AIDS and HIV: Stress

Jane Leserman

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 850,000 to 950,000 U.S. residents are living with HIV, with about 40,000 new HIV infections each year. HIV is the fifth leading cause of death among those ages 25–44; it is the leading cause of death among African American males in this same age range. The development of potent combination antiretroviral therapies for HIV has lengthened life expectancy for HIV-infected persons in the United States. A person with HIV can live for many years without getting AIDS, that is, the occurrence of severe medical symptoms and/or decline in the immune system's helper cells. Despite advances in HIV treatment, there is wide variability in the length of time before a person dies, develops clinical symptoms, or has a weakening in their immune system. Evidence has been mounting that chronic stress may have an adverse effect on the immune system of those infected ...

Users without subscription are not able to see the full content on this title. Please, subscribe or login to access all content on this website.