- What is HIV?
- Reducing the Risk of HIV
- Questions for Your Healthcare Team
- Tips to Work with Your Healthcare Team
HIV Basics
 |
Learning as much as possible about HIV/AIDS is an important part of the fight against HIV/AIDS. Education is one tool to help you live powerfully with HIV and support others who are living within the spectrum of HIV/AIDS. Understanding HIV and your treatment goals and options can help you make more-informed choices that fit your life and how you want to fight this disease. If you are a caregiver for someone living with HIV/AIDS, in-depth knowledge about the disease and HIV treatment can strengthen your support and understanding.
Web sites such as this one (INVIRASE.com) can educate you about common HIV symptoms and various types of treatment, but your healthcare provider is still your best source for HIV information, HIV treatment options, side effects of HIV treatment, and other concerns you may have about your own experience. You may also want to talk to a health educator at an AIDS Service Organization or other community organization or health clinic in your area.
INVIRASE.com provides you with a wide range of AIDS/HIV information, from early HIV signs and symptoms to HIV medications and treatment side effects. You can also read downloadable brochures about women and communities of color. Here you will also find basic information about safer sex and links to Web sites with more comprehensive information about protecting your health and the health of others.
It may be especially helpful for you to check out questions for your doctor and tips for working with your healthcare team. These simple tools have been created to help you get the information you need and to communicate your needs and your choices clearly.
Also try Web sites created by people living with HIV and advocacy organizations. Several of these sites are linked in the HIV/AIDS Resources area of this site.
Remember that, whatever you and your doctor choose for your HIV treatment, you are not alone. Now more than ever, you have access to information and support that can help you live powerfully with HIV.
Because you will not give in.
