Hypotension (Low Blood Pressure) : Hypotension, also referred to as Low Blood Pressure. Low blood pressure occurs when blood pressure is much lower than normal. This means the heart, brain, and other parts of the body do not get enough blood. Normal blood pressure is usually between 90/60 mmHg and 130/80 mmHg.
Certain medicines and substances can lead to low blood pressure, including:
• Alcohol
• Anti-anxiety medicines
• Certain antidepressants
• Diuretics
• Heart medicines, including those used to treat high blood pressure and coronary heart disease
• Medicines used for surgery
• Painkillers
Other causes of low blood pressure include:
• Nerve damage from diabetes
• Changes in heart rhythm (arrhythmias)
• Not drinking enough fluids (dehydration)
• Heart failure
Symptoms
Symptoms of low blood pressure may include:
• Blurry vision
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Fainting (syncope)
• Lightheadedness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sleepiness
• Weakness
Treatment
• Use more salt.
• Drink more water. Fluids increase blood volume and help prevent dehydration, both of which are important in treating hypotension.
• Wear compression stockings. The same elastic stockings commonly used to relieve the pain and swelling of varicose veins may help reduce the pooling of blood in your legs.
• Medications. Several medications, either used alone or together, can be used to treat low blood pressure that occurs when you stand up (orthostatic hypotension). The drug fludrocortisone is often used to treat this form of low blood pressure.
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome : AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) is a disease caused by a virus called HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). The illness alters the immune system, making people much more vulnerable to infections and diseases. This susceptibility worsens as the disease progresses.
HIV is found in the body fluids of an infected person (semen and vaginal fluids, blood and breast milk). The virus is passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact. In addition, infected pregnant women can pass HIV to their babies during pregnancy, delivering the baby during childbirth, and through breast feeding.
HIV is transmitted primarily via unprotected sexual intercourse (including anal and oral sex), contaminated blood transfusions, hypodermic needles, and from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. Some bodily fluids, such as saliva and tears, do not transmit HIV.
Drugs for HIV infection
1. Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor - Zidovudine, abacavir, didanosine, emtricitabine, lamivudine, stavudine, and tenofovir.
2. Protease inhibitors - amprenavir, atazanavir, fosamprenavir (a pro-drug of amprenavir), indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, and tipranavir.
3. Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors - efavirenz and nevirapine
4. Drug which inhibits HIV from fusing to the host cell - Enfuvirtide
Human immunodeficiency virus infection / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) : Human immunodeficiency virus infection / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Management
There is currently no cure or effective HIV vaccine. Treatment consists of high active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) which slows progression of the disease.
Antiviral therapy)
Current HAART options are combinations (or "cocktails") consisting of at least three medications belonging to at least two types, or "classes," of antiretroviral agents. Initially treatment is typically a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) plus two nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).Typical NRTIs include: zidovudine (AZT) or tenofovir (TDF) and lamivudine (3TC) or emtricitabine (FTC).Combinations of agents which include a protease inhibitors (PI) are used if the above regimen loses effectiveness