HIV/AIDS: What you need to know

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is no stranger to gay communities, and it is no stranger to Oklahomans: as of December 2007, there were approximately 4,521 Oklahomans living with HIV/AIDS, with more than 80% of them representing men. With tremendous advances in the our understanding of this disease process and with new treatments being developed at a rapid pace, HIV, if caught early, treated properly and monitored closely, can be considered more of a manageable chronic disease than the death sentence it once was. That is not to downplay the significance of HIV/AIDS—it is still a life-altering disease with a great social stigma and requires constant attention to medication regimens, doctor’s visits and overall fitness on the part of the affected individual to maintain optimal health.