• A nurse prepares to collect blood from a donor during a volunteer blood donation campaign to mark World AIDS Day.

A nurse prepares to collect blood from a donor during a volunteer blood donation campaign to mark World AIDS Day. (Photo : Getty Images/ China Photos)

Definite HIV and AIDS cure may be far from being perfected. Thus, prevention and information drive concerning the disease are intensified, including potential risk factors for HIV/AIDS.

According to a recent study from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, it revealed that the risk for myocardial infarction or MI among HIV patients is almost double than that of the general population. Although the risk is caused both by common MI risk factors and specific HIV factors, the primary driver is still HIV, according to Infectious Disease Special Edition.

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This recent finding was conducted with the participation of a multicenter clinical group of HIV-infected individuals. With the help the data coming from roughly 20,000 HIV-infected individuals, researchers were able to analyse the data leading to the current HIV report. The report also indicated that individuals with HIV might have a higher risk for heart attack because of the virus causing inflammatory state that manifest through plaque build-up.

Moreover, apart from the virus itself, it is also good to note that smoking together with HIV increases risk for heart diseases. Based on the previous finding, smoking is highly dangerous among HIV infected individuals. The said activity raises the risk of heart disease, cancer and serious lung diseases, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The same Federal agency also added that while an HIV patient smokes, he is also more prone to other diseases. An HIV infected individual may also develop a mouth infection or oral candidiasis, hairy leukoplakia, bacterial pneumonia, a dangerous lung infection known as Pneumocystis pneumonia.

Under the given facts, the experts suggest that HIV patients should quit smoking to achieve major and immediate health benefits. Moreover, HIV infected individuals should also avoid second hand smoke, even if they are not into such activity. The second smoke may also contribute to an increased risk of heart attack.

Watch here below tips on how to quit smoking: