Brainstorming

__PARAGRAPH #1__
 * The Silent Killer- HIV is a common and devastating virus that is seen all around the world. This virus was first discovered 20 years ago, it can spread by semen, blood, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. This virus attacks your Immune System, especially CD4 cells, known as T-cells which helps fight infections in the body (Connor). The HIV cells "tricks" the T-cells into reproducing numerous copies of the AIDS virus, creating a big battle for your body to fight. When most of the CD4 cells are destroyed and taken over by the virus, the Immune System begins to break down, not able to fight off any diseases (//New Internationalist//). Many people don't know what is happening to their body or that they're even infected with it. The virus at first may be dormant, but eventually the side effects will start to take place. A person with a healthy Immune System normally has a CD4 count of about 800-1500. A person that is HIV- positive, may have a count of 500 or less (//New Internationalist//). It amazing how quickly thought it takes over your entire body, even your nervous system.**

__PARAGRAPH #2__
 * Emotional Effects of HIV&AIDS- Imagine you when up for a monthly doctors appointment, you think everything is going to be fine and you'll be out of there in no time. You hear the Doctor's voice with a concerned tone, he tells you, you have been diagnosed with the HIV virus. When people find out they have the disease, they think that it's not possible. They're in shock with disbelief, and many are angered when being told (Living). They have fear that the disease will progress and fear of isolation from family and friends, along with worries about infecting others (Living). It would be devastating having the fear and caution of infecting and being discriminated against being HIV-positive. Depression is twice as common for people living with the HIV virus compared to the overall population. Don't forget about family and friends because they too will be emotionally effected by what the HIV-positive person is going through (Living). Depressive symptoms were linked to many people taking less care when it came to sexual behavior, along with guilt.**

__PARAGHRAPH #3__
 * PHYSICAL EFFECTS- Many effects felt by people living with HIV can have the same effects has the common cold or flu. Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, headache, and swelling of the lymph node in your neck or groin. Many know of the popular skin oral diseases caused by HIV including Herpes, Chicken Pox, and Shingles, which are known as HSV's ( Connor). It not only effects you on the outside, but on the inside too. With your nervous system, how your brain functions in general. They can experience AIDS-related dementia, the loss of ability to think properly, trouble walking, talking, and loss of strength in your arms and legs. A few cases here and there had people that were effected in the form of seizures (Connor). Do you want to shed a few pounds? Or lose weight and drop a size? Well for HIV infected people, weight loss is one of the worst effects of the disease. HIV causes you to lose major amounts of fat muscle at a time, making the weight extremely hard to regain. In fact, 10% of the body weight can be lost in less than a month (Conner). Hopefully, we'll come up with a cure for these effects, until then, they keep taking control of normal people today. **