By Amanda Tennant, staff writer
With a new semester in full swing, Hawks line up outside Room 1224 to begin a mandatory class required for graduation: Health. In the class, these Indian Trail High School & Academy students will learn about a plethora of health related material ranging from basic hygienics and healthy relationship building. In the midst of crucial information needed to live healthy lives, instructors provide important information from the curriculum about sexually transmitted diseases.
Students will learn about STD’s as well as helpful tips and strategies for preventing them. As Hawks are educated about the infections, developments for one of these diseases may soon change the way STD’s are approached.
In recent times, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV for short, has developed an abundance of treatments and medicines within the last 20 years.
“[HIV medications] have been improving vastly in the last 20 years and are definitely making a difference in a lot of these people’s lives. When back in the early ‘80s, these people wouldn’t have stood a chance to last very long,” said Aaron Boyd, Health teacher at ITHS&A.
HIV is a virus that weakens a person’s immune system by attacking important disease-fighting cells such as the T-cell and CD4 cell. By eliminating the T-cell and CD4 cell, the body’s immune system is suppressed and is therefore at risk for multitudes of diseases and infections. If a person with HIV loses too many pathogen-fighting cells, then the person will develop Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, or more commonly known as AIDS. According to the World Health Organization, a total of 39 million people have died because of HIV within the past 30 years. However, that death total is likely to change.
In the last 10 years, an abundance of new, effective medication has emerged in the pharmaceutical market. For decades, persons with HIV would have to take a total of 10 to 20 pills a day in order to help their immune systems fight infections. Now, the amount of pills have been reduced to one. Because of this, it allows HIV sufferers more medical freedom because they are not restricted to a tight pill schedule.
Also, another advancement is the reduced price and availability of these medications and treatments.
“The cost has gone down for a lot of them as well so they used to just be for the most elite, richest people. But, it has gotten to a point where people have good enough insurance to obtain these medications,” Boyd said.
One Communications Academy junior said she is impressed by the medical advancements.
“I feel like those are safer than shots and straight up vaccines. I feel that they are safer and seem more reasonable,” the student said.
Boyd credits medical research as well as lowering STD rates with increased STD prevention education.
“Having people understand that getting checked for these diseases, learning about preventive measures, getting tested at Planned Parenthood, things like that are helping to reduce the amount of cases out there,” said Boyd.
So, as Hawks learn about these diseases, students reflect about the importance and advancements for our generation.
“I think it is amazing how we have come so far scientifically and medically,” said the Communications junior.