Every year, about 35 million people in India contract an STD and of all the Indians living with STD, about 1.1 million people have HIV. Shockingly, one  out of seven of them do not even know that STDs and HIVs alike, enter the bloodstream through many different ways. But if you contracted HIV, it does not imply that you will get AIDS. HIV in your body takes time to progress to AIDS, and proper treatment can slow or prevent the advancement from one stage to the next. HIV is a manageable condition and here's everything you need to know about the advancement of the disease to save your life.

What Are The Early Signs Of HIV?

We often talk about the apparent signs of STD like rashes, bumps pain and sores, but when it comes to HIV, there are silent symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue. People do live with HIV for years or even decades without knowing that they have been infected. But in the meantime, their immune systems continue to weaken. They do not get tested for years until their system is so debilitated that the risk of opportunistic infections is much more. This is precisely why it is vital to go for regular check-ups and get tested. What Causes HIV AIDS? (And What Doesn’t)

When Does HIV Progress To AIDS?

The fact is, within a month or two of entering the body, HIV typically presents itself with simple flu-like markers known as an acute retroviral syndrome. If these symptoms are left untreated, HIV reaches its most severe form, commonly known as AIDS. What’s The Difference Between HIV and AIDS?

Is There A Treatment To Prevent The Advancement Of HIV to AIDS?

Antiretroviral therapy can prevent or slow the advancement from one stage to the next. Luckily, because of the breakthroughs in medicine, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) you can potentially prevent as well as stop the advancement of HIV. According to CDC, utilising a daily pill treatment can lower your chance of getting infected by 90 percent. When taken consistently over six months, antiretroviral therapy can often render the virus undetectable in your system. Charlie Sheen, Freddie Mercury and Other Celebrities Who Had HIV/ AIDS

However, your best bet in all cases is to reach for a condom but make sure to put it on correctly before having sex. If you are entering into a monogamous relationship, ensure that you and your partner are tested for HIV before taking a call to stop using condom altogether.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 30, 2019 08:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).