National HIV Testing Day, Raise Awareness and Get Tested!

National HIV Testing Day is one of the many opportunities we have throughout the year to raise awareness and educate ourselves about this illness. HIV is an illness that can be prevented by using effective protective measures and getting tested regularly for peace of mind.

Though much has been discovered about HIV throughout the years there are still misconceptions about the disease, how you get it, signs and symptoms, as well as risk factors. According to About.com, some of the many myths surrounding HIV include: “Women can’t give men HIV.” “HIV is a contagious disease.” “People over 50 don’t get HIV.” The facts however tell another story. According to the CDC, 18% of new HIV infections are attributed to females. In terms of the disease’s contagiousness the only possible ways of getting infected are through blood on blood contact, breast milk and all types of sexual encounters. Just because someone has HIV and they sneezed near you or a drop of their sweat fell on you it does not mean that you will get infected. As for the people over 50 group; they account for 17% of new infections (CDC).

We understand that some times the thought of getting tested can be a scary thing and you might feel like you’re sending a message about yourself to others. The fact is that by getting tested you are indeed sending a message, you’re sending the message that you are responsible and that you Take Control of Your Health® making sure you are as healthy as a horse! That being said, it never hurts to have a supporting partner to provide you with a safe and confidential environment and make you feel like the process of getting tested was a cakewalk. ANY LAB TEST NOW® empowers you to take control of your sexual health with our anonymous and confidential comprehensive STD testing services.

This Thursday, June 27th is National HIV Testing Day take this opportunity to take control of your sexual health, know your status and get tested! Remember that symptom free doesn’t mean disease free. To find out more about our fast, anonymous and discreet STD testing options contact an ANY LAB TEST NOW® near you or visit www.anylabtestnow.com

Encouraging the LGBT Community to Take Control of Their Health®!

We all know everyone is amazing in his or her own way; we’re all one of a kind. But what happens when we get caught up in the day-to-day and forget to pay attention to our health? Surprises happen and not always the good kind especially when there are increased risk factors for various health concerns.

Health risks affect everyone. For example, it has been statistically proven that African-Americans are at higher risk of Heart Disease and Latinos are a higher risk of developing Diabetes. In the GLBT Community, the risks and concerns aren’t as easily determined. Each individual has their own experiences and factors that determine their particular health risks. These factors may include race, age, geographical location, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle amongst others.

Understanding what health concerns you are at risk for can help you take the right steps towards leading a healthier lifestyle to reduce those risks. So how do you start? Lab testing can help you identify your current health condition.  At that point the key is really in PREVENTION. You can develop a plan to get healthy and ensure that you are staying that way. This includes getting tested for STD’s. According to the CDC, the GLBT community accounted for nearly half of the 1.1 million people currently living with HIV in the country and 61% of those reporting new infections each year as well as 63% of the syphilis and gonorrhea cases in the country.

When you combine factors such as the statistics and society’s pressure, it can be scary. There are concerns based on your particular risk factors, the concerns of not becoming part of a statistic and last but not least, the fear of being judged.  You need to find out more about your health in an environment that supports you and cares about your well-being.

ANY LAB TEST NOW® helps you Take Control of Your Health® with discreet, confidential and anonymous STD screens as well as a variety of Wellness testing that will get you on your way to a healthier, worry-free lifestyle. What better time to start Taking Control of Your Health® than during STD Awareness Month? Come in this month and get tested! Remember that Symptom Free Doesn’t Mean Disease Free. For more information on our confidential, anonymous STD screens and available Wellness testing visit your local ANY LAB TEST NOW®.

Getting in the Spirit of National Collegiate Health and Wellness Week

Going to college is a great experience. It is the time when you finally get to study the subjects you are really interested in and when you begin to work towards your future career. You are the one and only responsible for what comes next for Y-O-U, including meeting deadlines, paying bills on time and of course taking care of your health.  Welcome to adulthood!

Now let’s talk about the process to get into college. Yes grades, tests scores and a comprehensive entry essay are a given; but the other side of this process believe it or not comes down to your health. Are your immunizations up to date? Have you been tested for venereal diseases? Some institutions may also require you to take a drug test. All these elements combined and perhaps an interview will determine whether you get in or not.

Next… Congratulations you got accepted! Now the grind begins, you are on a roll and burning the midnight oil has become part of your daily routine. You figured “why not I’m young I’ll catch up on Z’s once I graduate!” Ask yourself do these activities affect my overall health and wellness? The answer to that question is YES! Let’s be honest that midnight oil being burned is not just due to studying and once you graduate the time to catch up on Z’s decreases. It has been reported that some of the main health concerns on campuses across the country include lack of sleep, infectious diseases, alcohol abuse and lack of exercise.

The time to Take Control of Your Health® is now! You might ask yourself, but “how do I do that?” Perhaps doing the good old buddy system could work.  ANY LAB TEST NOW® can be that buddy you need to help you stay on top of things and make sure you’re healthy. We have the tests that you don’t have to study for including titer testing, STD testing and overall wellness checkups. Plus, we have B-12 shots that can help you boost that energy after those all-nighters.  Get in the spirit of National Collegiate Health and Wellness Week, increase your awareness about the importance of staying healthy, fit and get educated on how to do it.  Visit www.anylabtestnow.com to find additional information on how to Take Control of Your Health® and visit a location near you.

World AIDS Day: A Day to Raise Awareness & Join the Fight!

What does AIDS stand for? These days this question may seem a little ridiculous to ask, because since the 1980’s awareness for STD’s especially HIV, all over the world has continued to grow. Nevertheless many still confuse AIDS with every existent STD out there. In simple terms AIDS stands for Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. This is the final stage of the HIV infection; by the time HIV patients reach this state their immune systems are badly damaged; which in turn puts them at risk of acquiring opportunistic infections (OI’s).

According to CDC reports more that one million people in the U.S. are currently living with HIV. The global statistics are even larger and continue to grow at warp speed. We know this disease is no joking matter and it’s in all of us to make sure we raise awareness even if it’s just to change one life. That is where getting tested can play a starring role in the movie of your life.

Getting tested is something that everyone should do at least once in their lives. Unfortunately there is a stigma that surrounds this subject and as hard as it is to believe these illnesses are more common than we care to admit. Why get tested? Because being symptom free doesn’t mean disease free and worrying is worst than knowing. It is also never too late to play it safe and it is important to protect the ones you love from this disease while raising awareness that AIDS exists and it can’t be ignored.

This December 1st let’s join the fight and take the pledge to raise awareness during World AIDS Day. Organizations like AIDS.gov can provide you more information on taking the pledge to ‘Working Together for an AIDS-Free Generation’. ANY LAB TEST NOW® can be the friend without judgment and confidant you need during this process. To find out more about our comprehensive STD panel and tests visit www.anylabtestnow.com.

CDC Urging Baby Boomers to Get Tested for Hepatitis C

It is said that time and life experiences make us wiser. But what happens when what we call life experiences put our health at risk? For those born between 1945 and 1965 wisdom might not be all they have acquired. It has been reported that baby boomers make up 75% of the hepatitis C cases in the United States. This age group is distinctly vulnerable due to the fact that during their youth the medical and lifestyle precautions that emerged during the HIV outbreak in the 1980s were unknown. Some may have become infected as a result of blood transfusions prior to the universal precautions and widespread blood screenings, which commenced in 1992 or through experimentation with drug use by sharing needles.

According to the CDC 1 in 30 baby boomers has been infected, and most have no clue. This virus can go undetected without symptoms for decades slowly destroying the liver, while causing few symptoms. This characteristic has earned the hepatitis C virus a silent killer status. The CDC recommends that baby boomers get tested for hepatitis C, which in turn will potentially prevent the consequences of the disease. The importance of getting tested is that if detected early hepatitis C can be treated and lives can be saved.

If you are an individual born between 1945 – 1965, have you followed the CDC’s recommendation regarding Hepatitis C testing?  If not, what is keeping you from doing so?  We may be able to help.

Baby boomers can get tested discreetly for Hepatitis C at any of ANY LAB TEST NOW®’s locations nationwide.  To find a location near you visit www.anylabtestnow.com.