LETTER FROM THE EDITOR.DEAR READER Everyone has trouble sleeping at one time or another. Anxiety the night before an important presentation or exam, stress about personal or financial matters, or even too much television or caffeine before bed can cause trouble sleeping. But insomnia is a different phenomenon, involving a disturbance in the sleep cycle that lasts over a period of time. This disturbance itself can induce stress, further masking the original cause(s) of sleeplessness. Insomnia in the HIV-infected population is often unrecognized. It can cause frustration and can even potentially further weaken the immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. . What causes insomnia? Stress from living with HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. , side effects Side effects Effects of a proposed project on other parts of the firm. from medications, and disease symptoms (for example, neuropathy neuropathy Disorder of the peripheral nervous system. It may be genetic or acquired, progress quickly or slowly, involve motor, sensory, and/or autonomic (see autonomic nervous system) nerves, and affect only certain nerves or all of them. , wasting or opportunistic infections Opportunistic infections Infections that cause a disease only when the host's immune system is impaired. The classic opportunistic infection never leads to disease in the normal host. ) can all contribute to insomnia--independently or in combination. Other life factors like drug or alcohol use, depression, anxiety, etc. can also contribute to insomnia. This issue's article on insomnia and HIV offers a clinical psychiatrist's look at this frustrating disorder. With all the concern about viral load viral load n. The concentration of a virus, such as HIV, in the blood. viral load, n a measure of the number of virus particles present in the bloodstream, expressed as copies per milliliter. levels, CD4 T cell Noun 1. CD4 T cell - T cell with CD4 receptor that recognizes antigens on the surface of a virus-infected cell and secretes lymphokines that stimulate B cells and killer T cells; helper T cells are infected and killed by the AIDS virus counts and drug side effects, it is easy to forget the mental health needs of HIV-infected persons. Most physicians would agree that mental health is an important determinant of a patient's physical health. On a separate note, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the readers, subscribers and supporters of RITA RITA Cardiology A clinical trial–Randomized Intervention Treatment of Angina–comparing the outcome of PCTA vs CABG in Pts with angina. See Angina, Angioplasty, CABG, Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. ! and The Center for AIDS. This time of year is critical for planning upcoming issues and programs. Please fill out the postage-paid readership survey at the back of this issue to indicate what you like or dislike about the publication, or what you would like to see covered in future issues. To better serve our constituents, the current format of RITA! will be divided into 2 separate publications beginning in 2001. The first publication, published 3 times a year, will be a patient-oriented newsletter with treatment updates, drug warnings, and otherwise important information written for the layman. The second publication, published semi-annually, will retain the current look of RITA! but will be arranged by theme, focusing on advocacy, research and policy issues. Current subscribers will automatically receive the patient newsletter, but those wishing to receive the research-oriented publication must request it. (This can be done easily in this issue's readership survey). As always, publication content can be accessed on the Web from The CFA (Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986) Signed into law in 1986, the CFA was a significant step forward in criminalizing unauthorized access to computer systems and networks. The Act applies to "federal interest computers" that include any system used by the U.S. website, centerforaids.org. Also, please consider an end-of-year donation or subscription renewal for RITA! as denoted on the center-fold envelope. The requested individual subscription rate is currently $20 per year. Many organizations and HIV-infected individuals receive RITA! at no cost, which increases our overall postage and shipping expenses. Any gift will be greatly appreciated, as always, and will help us continue our work. Very truly yours, The Center for AIDS: Hope & Remembrance Project Thomas Gegeny, MS, ELS Editor |
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