HIV-infected sex life: how easy, how safe?

 HIV-infected sex life: how easy, how safe?

30-year-old Kiran Wali (name changed) from Kanchanpur is HIV positive. He says that his sex life has changed after being infected.

Because of the notion that HIV is a sexually transmitted disease, the society's view of HIV-infected people is different. That's why I find it difficult to talk to others about this issue," he says.

Because they are not able to openly discuss sexual and reproductive health like normal people, infected people do not have much knowledge about this matter. It is about the whole health of HIV-infected people. But Kiran says that there is not much to say about sexual and reproductive health.

He says that the sexual life of the infected person is similar to that of normal people, but because of taking drugs and having reduced immunity, the sexual desire may be reduced.

Women have to face more problems than men infected with HIV. HIV-infected women have more problems than normal women because their immunity is weaker. But there is no provision for special tests and treatment for them. Kiran says that the relevant authorities should pay attention to this matter.

HIV is a virus that destroys the human immune system. It is a microscopic virus that attacks the human immune system. As a result, the immune system becomes very weak and becomes unable to fight against diseases and infections. If it is found that HIV has entered the body of a person, that person is said to be infected with HIV.

The sexual life of the infected should be discussed

The main cause of HIV transmission is unprotected sex with an HIV infected person. But even after being infected, a person has a sexual life. Anup Adhikari, a research expert on the state of sexual and reproductive health rights, says that most of them do not know how to proceed with their sex life.

Counselors are available where infected people take ART (anti-retroviral therapy). But they do not give much information about sexual and reproductive health to infected people. Information is only given that ``wear a condom when having sex.''

Wearing a condom while having sex does not cover everything about sex. Why wear a condom? What happens when you wear it? What happens if you don't wear it? If both the husband and wife are infected, then why should they wear a condom? Officials say that information about such things should also be given to them.

Even if both husband and wife have HIV, condoms should be used during sexual intercourse. Because the virus is weak in one partner and strong in the other. In this case, having sex without a condom can cause the two viruses to mix with each other and increase the viral load. If this happens, the possibility of other infections will increase,” he says.

Infected people also have sexual desire. In this case, many infected people do not know what to do to achieve sexual satisfaction. There is not much center for counseling in this matter. Therefore, officials suggest that awareness should be spread among HIV-infected people about sexual and reproductive health.

If one of the two partners does not have HIV and the other only has it, then if two people have unprotected sex, then the child born from them may also have HIV. In this case, this may cause discord and discord between the couple. In this case, the official says that they should be informed that they can give birth to a healthy child if they pay attention to certain things and take the advice of a doctor.

A mother with HIV can give birth to a healthy baby

Shukraraj Tropical and Communicable Diseases Hospital Tekuki Medical Officer Dr. Leena Devkota says.

If the husband and wife are taking ART drugs regularly, we will check the status of the viral load. If the viral load in the body of an HIV-infected person is clinically low, the children born to infected women are healthy," she says. "An infected mother must take medication regularly to give birth to a healthy child."

If the husband is HIV infected but the wife is not infected, when they plan to have a child, the HIV infected husband should take medication to reduce the viral load. In addition, the healthy wife should also be given HIV medicine. Devkota says.

In this case, we give 'pre-exposure prophylaxis' medicine, that is, HIV medicine is given before the disease. This medicine is given until pregnancy occurs. After pregnancy, we stop giving medicine. After stopping the medicine while pregnant, husband and wife should not have any contact. In this way the mother is also safe and the child born from that mother is also safe. When the mother is HIV negative, the child will automatically become negative. Devkota says.

Children infected at birth need counseling

A child born infected at birth should be informed about it after understanding. Because some parents do not let them know that they are HIV infected. In this case, when they engage in sexual activities after becoming adults, it creates a problem.

If they come to know that they are infected after reaching adulthood without proper counseling, they may develop a sense of revenge such as 'If I am infected through no fault of mine, I will also pass the infection on to others'.

therefore Anup Adhikari, a research expert on sexual and reproductive health rights, says that parents should adequately discuss sexual and reproductive health issues with HIV-infected children.

"Parents should discuss sexual and reproductive health issues with an HIV-infected child," he says.

According to the official, the infected should reduce the viral load by taking regular medication. After that, you should only have sex with your partner using a condom. The method of using a condom should also be correct. The partner should know about his infection. It is not necessary to have a partner for sexual satisfaction, they should also be informed that sextoys (sex toys) can also be used,'' says the official.

Now there is no risk of HIV?

HIV positive was considered as a terrible infection. The disease, transmitted through unprotected sex with an infected person, was described as 'fatal'. Therefore, people used to fear that they might have HIV infection even when they get a common sexually transmitted disease.

For various reasons, it was not easy for those infected with HIV to live a normal life. What happens after contracting HIV? Can they work or not? How many live? The question would have been thrown at them. Because the infected people did not receive medical treatment in the beginning. The drug was not researched. Therefore, the risk of death due to infection was high.

But now the situation is not like that. There is no discussion of HIV infection, nor the fear of possible death from it.

Medicines are now readily available. Even those infected with HIV can lead a normal life by taking medication for chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. Because of this, now the fear of this disease has decreased.

Has the fear of HIV decreased or the infection rate?

The HIV infection rate has decreased slightly. But the fear has decreased a lot. Medicines were not available when the infection spread in Nepal. Even if it was available, the other infected person would get the medicine only after the death of the first infected person.

Now, as soon as HIV infection is detected, medication is started after counseling. Medicines are started in 3-4 days after the infection is confirmed. After taking the medicine, the infected person does not get AIDS, which has reduced the fear.

According to the data of the National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases Control Center, it has been found that the HIV infection rate is decreasing in Nepal. In two decades, the rate of new HIV infections has decreased by almost 84 percent. Likewise, deaths due to AIDS have decreased by 71 percent.

Reasons for reducing the fear of HIV

The main reason for the decrease in the fear of HIV is that drug treatment is becoming more effective. As soon as it is infected, treatment is available. As a result, the number of infected people is decreasing all over the world. Public awareness about this infection has also spread well, so the number of new infected is decreasing. Even those who are infected do not reach the stage of AIDS.

Although the fear has decreased, there has been no change in the behavior of HIV infected people. There has been no change in their view. The risk of HIV infection is now higher in the age group of 18 to 40 years.

The belief that life ends after HIV infection is no longer the case. If the drug is taken regularly, there will be no death due to HIV. Infected people can also live like other normal people.

Even the infected can live a full life

Even those infected with HIV can live a full life. New HIV drugs are now available, and people who take them regularly can live their entire lives.

If one of the husband or wife is HIV positive and one is negative, then the one who is negative is given medicine called Prep. Those who are positive take their own medicine. By doing this, the child born from that couple becomes negative and the partner also becomes negative, so as many as 15 children have been born.

Symptoms of HIV infection

No symptoms may appear for five to seven years after HIV infection. Common problems such as fever and diarrhea may not be seen, so many people think that 'I am healthy, I have no health problems'. People do not think that they are at risk of HIV. During this time, he may be transmitting the infection to others. If the symptoms appeared as soon as the infection occurred, then everyone would have access to treatment.

Symptoms start appearing only after 5-7 years of HIV infection. After infection, the body is unable to fight the infectious disease, which causes symptoms such as fever, diarrhea and weight loss for a long time.

HIV is a type of virus. It attacks and weakens our immune system. When someone is infected with HIV, their body becomes unable to fight off infectious diseases. The HIV virus destroys these cells of the immune system. If the HIV virus is not treated on time, the infection starts to increase in the body and it can lead to AIDS.

Harmful chemicals in condoms increase cancer and infertility risk: study

 Harmful chemicals in condoms increase cancer and infertility risk: study

Condoms are often used for safe sex. Which is a good habit. It also reduces the risk of sexually transmitted diseases as well as other sexually transmitted diseases like HIV. Similarly, different types of lubricants are used to reduce irritation during sexual intercourse. But their use can also cause various problems. People who use condoms and lubricants may suffer from cancer and infertility.

Harmful chemicals in condoms and lubricants

A study was conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency, which found that many well-known brands of condoms and lubricants use harmful chemicals. According to the study, a group of 'PFS' 15,000 synthetic chemicals are used to make them. These chemicals have been confirmed to be found in many brands of ultra-thin condoms and jelly lubricants. PFS is commonly used in condoms to maintain their softness and fluidity.

Can be cancer

According to some studies done on 'PFS', its exposure also increases the risk of cancer. Sometimes it can cause testicular cancer as well as kidney cancer. Studies have shown that in some cases, its excessive use can cause problems related to infertility. Also, exposure to this chemical increases the risk of prostate cancer as well as breast cancer. It has been found that apart from endometrial cancer, it can also cause thyroid cancer.

Other harm caused by 'PFS'

Exposure to these chemicals in condoms and lubricants can cause various problems in both men and women.

According to experts, if condoms are used more than twice a week, the sensitivity of the inner layer and membrane of the vagina starts to lose gradually. As a result, the secretion of fluid from the vagina of a woman is reduced or completely stopped, which can cause pain or dryness in the vagina.

According to experts, exposure to PFS affects sperm count, which can lead to infertility. Exposure to 'PFS' can cause liver damage as well as thyroid problems.

This chemical can sometimes weaken the immune system and cause other problems as well.

Breastfeeding: Complete nutrition for the baby, medicine for the mother

 Breastfeeding: Complete nutrition for the baby, medicine for the mother

A new mother cannot express in words the feeling of the child clinging to her mother's chest after a long wait of nine months. With that, the new mother's journey begins. A mother's first responsibility is to breastfeed her baby.

Because the newborn baby is completely dependent on mother's milk until he is 6 months old. Therefore, doctors say that new mothers should know everything related to breastfeeding.

Dr. Obstetrician and Gynecologist working at Vatsalya IVF Center. Upma Basnet says, 'From the day of birth to 6 months, all the nutrients a child needs are found in mother's milk. Therefore, breastfeeding is very important for children during this period.

Between 6 and 12 months, half of the nutrients a baby needs comes from breast milk and half from other solid foods.

Even after this, children from one year to two years of age should be breastfed because one-third of the nutrients they need are available from mother's milk.

Three stages of breastfeeding

Dr. According to Basnet, after giving birth, the mother produces milk in three stages: colostrum secretion, transitional milk and mature milk.

- Colostrum is secreted two to five days after birth. It contains many antibodies like cholesterol, nucleoside and immunoglobulin, which can protect the child from any infection.

- Transitional milk is released between the second and fifth day after birth until the second week. During this time, the mother feels full and hot breasts. The milk gradually turns blue or white in color.

- Mature milk starts coming from the second or third week. The amount of fat in this milk changes.

The difference between colostrum and mature milk is that colostrum milk is yellow in color compared to normal milk.

Mother's milk is 80 percent water while solid food is 12 percent. It also contains two percent carbohydrates and protein. She also says that it also contains all the necessary micronutrients in prescribed amounts, which help the child's digestion process.

Therefore, no food other than mother's milk is provided to the newborn for the first 6 months after birth.

"If you breastfeed properly when you are hungry, you don't have to give water to the baby," said Dr. Basnet says.

Breastfeeding for how long?

Gynecologist Dr. Isan Children's and Women's Hospital. According to Mala Shrestha, breastfeeding for two years from birth is very healthy for the child. Working women keep milk in the refrigerator and give it to their children when they are hungry.

But do not feed cold milk directly from the refrigerator. Wait until the milk reaches normal temperature. Shrestha says that the milk should be fed only when it is normal. "It is not wrong to store milk and feed it to children later, but in this process, there is a possibility that the nutrients in the milk will be reduced," she says, "Cold milk is also harmful for the health of the child."

Therefore, he suggests that mothers should prioritize their children over work until they reach the age of one year.

Why is breastfeeding important for babies?

Dr. According to Mala, mother's milk provides nutrients and antioxidants to the baby for six months.

"Mother's milk protects the child from long-term, short-term or any type of infection and problem," she says.

A strong bond between mother and child

During breastfeeding, there is a kind of tight bond between mother and child. This bond is very important for the development of children. Shrestha says.

During this period, the child feels safe with the mother. He says that this bond helps the child's physical and mental development to a great extent. But now most of the mothers are facing the problem of low milk production.

According to the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey-2022, only 56 percent of pregnant women were breastfeeding. That is, out of 100 people, only 56 mothers breastfeed their babies for 6 months after birth.

Some people are forced to resort to lactogen instead of taking their doo. With the introduction of some modernity, new mothers resort to formula milk and lactogen due to the mistaken understanding that formula milk is more nutritious and better than their own milk.

Such products fulfill the food needs of the child. But not as safe and powerful as mother's milk. Basnet says.

What to do if there is no milk?

Only 'formula milk' is made as an alternative to this. Formula milk is produced based on the nutrients found in mother's milk. Formula milk is prepared according to certain standards by combining the amount of protein, vitamins, minerals and fat in mother's milk.

It gives nourishment to the baby. Your own mother's milk does not contribute to the formation of antibodies. Although it is a good option if the milk does not come, if the milk continues to come, it is better to feed the mother's milk than such products. Basnet says.

When taking formula milk, it should be taken with high liquid protein. Mother's milk contains 70 percent liquid protein, which plays a role in the physical development of the baby and prevents constipation, she says.

Why is milk produced less?

Health conditions can also make a difference in breast milk production. If the mother is healthy, well-rested, calm and well-nourished, the milk provides all the nutrients. The production is also in the same proportion. But if the mother has problems such as stress, hormone imbalance, thyroid, low milk production, Dr. Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist. Basnet says.

Stress causes hormonal imbalance, which affects milk production. Apart from this, low milk production of the mother can also be caused by the group of cells in the breast, hypothyroidism, underweight, she says, "Fat is necessary to increase the quality and quantity of mother's milk." Even if there is less fat, protein and liquid in the diet, less milk is produced.

Some women believe that according to the size of the breast, the milk is more or less. In other words, there is a widespread misconception that if the size of the breast is large, more milk will be produced and if the size is small, the milk will be less. Breast size has nothing to do with mother's milk production. Basnet says.

She says that breastfeeding is not only like elixir for the baby, but also works as a medicine because it is beneficial for the health of the mother.

What are the benefits?

- If the baby sucks the mother's milk immediately after birth, the placenta will come out quickly.

- Bleeding in childbirth is reduced.

- Breastfeeding helps the uterus return to normal.

- If he is suckled from his mother's milk immediately after birth, it helps him to get more milk from the breast.

- Sucking milk immediately and often reduces the problem of breast swelling.

- Breast milk can be fed anytime and anywhere.

- Intimacy between mother and child increases.

- It works as a contraceptive if there is no return of menstruation and effective full breastfeeding for the first 6 months after childbirth.

- The risk of ovarian cancer and breast cancer in the mother is reduced.

- Reduces the unnecessary weight of the mother.

How to breastfeed

- The mother should always breastfeed the baby while sitting in a comfortable position. While keeping the baby in your arms, you should feed it by placing one hand on the head so as to balance the body well.

- You should not breastfeed the baby while sleeping. It makes the child uncomfortable to eat.

- After breastfeeding, the baby should be placed on the shoulder and lightly touched on the back for some time.

What kind of food does the mother eat?

Obstetrics and gynecology expert Dr. should give preference to foods rich in protein and fat. Basnet says. Lactating women should take protein foods three times a day.

90% of protein can be obtained from plants and 10% from fish. A pregnant mother should eat different types of food every day (grains, legumes, green vegetables, vegetables and fruits, fish, meat). Pregnant women should not do hard work and should stay away from smoking and alcohol.

Anxiety in the breastfeeding mother

Dr. According to Basnet, some superstitions are rooted in some of them when they become mothers for the first time.

"Many people have the illusion that if the baby is fed milk, the breast will sag and the shape will look bad. Because of this concern, they are afraid of getting pregnant," she says. "It's not breastfeeding, but age and heredity that are responsible for loose breasts."

A mother needs proper sleep

If the child does not sleep at night, the mother can also cause sleep problems. Thapa says.

Good sleep is a basic need for mothers. If there is a problem related to sleep, it affects the mother both physically and mentally. It causes problems related to depression, Dr. Basnet says.

You can sleep and rest while the baby is sleeping or someone else is taking care of it. During this time, you may feel tired as you have to rest at home. To make good use of this time, one can focus on activities that are of interest to please the mind.

Junk food is poison

 Junk food is poison

If 'junk food' is not true, can children be allowed to lick biscuits at birth? Is it absurd that mother's milk is the best food for babies? If you argue that there is no such thing as good or bad food, then you can say that there is no best food either!

Is it right to call Pratik Joshiji's food 'junk'? After reading the article, I couldn't help but write something. Anyone who googles what is 'junk food' will know. Similarly, Joshiji's statement that "there is no legal definition of junk food or junk food" was also not right for me.

Junk food is food that contains a lot of sugar, salt, and calories, (especially to increase the taste), but it either does not contain the nutrients required by the body or is very low. In another language, it is also called ultra-processed food.

Robert Lustig is an American pediatrician. After treating obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure in American children for 20 years, he realized that this is not the only way to treat diseases. It should be prevented. That was proper food.

After this, he studied law and became a lawyer to fight against the companies that make 'junk food'. In many books, Robert Lustig has described in detail how the habit of eating "junk food" of the American people has created many problems.

Dr. If you look at Robert Lustig on YouTube, you will know how he is raising public awareness against food that is full of many chemicals that do not contain sugar, salt, or fiber, i.e., ``fat food''. So, if the word 'junk food' can be used in America, Europe, India, why not in Nepal?

Similarly, to the author's question, 'Is it correct to distinguish food as good and bad?', I say that food is good and bad. Stale, wormy, rotten food full of many chemicals, salted and sugary food can't be called 'bad' food? This word is also used in English or Hindi.

Yes, the nature of food can be different according to people's lifestyle, work, place. "High calorie foods may be suitable for athletes," says the author. It is, but it should be a meal with healthy calories. Foods made with too many 'unhealthy fats, high sugar and salt calories', 'flour products' are not good for athletes.

Telling players that ``it happens when they use junk food in moderation'' is like saying that ``it happens even if children are given cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs in moderation''. I thought that's what parents are doing now.

What I experienced from the author's article is that ``Patru Khana'' is a word used by people who call themselves nutritionists and have only superficial knowledge about food, but for thousands of years, our ancestors have gained knowledge about food and used it in their daily lives. Does their knowledge have any importance?

Our forefathers used many cultural practices regarding this, that both mind and brain are healthy when we eat healthy food according to the season. That is why we eat satu and sorbet on Akshaya Tritiya, dahi-chiura on Asar 15, khichdi, ghee and chaku on January 1.

Our forefathers used to say - 'Jai Khae Anna, Bains Hoe Mind' 'Pet Safa To Har Rog Dafa!' We use thousands of proverbs and sayings about healthy food in our daily life. If it is not true that Patru Khana means 'junk food', can children be allowed to lick biscuits right after they are born? Is it absurd that mother's milk is the best food for babies? Because if you argue that there is no such thing as good or bad food, then you can say that there is no best food either!

Yes, 'junk food' should be viewed in a negative light. In any case, it cannot be thought that 'Patru Khana' can benefit the body. The word 'Patru Khana' itself means 'bad food'. Even in the US, voices are being raised against the companies that make such paper meals.

I will write something about the data available in the US and the studies done in the books written by the journalists there after a lot of study on how 'junk food' has worsened the health of the American people. You can see about these books on the website. It can also be heard on YouTube.

Joshiji's sentence that 'food is just food, food has no moral value' is wrong. Food is not only food, it is also connected with culture, religion and lifestyle. Before a human being is born, the fetus in the mother's stomach also needs healthy food.

If the mother eats bad, unhealthy food and the mother is malnourished and anemic, the baby is also born weak. That is why it is said that pregnant women should eat healthy food. Food also has a moral value. After eating, the baby is given a healthy bed and blanket. Even if you give him 'noodles and potato chips', who would say that they contain calories?

When the author writes that the choice of food does not make you a good or bad person, I say that it does not make you good or bad, that is, but the choice of food will determine whether or not your health will be good or not (high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, many problems that come with obesity) and forgetfulness. It can also confirm things.

One wonders how an enlightened nutritionist like Joshiji could say that burgers, pizzas and phapar and millet roti can be put in the same category. Is eating millet bread, curd, mashed potatoes, chickpeas and khichdi and eating noodle chips the same thing?

My biggest concern is that feeding a malnourished child with noodles and biscuits is enough calories. It is very wrong and unnatural to say that. Would pediatricians and public health experts support such a thing?

Why did the author not consider that because of the ignorance of the Nepalese, how many poor people gave 'Patru food' to children, and they became victims of malnutrition! I would like to have a public discussion on this matter with the author and people who have similar views. Joshiji is ready!

Responding to the fact that the root cause of many diseases in the body is an unhealthy stomach, junk food and unhealthy food. In his book 'Metabolic' Lusting mentions how food companies, drug companies and junk food deprive us of being healthy.

After reading many scientific researches in this book written in simple English language, I thought it appropriate to bring forward the facts written in it to the masses.

Maybe some of the facts written in it have already been said by public health experts, but in this book, Dr. Lusting has written in a very interesting way through his experience. He himself is a pediatric and diabetes expert. He says, 'Drugs given for chronic diseases do not cure the disease, they only cure the symptoms.'

"Chronic diseases should not be cured by medicine but by food."

The habit of eating junk food is like alcohol.

"Food companies, big pharmaceutical companies and governments that ignore public health are in the same place."

This book, written keeping in mind the background of America, is very important for countries like Nepal and India. This book of more than 400 pages is a source book. It cannot be read at once, it should be read from time to time.

While reading a book, we experience how the things written in it are compatible with us. "If we don't change the style of food, no matter how much hospitals, tools and medicine are developed, many health diseases will not decrease", it is said in many places in the book.

Dr. Lusting writes, "In America, 62 percent of the food available in large stores is junk food." There are many colors mixed in them and we are gradually getting poisoned by such foods. Diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, fatty deposits in the liver, cancer, amnesia etc. are not transmitted by such food. One way to solve such problems is for the community and individuals to eat food prepared in a natural way as much as possible. It will help us to fight epidemics like Covid by increasing our disease fighting power. He has written in his book - "Doctors and other health workers do not talk about nutrition."

Dr. Lusting first studied science, graduated. And studied medicine. He became a pediatrician. He then worked on the problem of childhood obesity in America. As a hormone expert, while solving children's problems, he experienced - 'There are many problems that cannot be solved by medicine alone. Children's obesity and thyroid problems cannot be solved only with the knowledge studied in college.' And he started treatment in a new way.

While working, he experienced how sugar, other sugary substances, junk food cause problems in the liver, it increases the chances of cancer and dementia. It was based on real research and not just his own experience. That is why he clearly said, ``You should eat this kind of food which keeps the liver healthy and relaxes the stomach. Eating like this is considered to be a real meal.

Owners of various types of junk food and food factories hide the fact that commercial food is unhealthy. All foods are naturally healthy. In order to preserve the food for a long time by extracting the cheap fibrous material (outer skin) from the same food, the leafy food is extracted from the factory by mixing many chemicals. After eating food prepared in this way, our liver becomes unhealthy. If there is no fibrous material, there is a possibility of stomach upset and infection. (Page 8)

While writing this book, he has mentioned 1,54 sources, mentioning all those sources in the book makes the size of the book more expensive, so all those sources have been added to his website.

In spite of having the best doctors, many hospitals, modern laboratories for surgery, etc. in America, are the American people healthy?' In fact, among other highly developed countries, America has more diabetes problems than any other country. Similarly, America is in the top 5 countries with dementia, cancer and heart disease. The reason for all this is food and lifestyle.

In one place of his book, he has written - "During the covid epidemic, Dr. Fauci did a very good job. But I am angry with him about one thing. He never spoke about the importance of food in fighting the infection of covid. If he had spoken about this, there would have been a very positive impact on the community.