benefits Archives - MyMedicPlus

Guava Health Benefits: Control Blood Pressure, Boost Immunity And Much More With This Winter Fruit

mymedicplus — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 06:04:16 +0000

Source – https://doctor.ndtv.com/

Guava Fruit Benefits: Guava contains properties beneficial for your overall health in several ways. This winter, enjoy this fruit and enjoy the many benefits. Read here to know some of these.

HIGHLIGHTS

Guava is loaded with vitamin C which can help boost immunity
Eating guava can help you lose weight as it is loaded with fibre
Guava leaves are also loaded with several medicinal properties

Winter season is almost here. With the temperature falling, it is important to maintain a healthy diet. Eating healthy according to the season can help you stay fit. Every season offers different fruits and vegetables. Eating seasonal fruits can offer your essential nutrients and help you stay fit. Guava is one of the fruits that are commonly available during the winter season. This fruit is loaded with several health benefits. Guava is also beneficial in several chronic health conditions. Not just the fruit, guava leaves are also loaded with certain health benefits. Here are some reasons why you should not miss the goodness of guava this winter season.

Guava health benefits you need to know

Both guava and guava leaves can help you manage blood sugar levels. According to studies, guava leaves can help reduce blood sugar levels. This fruit is loaded with fibre which helps in diabetes management. If you are a diabetic, you can consult your doctor to understand how much guava is safe to consume.

2. May lower blood pressure

High blood pressure can put you at a higher risk of heart disease. The presence of potassium and fibre in guava reduces blood pressure numbers. Choose a healthy diet and lifestyle to maintain healthy blood pressure numbers.

Also read: What Happens To Your Blood Pressure During Sleep? Expert Explains The Reasons Behind Fluctuations

3. Aids in weight loss and digestion

Guavas are loaded with fibre. High fibre content promotes digestion and bowel movements. It can help reduce constipation. Foods high in fibre keep you full for longer and make you consume fewer calories contributing to weight loss.

4. Boosts immunity

Vitamin C plays a significant role in boosting immunity. Guava contains a good amount of vitamin C which ensures healthy functioning of the immune system. This winter you can control the risk of various ailments with this wonder fruit.

Also read: Guava Health Benefits: Here’s Why Health Experts Are Talking About Vitamin C-Rich Amrud

5. Beneficial for skin

Guava contains antioxidants that can protect your skin against ageing. Vitamin C also plays a role in maintaining and boosting overall skin health.

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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From stress to insomnia: 6 Amazing health benefits of Epsom salt you should know

mymedicplus — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 05:02:49 +0000

Source – https://www.thehealthsite.com/

Epsom salt is an effective home remedy for many ailments, and it is good for the skin as well. Read on the benefits of Epsom salt.

Epsom salt or magnesium sulfate is made up of magnesium, oxygen and sulfur. It may look like regular salt, but it is more like a bath salt. It is a chemical structure which is often dissolved in the bath. Epsom salts have numerous benefits and are known to be a remedy for an array of problems. It contains several minerals and is very good for your health.

Combats Stress

Stress is one of the most prominent problems in the world right now. Keeping up with the daily hustle and bustle of life can increase your cortisol levels and lead to stress. Lack of magnesium can harm your ability to cope with stress. It is believed that taking Epsom salt bath could help to reduce stress and promote relaxation.

Induces Sleep

Inadequate stress levels can also disturb your sleeping patterns. Epsom salt baths help fight these issues by allowing your body to absorb enough magnesium through the skin. The relaxing effect of an Epsom salt bath might improve sleep quality. It may even help with problems such as insomnia.

Provides Muscle Relief

People who do not have enough magnesium in the body may also experience pain, muscle cramps and inflammation. Epsom salt bath may help someone with muscle pain. You might want to soak your feet in warm water mixed with Epsom salt if you experience leg pain.

Soothes The Skin

Do you have rough, dry skin? If yes, this remedy may help. It acts as an exfoliant which helps soften the skin and feet. All you have to do is rub a handful of Epsom salt into your skin and massage. However, it is better to consult a dermatologist to check for allergies before you include it in your skincare routine.

Treats Constipation

Epsom salt acts like a laxative that improves bowel movements and provides relief from constipation. The salt clears the body of the toxins and water out of your system. You should consult a professional doctor first for the amount you should consume to get relief from constipation.

Better Hair

Do you have frizzy and damaged hair? Epsom salt may help strengthen your hair and cleanse the scalp. You can mix it with your hair conditioner and apply it directly in your hair. Leave it for a few minutes and rinse. Don’t forget to do a patch test before you do it.

Side Effects

There are no side effects of taking Epsom salt bath. However, it can cause rashes or lead to other skin problems for people with sensitive skin. Avoid consuming it without the advice of a doctor. In case you experience any of the following symptoms after consuming it, seek medical help.

Dizziness
Stomachache
Blurry vision
Irregular heartbeat
Sore muscles
Lethargy
Breathing difficulties
Diarrhoea
Changes in bladder habits

Takeaway

Epsom salt can help soothe muscle pain, help with constipation and provide you with many other health benefits. However, there is limited evidence of the benefits of magnesium sulfate. So, make sure to avoid it in case you experience any unwanted symptoms.

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In-person and online behavioral therapy provides additive benefits in obesity

mymedicplus — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 05:31:19 +0000

Source – https://www.healio.com/

Intensive behavioral therapy can provide additive weight-loss benefits for adults with obesity when combined with medication and diet, and online therapy could improve access to therapy at a lower cost, according to a speaker.

“Obesity can be treated using well-established behavioral treatments either in person or online,” Louis J. Aronne, MD, FACP, FTOS, DABOM, Sanford I. Weill Professor of Metabolic Research at Weill Cornell Medical College, told Healio. “The use of anti-obesity medication plus diet and behavior produces enough weight loss to significantly reduce metabolic disease risk, like type 2 diabetes, in the majority of patients.”

Aronne discussed intensive behavioral therapy for individuals with obesity at the virtual Cardiometabolic Health Congress.

Intensive behavioral therapy has become a key part of obesity treatment, according to Aronne. Guidelines published in Obesity in 2014 suggest that adults with overweight or obesity participate in a comprehensive lifestyle program for at least 6 months to lose 5% to 10% of initial weight. Participants should take part in 14 or more on-site, high-intensity weight-loss intervention sessions provided in an individual or group setting.

Shared decision-making between the provider and patient is crucial to developing the best diet, exercise and medical interventions, according to Aronne. Providers should set realistic goals, monitor food intake, activity and weight, and practice cognitive restructuring with participants.

Maintenance visits should also continue for individuals who lose weight at 6 months. Maintenance visits take place in an office or over the phone for at least 1 year with a trained interventionist. High levels of physical activity and a reduced-calorie diet appropriate for a lower body weight should be developed.

A randomized controlled trial published in Obesity in 2019 showed behavioral therapy combined with liraglutide (Saxenda, Novo Nordisk) and diet results in the greatest weight loss. Participants who had only intensive behavioral therapy had a 5% mean weight loss, whereas those who had behavioral therapy and liraglutide had a 9.5% mean weight loss. Participants who had intensive behavioral therapy, liraglutide and a meal replacement had a 14% mean weight loss.

Additionally, therapy can be provided by registered dietitians, health counselors and medical assistants. The trial showed there was little difference in weight loss for participants treated by a physician vs. a registered dietitian. There was also no difference for participants who went to a novice interventionist and those who had an experienced interventionist.

Intensive behavioral therapy is beginning to transition to more online care. Aronne said online visits could reach a larger number of people at potentially lower costs. Online services can also connect devices such as activity monitors and digital scales to allow providers to receive live data. Aronne said optimal intervention therapy would combine live visits, video visits and remote monitoring of weight, diet and other variables.

“We have developed a platform, Intellihealth Evolve, that allows providers to deliver this kind of care remotely or in the office setting,” Aronne told Healio. “It has education about obesity treatment, treatment recommendations and all the behavioral tools needed for this type of care. We are beginning to implement it as part of our electronic medical record system at Weill Cornell. A large-scale trial is coming out on Nov. 3 in JAMA, which documents the effectiveness of our program delivered remotely.”

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What Are the Benefits of a Chemical Peel and Which Type Is Right for You?

mymedicplus — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 05:15:26 +0000

Source – https://www.healthline.com/

Types of chemical peels
Benefits
Suitability
Recovery
Bottom line

A chemical peel is a restorative cosmetic procedure that may help reduce the signs of aging on your face.

During a chemical peel, a dermatologist will apply a chemical solution to your skin. This solution peels away damaged skin cells, allowing healthy skin to grow in their place.

This may help improve common skin concerns, such as:

wrinkles
hyperpigmentation
acne
uneven skin texture

However, the exact results will depend on many factors, including the severity of your skin issues and the type of peel you receive.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the different types of chemical peels, their benefits, and what to expect during recovery.

What to know about different types of chemical peels

Your dermatologist can work with you to help determine whether a light, medium, or deep chemical peel is best for your skin and the concerns you’re looking to treat.

Light chemical peel

A light chemical peel, or superficial peel, will lightly exfoliate your skin. It only removes the epidermis, which is your topmost skin layer.

A light chemical peel is usually used for:

fine wrinkles
uneven skin tone
acne
dry skin

This treatment uses mild chemical agents, so it’s usually safe to get light chemical peels every 2 to 5 weeks.

Medium chemical peel

A medium chemical peel is slightly stronger than a light peel. It removes your epidermis plus the top layer of your dermis, which lies beneath the epidermis.

A medium peel is typically used for:

wrinkles
uneven skin tone
acne scars

You may need several treatments to get the results you want.

Deep chemical peel

A deep chemical peel removes your epidermis, along with the upper and middle layer of your dermis. It uses very strong chemicals, so you may need a local anesthetic before the procedure. This will help prevent pain and discomfort.

A deep chemical peel is best suited for:

deeper wrinkles
deeper scars
precancerous skin patches

The effects of this peel can last for 10 years, so it’s done only once. You won’t need repeated treatments.

What are the benefits?

Chemical peels can improve many skin issues. Let’s look at some of the most common ones that chemical peels may help treat.

Acne

Acne is a common inflammatory skin condition. It’s often treated with topical products or oral medication, but chemical peels may also help.

The procedure can:

break down comedones (plugged hair follicles)
decrease oil production
kill bacteria
reduce inflammation
increase absorption of topical treatments

Light and medium chemical peels are usually used to improve acne.

Acne scars

As acne heals, the skin creates new collagen fibers in an attempt to repair lesions that have been created by inflamed skin.

The production of new collagen fibers can create hypertrophic scars, which are bumpy and raised, or atrophic scars, which create depressions in your skin.

A chemical peel can help by exfoliating the top skin layer, which removes excess collagen. Medium chemical peels are typically recommended for acne scars.

Rosacea

Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition that causes redness, swelling, and red bumps. If it also causes acne-like breakouts, it’s known as acne rosacea.

Sometimes, a chemical peel can help relieve these symptoms. It’s typically recommended for mild or moderate rosacea.

Aging skin

Chemical peels may reduce signs of aging, including:

wrinkles
fine lines
age spots
uneven skin tone
roughness
dryness
liver spots

When skin grows back after a chemical peel, it triggers the production of collagen and elastin. This can help make your skin supple and strong, reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

The new skin that grows back is also smoother, which helps decrease roughness and dryness.

Chemical peels aren’t recommended for removing deep wrinkles, however. It also won’t tighten sagging skin.

Hyperpigmentation

In addition to acne scars and age spots, chemical peels can improve other forms of hyperpigmentation, such as:

uneven skin tone
melasma
freckles
surgical scars
scars due to injury
discoloration due to sun damage

Dullness

If you have a dull complexion, you may benefit from chemical peels.

The treatment allows new skin to resurface, which may help your complexion look brighter and healthier.

Precancerous growths

Actinic keratoses are rough skin patches caused by years of sun exposure. They’re known as precancerous growths, since they can potentially turn into skin cancer.

A deep chemical peel can remove these growths and decrease your risk of skin cancer.

Who’s a good candidate for a chemical peel?

Like other cosmetic treatments, chemical peels are not appropriate for everyone.

You might be a good candidate if you have:

generally healthy skin
mild scarring
superficial wrinkles
a lighter complexion

On the other hand, it’s best to avoid chemical peels if you:

have sagging skin
have deep wrinkles or scars
frequently develop cold sores
have a history of abnormal skin scarring
have psoriasis or atopic dermatitis
have a darker skin tone (higher risk of hyperpigmentation)
have recently taken an oral acne treatment
are pregnant or breastfeeding
have a compromised immune system
have undergone radiation therapy or recent surgery
have heart disease (if considering deep chemical peels)

What’s the recovery process like?

As your skin heals, you may need to apply a protective ointment. You’ll also need to wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun.

The recovery process is different for each type of peel. Let’s take a closer look at what recovery may be like for the different chemical peels.

Light chemical peel

After a light chemical peel, you may experience mild irritation and dryness. You can typically wear makeup the following day and resume your normal skin care activities, like cleansing and moisturizing .

It will most likely take between 1 to 7 days for your skin to fully heal.

Medium chemical peel

The most common side effects of a medium chemical peel include:

swelling
redness
stinging

In most cases, you can safely wear makeup within 5 to 7 days.

The recovery process typically lasts 7 to 14 days. You may have some redness for several months, though.

Deep chemical peel

The most common side effects of a deep chemical peel include:

crusting
swelling
severe redness

The swelling can last for 14 days, while the redness may last for 3 months.

It may take up to 14 days for your skin to grow back. During this time, you’ll need to wear a surgical dressing and take medication for the pain.

You can typically start wearing makeup after 14 days.

Although rare, deep chemical peels can be associated with more severe side effects and complications, including:

infection
bruising
delayed wound healing
reactivation of herpes simplex virus

The bottom line

A chemical peel is a cosmetic treatment that removes the top layer of your skin. This can help minimize wrinkles, dullness, hyperpigmentation, and scarring. It may also help skin disorders like acne and rosacea.

However, a chemical peel can’t treat deep wrinkles and scarring. It also won’t tighten loose skin or reverse sun damage. To determine whether a chemical peel is right for you, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider.

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What is the Benefits of Vitamin E?

Raj @ Mission — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 07:45:00 +0000

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for many bodily functions. It is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells, leading to a variety of health problems, including premature aging and cancer.

Vitamin E also plays a role in the immune system and in blood clotting. It is also important for muscle and nerve function.

Here are some of the potential benefits of vitamin E for the body:

Protects against cell damage: Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells, leading to a variety of health problems, including premature aging and cancer.
Boosts the immune system: Vitamin E plays a role in the immune system by helping to produce white blood cells, which fight off infection.
Promotes blood clotting: Vitamin E helps to promote blood clotting by helping to produce platelets, which are blood cells that help to stop bleeding.
Improves muscle and nerve function: Vitamin E is important for muscle and nerve function because it helps to protect cells from damage.
Reduces the risk of chronic diseases: Vitamin E may help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and cataracts.

However, it is important to note that there is limited scientific evidence to support some of these potential benefits. More research is needed to confirm the role of vitamin E in preventing or treating chronic diseases.

Vitamin E can be found in a variety of foods, including nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils. It is also available as a supplement. However, it is important to talk to your doctor before taking any supplements, as they can interact with other medications you are taking.

Benefit	Description
Protects against cell damage	Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells, leading to a variety of health problems, including premature aging and cancer.
Boosts the immune system	Vitamin E plays a role in the immune system by helping to produce white blood cells, which fight off infection.
Promotes blood clotting	Vitamin E helps to promote blood clotting by helping to produce platelets, which are blood cells that help to stop bleeding.
Improves muscle and nerve function	Vitamin E is important for muscle and nerve function because it helps to protect cells from damage.
Reduces the risk of chronic diseases	Vitamin E may help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and cataracts.

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Health benefits of hearing aids

mymedicplus — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 06:43:32 +0000

Source:healthyhearing.com

Hearing loss doesn’t just affect our ears. Much evidence links it to other, sometimes more frightening health issues like falling and dementia. If your adult children are pushing you to get your hearing checked, they’ve got science on their side.

Social isolation is the most obvious danger. “Hearing loss can give observers the impression that you’re not interested in conversation,” explained Harvey Abrams, PhD, a longtime audiologist on the graduate faculty at the University of South Florida in Tampa who studies the effect of hearing aids on overall quality of life. “People begin to withdraw from activities that would put them in touch with others and that can lead to loneliness and depression.”

Do hearing aids make you healthier?

The links between hearing loss and a host of problems have prompted research on the question of how better hearing might protect you. The impact of hearing aids is a new and growing field, and the findings are mostly upbeat. More than a decade ago, research suggested that hearing aids improve overall quality of life.

Hearing loss is far easier to correct than many of the problems it may be related to, so this is great news for public health, experts say.

A breakthrough came last year with a large study analyzing what happens in the three years after you get your first hearing aid. It found that among people with newly-diagnosed hearing loss, getting an aid cut the risk of developing dementia by 18 percentage points, the risk of a fall-related injury by 13 percentage points and the risk of developing anxiety or depression by 11 percentage points.

To reach this conclusion, a large team of researchers led by Elham Mahmoudi, a health economist at the University of Michigan, pulled five years of claims data nationwide from a managed care provider, finding nearly 115,000 seniors who met their criteria—a new diagnosis of hearing loss and no history within the previous year of the medical issues under study. The team also looked for other conditions associated with hearing loss like diabetes, obesity and heart problems and adjusted their calculations to make this sample typical. The next step was to analyze the sample’s history for the next three years.

The study confirmed earlier evidence that people with hearing loss are more likely to develop dementia—in this sample, 13.9% did, compared to about 12% in the general population age 66 and up. Also, nearly 13% of the sample had an injury in a fall (compared to 7.5%) and 33.6% were depressed (compared to 25.2%).

Only a randomized trial can show cause-and-effect, so this study isn’t conclusive that hearing aids protected their users, though it seems likely.

Hearing loss and cognitive decline

It also doesn’t mean hearing aids solved an underlying issue. Instead, hearing better probably bought time, delaying onset of symptoms. Left untreated, hearing loss may be a sign that dementia, for example, could come about two years earlier, according to research we reported in this article on hearing loss and cognitive decline.

Scientists suspect a classic feedback loop: Cognitive decline makes it harder to understand what you hear, and hearing loss puts a burden on your cognitive resources, leading to changes in your brain. Isolation, loneliness and depression feed into this loop as well. Loneliness increases your risk of dementia by as much as 40%, and may even be a symptom of early brain changes, as suggested by a small brain scan study.

Catching hearing loss early may be important. If you can hear a sound of 25 decibels—about the loudness of a whisper—you are considered to have normal hearing. But even slight hearing loss could be linked to cognitive decline, according to 2019 research from a team based at Columbia University. In fact, the team found a significant link to cognitive decline for every 10 decibels of loss and most dramatically in those who were just 10 decibels short of perfect hearing.

Middle age may be the turning point. In another 2019 study of more than 16,000 Koreans newly diagnosed with hearing loss over a decade, hearing loss emerged as a significant risk factor for dementia most strongly in people ages 45 to 64.

Don’t feel doomed! You’re not guaranteed to develop dementia because you haven’t checked your hearing or leave your hearing aids in that cute little box. But wearing hearing aids is one of the things you can do relatively easily to protect yourself against a debilitating illness as you age.

Hearing loss affects mental health

The effect on your social life and mood may creep up on you, especially if you can’t understand speech in a noisy environment. In people under 70, every decibel drop in this kind of perception raises the risk of being severely lonely, a Dutch study found. Not wearing hearing aids is a risk factor for loneliness in other research. And there is a bit of evidence that getting a hearing aid or cochlear implant can prevent loneliness from deepening over time. The key is how you feel. One person might not socialize often but feel rich in friendship and another look popular to observers but feel lonely. Either way, hearing loss can affect how other people perceive you, as Abrams observed.

Loneliness too easily cascades into depression. In a 2019 overview of 35 studies covering more than 147,000 older adults, hearing loss increased the odds of depression by 47% (it wasn’t clear in this overview that hearing aids helped). Suicidal thinking, most often a symptom of depression, is linked to hearing loss as well.

The link between hearing loss and falls

Both hearing loss and depression are associated with a higher chance of a fall, a growing problem among the elderly, and falls tend to deepen depression and increase the risk of death.

A 25 decibel hearing loss, equivalent to going from normal to mild hearing loss, may triple your chance of falling, according to a study of people in the middle years—from 40 to 69—when hearing loss often first develops and you’re less likely to guard against falls.

Unfortunately, research has not supported the idea that people with balance issues are more stable when wearing hearing aids.

The link because hearing loss and cardiovascular disease

Age-related hearing loss is usually in the higher frequencies. But Abrams recalls that during his years in a Veterans Administration hospital, he saw men with gradual loss in their low-frequency hearing. It turns out that low-frequency hearing loss may be a marker of a greater chance of stroke, peripheral vascular disease and heart attack.

In a 10-year study of nearly 4,000 British men age 63 to 85 who were living in the community, men with untreated hearing loss were more than a third more likely to have a stroke or heart attack and to die of a cardiovascular event than men without hearing issues, but wearing a hearing aid lowered their risk. Although earlier research suggested that smoking and atherosclerosis explained the link between hearing loss and cardiovascular problems, this new study found a link even in men who didn’t smoke or have other heart risks.

What about longevity?

Research in Iceland also linked untreated hearing loss in men to a greater chance of dying in the next five years, most often from heart disease.

Is there research suggesting that people with hearing loss who wear hearing aids live longer? Not yet, Abrams noted. But two large studies are slated to wrap up in 2021, which will address how hearing aids improve overall health. May we invite you to “stay tuned?”

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Campaign promotes benefits of HIV prevention pill

mymedicplus — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 09:33:49 +0000

Source: phillytrib.com

MILWAUKEE — Kenneth Wade said he has always valued his health. He eats healthy foods. He works out. He drinks plenty of water.

In 2015, when some of his friends told him about a pill called PrEP that could prevent him from getting HIV, he said he felt that learning more about it was a natural and important step to taking good care of himself.

“My sexual health is part of my health,” Wade said. “I asked my doctor my questions about it, and within a week I was on PrEP.”

Wade, 27, is a new brand ambassador for the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin’s awareness campaign “Stay PrEP’d Up,” which seeks to educate Milwaukeeans about the benefits of the medication and break down any stigmas about it.

PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It’s a daily prescription pill that can significantly reduce a person’s risk of contracting HIV, a virus that damages a person’s immune system, makes it harder to fight off infections and can lead to AIDS.

When taken consistently, PrEP can reduce someone’s chance of getting HIV through sex by more than 90% and of getting HIV through needles by more than 70%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

After years of substantial declines, rates of HIV diagnoses have stagnated in recent years. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that this is because prevention options like PrEP are being severely underutilized.

“PrEP is the fast lane to the end of the AIDS epidemic, as long as we can make sure the people who need access to it are getting it,” said Mike Gifford, president and chief executive officer of the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin.

In cities like Milwaukee, there are huge disparities in who is impacted by HIV, along with who accesses PrEP. African American gay and bisexual men are more affected by HIV than any other group, with Latino gay and bisexual men being the second most impacted group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2017, 83% of the 118 new HIV diagnoses in Milwaukee were among people of color, according to the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin. Research from the Medical College of Wisconsin indicated that African American men are diagnosed with HIV at rates four times higher than white men.

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that only 1.4% of African Americans and 2.5% of Latinos who could have potentially benefited from PrEP were prescribed it.

“If we don’t find ways to increase PrEP use to young people of color, we’re going to continue to see those disparities,” said Katherine Quinn, assistant professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Center for AIDS Intervention Research.

PrEP is a good option for people who are HIV-negative but who face a higher risk of getting HIV, Quinn said. Factors that may heighten a person’s risk of getting HIV are having sex with someone who is HIV-positive, having sex within a social network where HIV is more common, having had sex without condoms, having multiple sexual partners or exchanging sex for drugs, food, money or a place to live, according to the Stay PrEP’d Up website.

Wade said he was initially hesitant about taking PrEP because he wasn’t sure if his insurance would cover it. But after doing some research, he learned that his clinic could make it affordable.

“I have found it very easy for me to get treatment,” Wade said.

Besides possible financial barriers, Wade said he has heard about stereotypes or misunderstandings that have made some of his peers skeptical of PrEP. For example, he said some people thought that the PrEP pill was for people who were HIV-positive, and that people would judge them if they took it.

“It’s really just about being safe and protected,” he said he wants others to know. — (AP)

___

The nonprofit news outlet Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service provided this article to The Associated Press through a collaboration with Institute for Nonprofit News.

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