HIV Doctors in Houston TX
Prevent, alleviate, or heal disease—naturally.
Meet our practitioners who specialize in natural HIV treatment
Recommended health tests for HIV
At-Home Lab Test
Collect your sample and do your consultations at home, on you own time, and receive your secure result in just days on any device
At-Home Lab Test
Collect your sample and do your consultations at home, on you own time, and receive your secure result in just days on any device
At-Home Lab Test
Collect your sample and do your consultations at home, on you own time, and receive your secure result in just days on any device
At-Home Lab Test
Collect your sample and do your consultations at home, on you own time, and receive your secure result in just days on any device
At-Home Lab Test
Collect your sample and do your consultations at home, on you own time, and receive your secure result in just days on any device
At-Home Lab Test
Collect your sample and do your consultations at home, on you own time, and receive your secure result in just days on any device
How it works
Consult with our health coaches who will learn about your symptoms, habits, and goals.
Take personalized home health tests to discover potential root causes of any symptoms or conditions you may have.
Review your results in just days with our functional medicine doctors, nurses, and dietitians who will help you achieve optimal health.
Learn about HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) is a virus that attacks and weakens the immune system, making it difficult for the body to fight off infections and diseases. If not treated, hiv can lead to the deadly stage known as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (aids), where the immune system is severely damaged. Hiv is transmitted through contact with the blood, semen, vaginal fluids, or breast milk of someone infected with the virus. Advancements in medical research have significantly improved the life expectancy and quality of life for people living with hiv, particularly with early diagnosis and proper treatment.
Causes
Hiv is primarily spread through unprotected sexual contact with someone who has the virus. It can also be transmitted by sharing needles or syringes contaminated with infected blood, from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, and through transfusions of infected blood or blood products, although the latter has become exceedingly rare in countries where blood is tested for hiv. It is important to note that hiv cannot be spread through casual contact such as hugging, shaking hands, or sharing utensils.
Signs and symptoms
Early symptoms of hiv infection often resemble those of a common flu and may include fever, sore throat, and fatigue. As the virus progresses and weakens the immune system, symptoms can become more severe, leading to infections or diseases that wouldn't normally affect a person with a healthy immune system. These are known as opportunistic infections and can include tuberculosis, pneumonia, and certain types of cancer. Without treatment, hiv can advance to aids, characterized by a significantly weakened immune system and the presence of one or more opportunistic infections.
Diagnosing HIV
Diagnosing hiv early is key to managing the virus and maintaining a high quality of life. Diagnosis is done through blood or saliva testing, which looks for antibodies against hiv, antigens, or the virus itself. The window period – the time from infection to when a test can accurately detect the virus – varies depending on the test. Tests that detect hiv antibodies can typically identify the virus three to 12 weeks after infection, while tests that look for the virus's genetic material can detect hiv within two to four weeks. Given the advancements in testing technology, healthcare providers can diagnose hiv with high accuracy at an early stage.
Prevention and natural treatment
Prevention of hiv involves safe sexual practices such as the use of condoms, avoiding sharing needles, and for those at high risk, taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (prep) medication. Treatment involves the use of antiretroviral therapy (art), a combination of medicines that control the virus and help protect the immune system. While there's currently no cure for hiv, adhering to art can dramatically slow the disease's progress, prevent secondary infections and complications, and extend life expectancy. Regular medical care and treatment adherence are essential for managing hiv effectively.
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