Black History of Health: Arthur Ashe

Arthur Ashe accomplished many firsts in his lifetime.

In 1963, the gifted tennis player made history as the first Black player to compete for the U.S. Davis Cup team.

A few years later, Arthur became the first Black male to win the U.S. Open title.

Unfortunately, he would also be one of the few people in the world to die from HIV/AIDS via a blood transfusion.

What is HIV/AIDS?

HIV.org reports that HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases.

It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected sex (sex without a condom), HIV medicine to prevent or treat HIV, or through sharing injection drug equipment.

If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

The human body can’t get rid of HIV and no effective HIV cure exists. So, once you have HIV, you have it for life.

However, by taking HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART), people with HIV can live long and healthy lives and prevent transmitting HIV to their sexual partners.

In addition, there are effective methods to prevent getting HIV through sex or drug use, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

First identified in 1981, HIV is the cause of one of humanity’s deadliest and most persistent epidemics.

What Is AIDS?

According to HIV.org, AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection that occurs when the body’s immune system is badly damaged because of the virus.

In the U.S., most people with HIV do not develop AIDS because taking HIV medicine every day as prescribed stops the progression of the disease.

A person with HIV is considered to have progressed to AIDS when: the number of their CD4 cells falls below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood (200 cells/mm3). (In someone with a healthy immune system, CD4 counts are between 500 and 1,600 cells/mm3.) OR they develop one or more opportunistic infections regardless of their CD4 count.

What are the treatments?

According to the CDC, HIV treatment involves taking medicine that reduces the amount of HIV in your body.

HIV medicine is called antiretroviral therapy (ART).
There is no effective cure for HIV. But with proper medical care, you can control HIV.
Most people can get the virus under control within six months.
Taking HIV medicine does not prevent the transmission of other sexually transmitted diseases.