Sunday, June 26, 2011

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.



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