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With increased healthy lifestyles and medication to assist with the natural decline in the ability perform sexually, people are still sexually active into their 80’s and beyond. With the fear of pregnancy passed and not growing up with rampant sexually transmitted desiase, safe sex is not being practiced as often as it should be among the active seniors. While young adults fear pregnancy and getting HIV which could turn into AIDS down the road, the retirees know other health issues associated with advance will end their life before AIDS. Some of the symptoms like dementia and wasting syndrom are the same for HIV as well as other illnesses relating to advanced aging. Often an retiree will not be open about their sexual activity with their doctor, so the doctor won’t test for STD. The older sexually active adult grew up in a time when those things were kept very private.
Today is World AIDS Day. It’s no secret that there is an unprecedented epidemic of HIV/AIDS in Africa. One of the reasons HIV and AIDS has become an epidemic is because of the lack of food. Yes, the lack of food. The battle in Africa isn’t being lost just not because the “cocktail” of pills is very expensive. It’s because even if it was given away for free, many would still receive no treatment because they lack adequate food. To receive the current medications available to fight this AIDS epidemic, certain weight and health criteria must be met. The reason is, these medications are so harsh that they can kill a weak patient instead of improving their quality of life. The poverty stricken are unable to eat properly and are unable to receive treatment.