{"id":463,"date":"2014-12-01T08:00:19","date_gmt":"2014-12-01T13:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.healthinaging.org\/blog\/?p=463"},"modified":"2014-11-17T14:42:41","modified_gmt":"2014-11-17T19:42:41","slug":"hiv-not-just-a-young-persons-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.healthinaging.org\/blog\/hiv-not-just-a-young-persons-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"HIV: Not Just a Young Person\u2019s Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Sangarlangkarn\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Aroonsiri Sangarlangkarn, MD MPH<\/strong><\/span>
\nGeriatrics Fellow<\/strong><\/span>
\nBrookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine<\/strong><\/span>
\nIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai<\/strong><\/span>
\nNew York, New York<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Did you know that by 2015, fifty percent of people with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) in the United States will be over 50 years old? Or that 17% of new HIV infections happen to older adults?<\/p>\n

People living in the 1980s would be surprised to hear these facts. When HIV was first discovered in 1981, we did not have effective medications to treat HIV, and many people died young, soon after they were diagnosed.<\/p>\n

The good news is that healthcare has come a long way since then. Today, we have effective medications for HIV, called antiretroviral therapy, and people rarely die from HIV anymore. Now that people with HIV are living longer, we have more and more older adults who have HIV.<\/p>\n

The bad news is that we still cannot cure HIV, and aging with HIV is not easy. Chronic HIV infection and long-term effects of HIV medications can lead to other health problems. For example, patients with HIV may be at higher risk for bone loss, making them more prone to getting osteoporosis compared to people without HIV. Osteoporosis is just one of the problems\u2014 chronic HIV infection increases risks for many other chronic diseases. It can also carry a stigma that can make it hard for older adults to make new friends or keep their social network.<\/p>\n

So, what can you do to protect yourself from HIV as you age? Here are some tips:<\/p>\n

Stay updated on safe sex practices: <\/strong><\/span>Unprotected sex with an infected partner is the most common way people get HIV.Practicing safe sex is a must. Even if you no longer worry about unwanted pregnancies, you still need condoms to protect you from sexually transmitted diseases, HIV included. If you are recently rejoining the dating scene, make sure to stay up to date with new information on HIV and safe sex practices\u2014information might have changed from the last time you heard about it.<\/p>\n

Get more information from HealthinAging.org\u2019s section on Sexual Health<\/a> and the Safe Sex Tip sheet<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Get tested: <\/strong><\/span>Knowing your HIV status is important, and everyone should get tested. This is because HIV infection is hard to detect without a test.\u00a0 Its symptoms mimic many other diseases, including symptoms related to advancing age. Moreover, after the initial infection passes, you might not have any symptoms until it is too late.\u00a0 Untreated HIV weakens your immune system and leaves you open to getting \u00a0sick from infections. \u00a0Do not wait until it is too late\u2014get tested today.<\/p>\n

If you have HIV:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n