Free Essay Sample: Living with HIV

Physical effects and health conditions of HIV people

HIV and STIs are some of the dangerous infections that one can face. There are many adverse side effects related to these health conditions. Living with HIV is very challenging especially when the victim does not undertake necessary health measures such as taking a balanced diet and going for regular medical checkups (Bachrach & Knox, 2012). STIs such as syphilis, gonorrhea, and genital herpes among many other sexually transmitted infections affect one's physical condition as well as psychological thoughts (Berlin, 2011). The paper shall outline some of the physical and emotional impacts of living with HIV. Besides, the papers hall look at some of the factors that medical practitioners ought to consider when dealing with HIV patients.

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One of the first effects that HIV has to an individual is wasting. It just means losing of body weight at an alarming speed. The HIV patient lacks appetite, and they may become dehydrated and later look sick as their body becomes very weak. This physical effect interferes with one's normal working as they find it hard to work for the very long duration as compared to a health individual. At times, the gastrointestinal symptoms come up as a result of HIV treatment (Healey, 2011).

An HIV patient is prone to susceptibility infections related to the respiratory system. For instance, pneumonia caused by bacteria can weaken the standard functioning of the body thus leading to illness ("HIV: management", 2014). Some of the real signs of the infections include coughing, sneezing as well as difficulties in breathing. If the patient does not undertake regular treatment measures, they can succumb to death.

Opportunistic infections with HIV

The first impact of the virus in the body is to interfere with the immune system of an individual. The virus fights the CD4T-cells that are entrusted with fighting any infection. When the immune system is destroyed, the body becomes weak, and it can be attacked by any form of infection as opportunistic ("HIV: management", 2014). Some of the opportunistic infections include histoplasmosis, toxoplasmosis, and pneumonia among many other infections. The body can also experience swelling of the lymph nodes that can be accompanied by fever. The immune system causes the body to be weak

The skin is another body part that reflects the physical impact of living with HIV. Skin rashes and red blotches develop on the outer parts causing the patient to experience pain and to feel very uncomfortable. The patient may also find it hard to stay in the sun since the skin is much weakened.

Living with HIV causes an individual to feel stigmatized by those who are not suffering from the same disease. For instance, during meal time, there might be barriers on where to sit, who to share food with since some uncivilized communities take the assumption that an individual with HIV can spread the infection only by sharing a meal. For students, there might be stigmatization in the form of discrimination where other students might decide to keep off from an HIV patient ("Harm - The impact of HIV on physical and emotional wellbeing", 2016). In most cases, this affects the emotional balance of an individual.

Stressful position of HIV patient

HIV patient might also be in a stressful position. For instance, when they are left alone at home, they might have internal thoughts where they feel to have lost much in their lives since they view themselves as different from the rest of the population. The patient can also feel emotional stress when they feel that their children are about to suffer as soon as they lose their lives (Kalayjian & Eugene, 2010). One can be in the dilemma of whether they are going to survive or to die in the near future.

Living with HIV is not an easy thing to the most victims. In most cases, one has to consult with doctors as well as from guiding department. It causes a financial burden to an individual in the name securing their lives. One can even sell their properties with a mentality that they are going to die the soonest. The patient can also try to hide some information to other people concerning their health life in which can affect the life negatively. For instance, when one does not explain to others the type of meals that they are recommended to take by the doctors, they might be given meals that will not support their health conditions.

Physicians and other medical professionals need to be very ethical and to observe morals when dealing with people living with HIV ("WMA International Code of Medical Ethics", 2016). It is important for them to consider the physical impacts as well as the emotional conditions of individuals. For instance, when dealing with a sick person, it will be substantial for the practitioner to prioritize these type of patients. The patients need to be supported emotionally by receiving encouragement from the health officers so that they do not lose hope in life.

Consideration of physical health with HIV

An individual who is sick cannot be able to wait for a long period on the queue since they fall weak quickly. They should be treated fairly by being given an opportunity to rest as they wait for their turn to come (Kalyva, 2013). The doctors also need to support the victim to be strong by making it known to the public that living with HIV is the same as having any other disease; therefore, one can even live long if they practice all the necessary guidelines.

Another importance of observing the physical impact of a patient is to help them regain their strength and to be strong through the prescriptions that the doctor will have to offer. When the patient is observed clearly, and the doctor identifies the most critical body parts that are to be treated or taken care off by in time (Mbada & Gbadamosi, 2012). The consideration will enable the client to get be given the necessary prescriptions that will help them to be strong and to take preventive measures for further attack.

Consideration of physical health of an individual can also be used as a guiding tool for a medical practitioner to set up a safety advisory for an individual. When the respiratory system of the patient is defective, the doctor can use the same to advise the client to keep off from the unhealthy environment such as where there is dust (Shacham, Lian, Unen, Donovan, & Overton, 2013). Also, when the digestive system of the patient has a problem, the practitioner can advise the client to take a given set of meals that are less corrosion.

Health care professionals

Health professionals ought to use a very formal language and proper choice of words when addressing the patient. For instance, using terms such as my brother, my sister, can be very encouraging as the patients will feel a sense of belonging and being related to the health practitioner (Miller, 2013). When professionalism is applied in the health centers especially when the doctor is attending to a person living with HIV, the patient will develop a positive attitude towards their health conditions. Proper language is a motivating factor for a patient to seek regular assistance at health centers since they feel associated with doctors at the initial stage of their treatment.

Another professional act that can be employed by health professionals is the nan-judgmental motives. A practitioner is supposed to be encouraging even if the situation of the patient is not okay. This gives the client as well as their family members an attitude of hope in the lives of their family member (Salmon & Young, 2011). Being judgmental can discourage the affected parties to seek medical assistances from health centers. The head of a health center should ensure that all the officers of that place carry out their activities in a professional way that does not take a partial side. The practice will help to create a positive relationship between the sick customers ( the patient and their family members) with the health officers on duty.

Public health officers

The health officers ought to give priority to sick people. In this sense, they are supposed to give audience to the patient so that they can get all the necessary information from them that will be of use in the treatment process (Code of medical ethics of the American Medical Association, n.d). The officers need to understand the situations in which a client is going through so that they can save their lives even when the patient lacks enough fee for the treatment charges. Listening is a primary tool for achieving successful communication objectives.

Living with HIV is a condition that can be controlled when all the measures are put in place. The situation impacts negatively both on the emotional and the physical part of an individual. The infection deteriorate the health standards of the patient making them vulnerable to any opportunistic infections. Health officers are key players in the lives of people living with HIV as they provide advice, medication as well as emotional support to the victims. However, they have to carry out their duties by following some code of ethics, better communication skills, as well as moral considerations. This is necessary to aid in the treatment process of sick people.

References

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Healey, J. (2011). HIV and AIDS. Thirroul, N.S.W.: Spinney Press.

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Kalayjian, A. & Eugene, D. (2010). Mass trauma and emotional healing around the world. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger.

Kalyva, E. (2013). Social anxiety. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publisher's, Inc.

Mbada, C. & Gbadamosi, L. (2012). Physical therapy care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Saarbrucken, Germany: Lap Lambert Academic Publishing.

Miller, V. (2013). 'IMPROV'ing My Communication Skills. Science. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.caredit.a1300039

Salmon, P. & Young, B. (2011). Creativity in clinical communication: from communication skills to skilled communication. Medical Education, 45(3), 217-226. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2010.03801.x

Shacham, E., Lian, M., Unen, N., Donovan, M., & Overton, E. (2013). Are neighborhood conditions associated with HIV management?. HIV Medicine, 14(10), 624-632. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hiv.12067

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