improves metabolic rate and the body’s ability to burn fat as well as providing antioxidants and helping decrease the villainous free radicals. Research has suggested that drinking tea has a beneficial effect on weight, fat accumulation and the activity in the body of insulin and you can of course do your own research by drinking it and seeing how you get on.I especially recommend that alongside green tea you include daily consumption of wild blue-green algae at the foundation of your weight loss/better health diet.Green tea and wild blue-green algae are both rich sources of antioxidants and antioxidants get rid of the pesky free radicals, which - to form a crude analogy - are to your cells as rust is to ironwork. The body’s defense against free radicals is to neutralize them with substances called anti-oxidants. The body therefore must have an adequate supply of anti-oxidants to neutralize the attack by free radicals.It is the damage to various tissues caused by free radicals that causes premature aging and free radicals appear to be the waste product of an inefficiently working metabolic system. They cause damage because the body does not have enough anti-oxidants to neutralize them and this deficiency can result in damage that shows up as premature aging and other undesirable phenomena. Therefore, in order to help slow down the aging process or at least eradicate premature aging, it is necessary to have an efficient supply of antioxidants.Green teas and wild blue-green algae both provide that supply and so it is highly advantageous to have both of them working for you towards greater vitality and healthier weight.

``~~``Weight Loss Products ``~~``

Weight Loss Products

There are many weight loss products available in the market these days. They all claim for fast and safe weight loss. Are these weight loss products really safe? Do these weight loss products really work?Everyone in this world wants to lose weight fast but, only few of them are successful in there mission for losing weight. Before using one such weight loss product, keep your mind open in order to save yourself from fraudulent claims and extreme high cost because there is no magic to losing weight.Popular weight loss products and their effect:Diet Patch for weight loss - Ineffective in weight loss and was already removed since 1990’s by FDA.Magnetic Diet Pills - Magnetic pill are also used for weight loss which allegedly flushes out fat, but not.Guar Gum - Is used for weight loss but well known for causing internal obstruction.Electrical Muscle Stimulators - Ineffective because no proven effect known till now.Eyeglasses for weight loss that Suppress Appetite - This work by projecting image to retina in order to decrease appetite for promoting weight loss but, no proven effect had shown till now.Other weight loss products include weight loss earrings that work through acupuncture to suppress appetite.Some other weight loss products are also common in this field like diet drinks are gaining popularity and are used by many people as a substitute for meal, also once stop drinking, they would eventually regain the lost weight after a short period of time due to feeling of emptiness in the stomach. Another is diet supplements and medicines that are used for weight are not safe for health and also don’t work long-term. OTC or Over-the-counter pills, contains phenyl propanol amine hydrochloride may raise blood pressure and palpitation and on the other hand Ephedra can cause serious side effects such as problems related to the heart, seizure, stroke, and even death. St. John's Wort Supplement for weight loss claims that it will suppress appetite in order to promote weight loss but there are many other problems related to its use such as gastrointestinal discomfort, tiredness, insomnia and allergic reactions. As you see that weight loss products are directly or indirectly are not safe for your health.Spending money on these types of products is useless. WANT TO KNOW?The World’s most fastest weight loss secret without side effect That really works. Go to World’s Fastest Weight Loss at .Chromium based Supplements for weight loss - claim that products will lower blood sugar, burn excessive body fat and lower your cholesterol levels but, some sides effects are anemia and even memory loss. Green Tea Extract Products - Green tree products are known well for their strong anti-oxidants properties that help lower cholesterol and triglycerides, and promote weight loss.

Best Herbal Weight Loss Pills

Best Herbal Weight Loss Pills

Hectic work schedules and unhealthy way of living are probably a few main causes for which one suffers from obesity.One cannot negotiate with their life and way of work, so they choose to consume herbal weight loss pills as the fastest way of burning body fats.What are natural weight loss pills? These are certain pills which are responsible in mounting the metabolism rate in a human being and enriching the person with high energy. Fat and cholesterol burning ability of these pills help in reducing body fat which if present in excess can cause major issues regarding the arteries and the veins stretched throughout the human body. Just because herbal weight loss pills are "natural", that doesn’t mean they are safe or are good for weight loss. There are certain pills that come along with side-effects. Certain pills are not naturally available, instead they are prescribed by doctors which patients cannot consume (due to the presence of bile acid sequestrates and niacin).It is found that doctor-prescribed pills cause people to suffer from dizziness, diarrhea, and excessive excretion. They are usually made of omega3-oils and other supplements and are responsible for burning cholesterol. So before going ahead and choosing one, we need to decide what we really want? Loosing weight is not an easy task. Medically it has been proved that a long term weight loss is not possible by usage of herbal weight loss pills only. But with useful and accurate number of natural herbal weight loss pills and a few regular-exercises accompanied with a healthy diet will bring about significant changes in reducing the unwanted body fat.This will help us to prevent some serious disease due to obesity. If you are looking for the best , I highly recommend Hoodia Gordonii pills. Check out my Hoodia Gordonii review site for the top recommended hoodia gordonii pi

Anticancer: A New Way of Life

Anticancer: A New Way of Life

All of us have cancer cells in our bodies. But not all of us will develop cancer.When David Servan-Schreiber, a dedicated scientist and doctor, was diagnosed with brain cancer, his life changed. Confronting what medicine knows about the illness and the little-known workings of his body's natural cancer fighting capacities, and marshaling his own will to live, Servan-Schreiber found himself on a fifteen- year journey from disease and relapse into scientific exploration and, finally, to health. Combining memoir, concise explanation of what makes cancer cells thrive and what inhibits them, and drawing on both conventional and alternative ways to slow and prevent cancer, Anticancer is revolutionary. It is a moving story of a doctor's inner and outer search for balance; radical in its discussion of the environment, lifestyle, and trauma; and compelling and cautionary in its proposal that cancer cells lie dormant in all of us -- and that we all must care for the "terrain" in which they exist. Advocating a sea change in the way we understand and confront can cer, Anticancer is a radical synthesis of science and personal experience, an inspiring personal journey, and certainly a guide to "a new way of life."Anticancer tells us:Why the traditional Western diet creates the conditions for disease and how to develop a science-based anticancer dietHow and why sugar and stress feed cancer -- and ways to achieve life balance and good nutrition to combat itWhy the effects of helplessness and unhealed wounds affect our ability to restore healthHow to reap the benefits of exercise, yoga, and meditationHow to minimize environmental toxinsHow to find the right blend of traditional and alternative health careReviews"Enormously compelling evidence and arguments for participating in our own health by supporting our deep natural capacity for healing. Everybody should read this book and enact its simple but potentially lifesaving recommendations. David Servan-Schreiber speaks with a powerful voice from both personal experience with cancer at a young age and from his life's calling as a physician and neuroscientist."--Jon Kabat-Zinn, professor of medicine emeritus, University of Massachusetts Medical School; author of Full Catastrophe Living''A mesmerizing, brilliant, astonishing, and well-documented journey detailing the extraordi nary successes and remarkable failures of efforts to wrestle with cancer in the modern world."--Devra Davis, National Book Award finalist; author of The Secret History of the War on Cancer"A courageous, sensible, and rational discussion on how integrative medical approaches may be used in the fight against this devastating disease. Anticancer is an absolutely indispens able guide for cancer survivors and anyone who wants to adopt healthy lifestyle habits in order to prevent cancer."--Dr. Richard Beliveau, author of Foods That Fight Cancer"Anticancer is a passionate and thoughtful book. It speaks to both the heart and the head. Dr. Servan-Schreiber builds on his own personal experience with cancer and his medical training to show that life with cancer can be enhanced by changing diet and exercise and living not in fear but fully. Read it and leap into a vibrant life with and against cancer."--David Spiegel, MD, Willson Professor and associate chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine; author of Living Beyond Limits: New Hope and Help for Facing Life-Threatening Illness Author BioDavid Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD, is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and cofounder of the Center for Integrative Medicine. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Paris, France.
Conventional and alternative ways to slow and prevent cancer.

Anticancer: A New Way of Life

Anticancer: A New Way of Life

All of us have cancer cells in our bodies. But not all of us will develop cancer.When David Servan-Schreiber, a dedicated scientist and doctor, was diagnosed with brain cancer, his life changed. Confronting what medicine knows about the illness and the little-known workings of his body's natural cancer fighting capacities, and marshaling his own will to live, Servan-Schreiber found himself on a fifteen- year journey from disease and relapse into scientific exploration and, finally, to health. Combining memoir, concise explanation of what makes cancer cells thrive and what inhibits them, and drawing on both conventional and alternative ways to slow and prevent cancer, Anticancer is revolutionary. It is a moving story of a doctor's inner and outer search for balance; radical in its discussion of the environment, lifestyle, and trauma; and compelling and cautionary in its proposal that cancer cells lie dormant in all of us -- and that we all must care for the "terrain" in which they exist. Advocating a sea change in the way we understand and confront can cer, Anticancer is a radical synthesis of science and personal experience, an inspiring personal journey, and certainly a guide to "a new way of life."Anticancer tells us:Why the traditional Western diet creates the conditions for disease and how to develop a science-based anticancer dietHow and why sugar and stress feed cancer -- and ways to achieve life balance and good nutrition to combat itWhy the effects of helplessness and unhealed wounds affect our ability to restore healthHow to reap the benefits of exercise, yoga, and meditationHow to minimize environmental toxinsHow to find the right blend of traditional and alternative health careReviews"Enormously compelling evidence and arguments for participating in our own health by supporting our deep natural capacity for healing. Everybody should read this book and enact its simple but potentially lifesaving recommendations. David Servan-Schreiber speaks with a powerful voice from both personal experience with cancer at a young age and from his life's calling as a physician and neuroscientist."--Jon Kabat-Zinn, professor of medicine emeritus, University of Massachusetts Medical School; author of Full Catastrophe Living''A mesmerizing, brilliant, astonishing, and well-documented journey detailing the extraordi nary successes and remarkable failures of efforts to wrestle with cancer in the modern world."--Devra Davis, National Book Award finalist; author of The Secret History of the War on Cancer"A courageous, sensible, and rational discussion on how integrative medical approaches may be used in the fight against this devastating disease. Anticancer is an absolutely indispens able guide for cancer survivors and anyone who wants to adopt healthy lifestyle habits in order to prevent cancer."--Dr. Richard Beliveau, author of Foods That Fight Cancer"Anticancer is a passionate and thoughtful book. It speaks to both the heart and the head. Dr. Servan-Schreiber builds on his own personal experience with cancer and his medical training to show that life with cancer can be enhanced by changing diet and exercise and living not in fear but fully. Read it and leap into a vibrant life with and against cancer."--David Spiegel, MD, Willson Professor and associate chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine; author of Living Beyond Limits: New Hope and Help for Facing Life-Threatening Illness Author BioDavid Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD, is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and cofounder of the Center for Integrative Medicine. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Paris, France.
Conventional and alternative ways to slow and prevent cancer.