HIV, when left untreated, can severely affect your whole body. HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacks your immune system mercilessly. It kills CD4+ cells, which are vital to the immunity. The cells are responsible for protecting the body from common infections and diseases. When the cells are destroyed, you become vulnerable to contracting all types of infections.
The rate of progression of HIV depends on a person’s age, overall health, and how quickly they take treatment.
That’s why doctors emphasize on timely treatment of HIV because you can avert a lot of serious complications by starting the treatment on time. Thanks to the opening of HIV testing center in Arlington, VA, you can easily walk in the center and get yourselves tested for HIV without revealing your identity.
What if you don’t take treatment?
HIV attacks cells that fight invaders like HIV. The virus is known to replicate quickly and it goes on infecting and killing the CD4+ cells, which are critical in saving the body from infections. The cycle of infecting and destroying continues when you don’t take treatment.
As a consequence, your immune system will be seriously damaged. You cannot stay healthy with a damaged immunity. You become vulnerable to falling ill frequently and catching deadly infections easily.
What is AIDS?
AIDS or Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome is the last stage of HIV infection. In this stage, the patient’s immunity is extremely weakened. He or she is at a higher risk of catching opportunistic infections.
However, not every HIV infected person develops AIDS. If you catch the infection at the earliest, you can receive appropriate treatment and prevent converting the infection into full-blown AIDS disease.
The antiretroviral treatment is powerful enough to preserve your immune system and prevent the consequences that occur due to badly damaged immunity. That’s the reason doctors ask sexually active people to undergo HIV test whether or not they suffer from HIV symptom in Arlington, VA.
You must not wait for symptoms, as many times, you hardly notice them. If you believe you are exposed, you must walk in a STD center near you and undergo a test. It is good to undergo HIV screening every 2-3 years for sexually active people. Some people have never undergone HIV test. They don’t know whether they are carrying an infection!
Social stigma attached to HIV
Do you know over 1 million Americans are living with HIV? Despite the higher occurrence of this infection, people are still embarrassed to talk about it due to the social stigma attached to it. People would not like to disclose they underwent HIV test, even if the test result was negative.
It is this stigma that prevents millions of people from seeking medical help in spite of their awareness about HIV. The worse thing is that many hospitals stigmatize people with HIV or those who visit for a test. People who are tested positive face highly distressing social dilemma.
However, HIV testing center in Arlington, VA, is different. Doctors and staff here are non-judgmental and highly professional. They conduct anonymous testing so that people can save themselves from the embarrassment and the stigma.
