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You might have HIV without knowing it; here are the 3 signs
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The pandemic is still alive. - photo by Kelsey Robertson
Kelsey Robertson
FamilyShare
Published: Dec 5, 2016, 1:09 PM
About 36.7 million people worldwide are currently living with HIV, and 1.8 million of those infected are children who contracted the disease from their mothers according to AIDS.gov. A shocking one in eight people who have AIDS do not even know they have it yet - are you one of them?

While there is no cure for HIV AIDS, if detected early on, antiretroviral treatments, or ART, can keep the disease at bay and allow carriers to lead a fairly normal life. The only way to know for sure whether you have contracted HIV is to be tested for it.

December 1 of every year since 1988 is World AIDS Day. It is a day to raise awareness about HIV AIDS, show support for those living with this disease and unite in the fight against the spread of AIDS. It was the worlds first global health day according the the World AIDS Day website.

So in order to raise awareness and help you catch the disease early on, here are some symptoms in each stage of the diesease to watch for, according to the Aids Foundation of Chicago.

Stage one

The signs of HIV infection may not present themselves for years and possibly decades in some, but most people will experience flu-like symptoms 2-4 weeks after infection.

Headaches, fever, tiredness, swollen lymph nodes, joint pain and a possible rash are all signs of the HIV virus. These are also common symptoms for the normal flu, so if there is any possibility you've been infected and these symptoms show up, it's best to be tested for HIV AIDS and start treatment as soon as possible.

Stage two

After the initial flu-like symptoms, which may last for weeks, the virus enters a latent period where no symptoms are detectable. The latent period may last up to a decade if it's not treated with ART, but with the help of the Antiretrovirals, the latent period can last for three or more decades.

Stage three

By stage three the HIV virus has advanced to full blown AIDS, and not much can be done. Once AIDS symptoms settle in, it is usually fatal within 2-3 years. Advanced AIDS is most often identified by extreme and rapid weight loss. AIDS sufferers may also have prolonged diarrhea (lasting more than a couple weeks), pneumonia, extreme fatigue, herpes (mouth and genital sores), a persistent dry cough, severe night sweats, dementia and red, brown, pink or purple blotches on the skin. Not all AIDS patients have every one of these symptoms, but many will.

If detected early on, HIV does not have to progress quickly to AIDS. Those with HIV who are treated early with antiretrovirals can live almost as long as someone without AIDS. They must diligently take a daily treatment for the rest of their lives, but they can still live a full life. The important thing to remember everyday, but especially on World AIDS Day is the AIDS pandemic has not gone away. Make sure you protect yourself from it.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
Herb Scribner
Deseret News
Published: Aug 13, 2018, 1:39 PM
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.