During the emergence of AIDS, uncertainty over how it was spread created a tidal wave of fear and misinformation. Today we know how HIV is transmitted and how to avoid it.
The most accepted medical practices for avoiding HIV infection are:
Abstaining from sex
Using latex condoms for sexual intercourse
Using dental dams (thin squares of latex) for oral-vaginal or oral-anal contact
Using spermicidal jelly containing nonoxynol-9
Avoiding sharing needles
Avoiding unscreened blood products
Avoiding the blood of people with HIV
Self-Care Measures
Be kind to your body. Don’t depress your immune system by drinking alcohol, smoking, or overindulging in junk foods and sugary snacks.
Eat frequently, making sure to maintain adequate caloric intake. Use a food supplement, for example, Ensure, if you begin to lose weight.
Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. At the University of California, Berkeley, researchers followed the diets of 296 HIV-positive men for six years. Those who ate the most fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains had the best immune function throughout the study and were least likely to progress to full-blown-AIDS.
Get a flu shot every fall.
Get plenty of rest.
Maintain good oral hygiene. Visit your dentist regularly. Avoid commercially available mouthwashes — their high sugar and alcohol content may irritate the mouth and provide an ideal environment for infectious microorganisms.
Do your best to avoid colds and other illnesses. Before get-togethers, ask if anyone is ill. If so, reschedule.
Do not use IV drugs, unless prescribed by a physician.