HIV / AIDS
Description
● AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
- = an infectious and deadly disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV).
● Antibodies and cells that form part of the human immune system protect the body
against germs, harmful bacteria, parasites and viruses.
● HIV destroys CD4 / Helper-T cells (Type of white blood cells) which help fight
diseases / infections.
● Person infected with HIV will eventually have a weak immune system.
- Leads to AIDS
- More vulnerable to other diseases / infections
- Can lead to cold & flu, pneumonia, tuberculosis, diarrhea.
- These diseases can eventually cause death, as the body is too weak to fight
them.
Opportunistic infections are infections contracted due to a weakened immune
system.
Causes
● The HI-virus only lives in blood, semen and vaginal fluid.
● Transmitted when body fluids of an HIV-positive person comes into contact with the
blood of another person.
● HIV transmission can take place through:
- Unprotected sex
- Drug addicts sharing needles with an HIV-infected person
- The use of unsterilised tattoo needles
- Blood transfusions with HIV-infected blood
- Medical procedures with unsterilized instruments
- Transfer from an infected mother to her baby during birth or via breast milk
Prevention and management
AIDS patients can feel weak and tired, lose weight, become thin due to malnutrition. People
living with HIV can look and feel healthy for long if their immune system is strong and
supported by a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle which decreases the risk of infections.
● Healthy eating habits to support the immune system include:
- Maintaining body weight by eating regular, small meals that include a variety of
foods.
- Following a balanced diet that includes food from all 6 food groups.
- Eating fresh fruit and vegetables rich in fibre and antioxidants (A,C,E, Selenium) to
prevent infections.
- Eating protein everyday to restore & rebuild the body after illness and to strengthen
your immune system.
- Eat carbohydrates and fats after illness / weight loss.
- Drink clean, safe water daily. Boil & cool water if needed.
- Taking vitamin and mineral supplements.
- Avoid alcohol, because it impairs vitamin & mineral absorption.
, - Include starch as the basis of each meal.
● Prepare and handle food hygienically
- Do not eat raw eggs, seafood or meat
- Wash fruit & vegetables well
- Use a separate chopping board for raw meat
- Wash hands, kitchen appliances and chopping boards with soapy water after use
● Exercise often to stimulate the appetite
● Antiretrovirals
- ARVs cannot cure HIV/AIDS but can increase life expectancy of infected patients
- Reduce the risk of opportunistic infections
Nutrient Sources Role
Protein Meat, chicken, fish, dairy, eggs, Builds up & strengthens the
nuts, soya beans, dried beans, immune system.
legumes.
Helps prevent loss of muscle
Eg. Peas & lentils. tissue.
Vitamin A Dark green, yello, orange and red Keep skin, mucous membranes in
fruit & vegetables. lungs & digestive tract healthy.
Antioxidant prevents damage to
Eg. broccoli,beetroot, mangoes. cells & infections.
Vitamin B6 White beans, potatoes, meat, fish, Maintains a healthy immune and
watermelon, corn, grains, avocado, nerve system.
broccoli.
Eg. green leafy vegetables
Vitamin C Citrus fruits, guavas, tomatoes, Aids recovery from infections.
mangoes, pawpaws, strawberries. Antioxidant prevents infections and
damage to cells.
Eg. berries & cauliflower.
Vitamin E Plant oils, margarine, nuts. Antioxidant prevents infections and
damage to cells.
Selenium Whole Wheat bread, grains, corn, Helps activate T-Helper cells.
beans, peanuts, samp, chicken, Antioxidant prevents infections and
eggs. damage to cells.
Zinc Meat, fish, chicken, shellfish, grain, Protects and strengthens the
corn, beans, peanuts, dairy immune system.
products.
Iron Liver, red meat, fish, legumes. Maintains the immune system.
,Flavonoids Fruit and vegetables Strengthens the immune system.
Phytosterols Fruit and vegetables Strengthens the immune system.
★ Flavonoids = antioxidants which contain many plant pigments.
★ Phytosterols = compounds in plants, similar to cholesterol in the human body.
OSTEOPOROSIS
Description
● Osteoporosis = “Porous bones”
● Skeletal disease, bones become porous due to loss of proteins & minerals especially
calcium
● Develops when breakdown of bone tissue occurs faster than the rebuilding
● Bone density & bone strength decreases, bones brittle + break easily
● Bone fractures in hips, wrists and spine
● Causes severe pain and can lead to death
● Men and women of all races
● Risk increases in post-menopausal women due to decrease in oestrogen levels
● Aka silent disease – no visible symptoms or warning signs
Symptoms
● once bones have been weakened
- Back pain due to cracked / broken vertebra
- Decrease in body weight
- Stooped / bent posture
Causes
Up to the age of 30, the body forms new bone tissue faster than it breaks down.
Probability of developing osteoporosis depends on the amount of bone mass deposited in
the skeleton at a young age.
● Gender – women have a lower bone mass than men
● Diet up to the age of 30 lacking calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D
● Smoking
● Excessive intake of alcohol – prevents calcium absorption
● Some medication – cortisones
● Hyperactive thyroid
● Body form
● Family history of osteoporosis
● Excessive weight loss
● Age – menopausal– (oestrogen levels decrease = lower bone density) women lose
calcium quicker
Prevention and management
● Follow a balanced diet, rich in calcium
- Dairy products, Green leafy vegetables, Canned fish with bones, Nuts
- Consume enough vitamin D
, o Needed to absorb calcium
o Oily fish, egg yolk, full cream milk, margarine
- Take enough vitamin C
o Needed for natural collagen formation
o Fresh fruit, vegetables.
- Phosphorous
o Promote calcium absorption in digestive tract
- Fluoride
o Absorbed by bones to strengthen
- Multivitamin supplement
o Containing calcium & vitamin C to support a calcium-poor diet
● Avoid taking in too many protein rich foods
- During protein digestion, acids are released into bloodstream
- Calcium is withdrawn from bone tissue to neutralize the acids
- Excess protein over a long period of time will weaken the bones
● Do not smoke
- Smoking increases bone loss, by decreasing amount of oestrogen produced
- Decreases calcium absorption
● Avoid excessive use of alcohol
- Decreases bone formation
- Decreases body’s ability to absorb calcium
● Do regular weight-bearing exercises
- Walking, running, weight training
● Hormone replacement therapy
- Take oestrogen supplements to retain bone density
ANAEMIA
Description
● Condition caused by lack of red blood cells in the blood / lack of haemoglobin in the
blood due to shortage of iron, vitamin B12, folic acid.
● Red blood cells are made in red bone marrow + contain haemoglobin.
Haemoglobin = carries oxygen from lungs to body and CO2 from body to lungs to
be exhaled
● Anemic person = shortage of oxygen-rich blood.
Symptoms
Description
● AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
- = an infectious and deadly disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV).
● Antibodies and cells that form part of the human immune system protect the body
against germs, harmful bacteria, parasites and viruses.
● HIV destroys CD4 / Helper-T cells (Type of white blood cells) which help fight
diseases / infections.
● Person infected with HIV will eventually have a weak immune system.
- Leads to AIDS
- More vulnerable to other diseases / infections
- Can lead to cold & flu, pneumonia, tuberculosis, diarrhea.
- These diseases can eventually cause death, as the body is too weak to fight
them.
Opportunistic infections are infections contracted due to a weakened immune
system.
Causes
● The HI-virus only lives in blood, semen and vaginal fluid.
● Transmitted when body fluids of an HIV-positive person comes into contact with the
blood of another person.
● HIV transmission can take place through:
- Unprotected sex
- Drug addicts sharing needles with an HIV-infected person
- The use of unsterilised tattoo needles
- Blood transfusions with HIV-infected blood
- Medical procedures with unsterilized instruments
- Transfer from an infected mother to her baby during birth or via breast milk
Prevention and management
AIDS patients can feel weak and tired, lose weight, become thin due to malnutrition. People
living with HIV can look and feel healthy for long if their immune system is strong and
supported by a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle which decreases the risk of infections.
● Healthy eating habits to support the immune system include:
- Maintaining body weight by eating regular, small meals that include a variety of
foods.
- Following a balanced diet that includes food from all 6 food groups.
- Eating fresh fruit and vegetables rich in fibre and antioxidants (A,C,E, Selenium) to
prevent infections.
- Eating protein everyday to restore & rebuild the body after illness and to strengthen
your immune system.
- Eat carbohydrates and fats after illness / weight loss.
- Drink clean, safe water daily. Boil & cool water if needed.
- Taking vitamin and mineral supplements.
- Avoid alcohol, because it impairs vitamin & mineral absorption.
, - Include starch as the basis of each meal.
● Prepare and handle food hygienically
- Do not eat raw eggs, seafood or meat
- Wash fruit & vegetables well
- Use a separate chopping board for raw meat
- Wash hands, kitchen appliances and chopping boards with soapy water after use
● Exercise often to stimulate the appetite
● Antiretrovirals
- ARVs cannot cure HIV/AIDS but can increase life expectancy of infected patients
- Reduce the risk of opportunistic infections
Nutrient Sources Role
Protein Meat, chicken, fish, dairy, eggs, Builds up & strengthens the
nuts, soya beans, dried beans, immune system.
legumes.
Helps prevent loss of muscle
Eg. Peas & lentils. tissue.
Vitamin A Dark green, yello, orange and red Keep skin, mucous membranes in
fruit & vegetables. lungs & digestive tract healthy.
Antioxidant prevents damage to
Eg. broccoli,beetroot, mangoes. cells & infections.
Vitamin B6 White beans, potatoes, meat, fish, Maintains a healthy immune and
watermelon, corn, grains, avocado, nerve system.
broccoli.
Eg. green leafy vegetables
Vitamin C Citrus fruits, guavas, tomatoes, Aids recovery from infections.
mangoes, pawpaws, strawberries. Antioxidant prevents infections and
damage to cells.
Eg. berries & cauliflower.
Vitamin E Plant oils, margarine, nuts. Antioxidant prevents infections and
damage to cells.
Selenium Whole Wheat bread, grains, corn, Helps activate T-Helper cells.
beans, peanuts, samp, chicken, Antioxidant prevents infections and
eggs. damage to cells.
Zinc Meat, fish, chicken, shellfish, grain, Protects and strengthens the
corn, beans, peanuts, dairy immune system.
products.
Iron Liver, red meat, fish, legumes. Maintains the immune system.
,Flavonoids Fruit and vegetables Strengthens the immune system.
Phytosterols Fruit and vegetables Strengthens the immune system.
★ Flavonoids = antioxidants which contain many plant pigments.
★ Phytosterols = compounds in plants, similar to cholesterol in the human body.
OSTEOPOROSIS
Description
● Osteoporosis = “Porous bones”
● Skeletal disease, bones become porous due to loss of proteins & minerals especially
calcium
● Develops when breakdown of bone tissue occurs faster than the rebuilding
● Bone density & bone strength decreases, bones brittle + break easily
● Bone fractures in hips, wrists and spine
● Causes severe pain and can lead to death
● Men and women of all races
● Risk increases in post-menopausal women due to decrease in oestrogen levels
● Aka silent disease – no visible symptoms or warning signs
Symptoms
● once bones have been weakened
- Back pain due to cracked / broken vertebra
- Decrease in body weight
- Stooped / bent posture
Causes
Up to the age of 30, the body forms new bone tissue faster than it breaks down.
Probability of developing osteoporosis depends on the amount of bone mass deposited in
the skeleton at a young age.
● Gender – women have a lower bone mass than men
● Diet up to the age of 30 lacking calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D
● Smoking
● Excessive intake of alcohol – prevents calcium absorption
● Some medication – cortisones
● Hyperactive thyroid
● Body form
● Family history of osteoporosis
● Excessive weight loss
● Age – menopausal– (oestrogen levels decrease = lower bone density) women lose
calcium quicker
Prevention and management
● Follow a balanced diet, rich in calcium
- Dairy products, Green leafy vegetables, Canned fish with bones, Nuts
- Consume enough vitamin D
, o Needed to absorb calcium
o Oily fish, egg yolk, full cream milk, margarine
- Take enough vitamin C
o Needed for natural collagen formation
o Fresh fruit, vegetables.
- Phosphorous
o Promote calcium absorption in digestive tract
- Fluoride
o Absorbed by bones to strengthen
- Multivitamin supplement
o Containing calcium & vitamin C to support a calcium-poor diet
● Avoid taking in too many protein rich foods
- During protein digestion, acids are released into bloodstream
- Calcium is withdrawn from bone tissue to neutralize the acids
- Excess protein over a long period of time will weaken the bones
● Do not smoke
- Smoking increases bone loss, by decreasing amount of oestrogen produced
- Decreases calcium absorption
● Avoid excessive use of alcohol
- Decreases bone formation
- Decreases body’s ability to absorb calcium
● Do regular weight-bearing exercises
- Walking, running, weight training
● Hormone replacement therapy
- Take oestrogen supplements to retain bone density
ANAEMIA
Description
● Condition caused by lack of red blood cells in the blood / lack of haemoglobin in the
blood due to shortage of iron, vitamin B12, folic acid.
● Red blood cells are made in red bone marrow + contain haemoglobin.
Haemoglobin = carries oxygen from lungs to body and CO2 from body to lungs to
be exhaled
● Anemic person = shortage of oxygen-rich blood.
Symptoms
