Ground Zero For AIDS. NYC And The Importance of HIV Testing

NYC, where you can get anything you want, at anytime of the day or night. Unfortunately, it’s not only Chinese food one can get a moment’s notice in NYC, it’s also any in a long list of sexually transmitted diseases—including HIV. Testing is so very important, even today, when many people think the worst of it is over. Don’t fall under the spell of complacency. HIV is still a threat to all individuals engaging in sexual relationships, and testing for it will at least give you the upper hand regarding treatment if your results come back positive.

Let’s face facts, people are having sex. Crazy, no-holds bared sex. What are we supposed to do, hide our heads in the sand? No, we must face facts and engage in testing procedures as well as engaging in one-night stands. In fact, individuals from NYC should be aware of these statistics: New York City has three times as many HIV cases than the national average. Quite simply, that makes NYC ground zero in the fight against AIDS!

At this time there are over 107,000 people who are infected with HIV in NYC—and perhaps thousands more who are unaware that they are even positive for the disease. The 1980s wasn’t that long ago, and during that time New Yorkers took this illness very seriously. Red ribbons were worn on every lapel and it seemed like every single day another celebrity was warning us about the danger. Unfortunately, other issues overtook the public outcry over HIV, yet that doesn’t mean that the problem has disappeared. Quite the contrary.

In NYC AIDS is the third leading cause of death between the ages of 35-54. Think about that. These are very serious numbers we are speaking about. So, who needs to be worried about HIV and AIDS, and receiving the proper testing? Well, it really is every single New Yorker who is having unprotected sex. It is also IV drug users—and we all know that although heroin may have slipped a bit more underground in New York its use in our fair city is still a huge problem.

HIV testing is quick and safe and relatively painless. All it takes is a quick pin prick from a needle to test your blood. Look, no one wants to hear that they are positive for HIV, but the fact remains, that those who are in-the-know have a better chance at staying as healthy as possible by treatment via all the new medicines that can keep the virus in check. HIV is no longer a death sentence, but it should be of grave concern to any person engaging in sexual relations.

The testing is easy, as stated. The withdrawn blood is scanned for the antibodies that are produced when someone is infected. It is over 99% reliable. If a positive result is found, the same blood is retested as a matter of fact. This is called the reflex to Western blot reconfirmation test and it factors out false positives.

If you are in the NYC area and need a clinic to begin your HIV testing procedure log onto HIV testing NYC website or call 1-212-696-5900 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1-212-696-5900      end_of_the_skype_highlighting to set up an appointment with this respected and certified STD clinic. No one is telling you to stop having sex, but it is important that you take responsibility and begin testing for HIV and all other STDs immediately. Protect your health. Protect your sexual health.

HIV Testing in NYC

NYC has been home to many of horror stories regarding HIV over the years. Since the 1980s, when HIV and HIV testing was on everyone’s mind, the disease has sat quiet, slowly wreaking havoc amidst the populace. The only thing that has changed when it comes to AIDS is the fact that this new generation looks at it as some sort of controllable disease, like earlier generations looked at syphilis and gonorrhea.

The facts, however, do not lie. Although there is medicine available these days to control the symptoms and that stops the slow death that was once inextricably linked to this plague, infections are still occurring at a startling rate. It is only through testing that one can be sure that they are safe from this disease and thus do everything in their power to prevent it from destroying them. NYC, being a city of alternative lifestyles, which includes people who are hooked on intravenous drugs, makes it a dangerous place for those out of the mainstream.

In the old days, 1980’s NYC was adorned with red ribbons which indicated people’s awareness of this deadly disease. Now days, NYC is muted, there are no more red ribbons on each and every lapel. Yet the statistics do not lie.

NYC is still at the top of the list for cities plagued by HIV and AIDS. There are three times as many cases in this city than there are nationwide. That should be a red flag—if not a red ribbon. HIV and AIDS is currently the third leading cause of death amongst city residents between the ages of 35 and 55. As you read this article there are over 105,000 people in NYC currently infected with HIV. Many of these cases will develop into full-blown AIDS. It will just take a much longer time to do so then it did in the 1980s.

Who will fall beneath the power of HIV in NYC?  The statistics indicate that there are many different types of people and classes that are still under threat from this disease. The suburbs have become a new breeding ground. Published reports suggest that rates of infection in them are rising proportionately to the city itself.

The elderly are also becoming victims at a startling pace. By 2008 older people represented over forty percent of new cases. That is an increase of twenty percent in five years.

Women are also rising in the ranks of the infected. Since 1985 the rate of women becoming infected with HIV has tripled to twenty seven percent. Men still outnumber women, but these numbers are frightening and if the trend continues they may catch up with men.

Everyone in NYC should be aware if the HIV status and thus be tested. If you are currently interested in having an HIV test done look no farther than the NYC std testing clinic. Located just blocks from Grand Central Station, this facility offers state of the art testing and can help provide treatment for those unlucky enough to test positive. Log onto HIV testing NYC website or call 1-212-696-5900 for more information and a quick appointment.