What is the human papillomavirus
Professional title: HPV – human papilloma virus (human papilloma) HPV – human papilloma virus.
Content
The virus to kill
What is it HPV? The human papilloma virus (HPV, HPV) is a human disease, viral papilloma with which people can meet, regardless of gender: this viral disease can occur for both women and men.
If it appears in women to deal with the disease is designed for the medical field such as gynecology, because HPV is a disease that is transmitted sexually.
To date, there are hundreds of types of HPV, but only 18 of them are oncogenic, i.e. they can cause cancer. Some of these species are harmless, others are causes of warts on the genitals, hands and feet, others can cause cervical cancer and if the disease is not diagnosed in a timely manner, HPV (papilloma) may even lead to death.
Every year in our country is diagnosed about 1,000 new cases of cervical cancer in women 300 of them die.
This problem is worthy to pay attention to it. So, let's consider this troubling question: what is the human papillomavirus (HPV) and how to cope with the disease?
Insidious virus
Cervical cancer is a serious disease that can be life-threatening, but, in fact, is one of the types of cancer ailments which can be successfully prevented. How? The key lies in the awareness about what is HPV and what can cause papilloma. Because this disease causes cervical cancer.
Thus, you should either know for 100% about the health of her sexual partner, but also about the health of former sexual partners of his partner. The options are far from real possibilities…
The second option is to completely abstain from sex. Also doesn't sound promising.
The third and probably easiest option is to protect vaccination and regular preventive gynecological examinations. Cervical cancer is the only cancer of the genital organs, about which you know exactly what causes it HPV virus.
What you need to know?
It is important to know about HPV, how, more, only way to prevent diseases that it can cause.
The prevalence of the virus is much greater than you might think. The world health organization (who) in 2001, there were about 630 million people (approximately 13% of the total world population) infected with HPV worldwide.
About 30 types of the virus known as genital as in their localization they affect the genital area. After breast cancer, cervical cancer ranks second among the most common types of cancer in women. According to who estimates, currently the world's more than 2 million women suffer from cervical cancer. Are diagnosed each year 490,000 cases, accounting for more than 1,350 new cases per day! According to the data of the health organization in the world from this cancer die each day nearly 650 women.
Who is at greatest risk of infection?
HPV is very contagious, so once exposed to the virus in order to get the infection. It is believed that many people become infected with HPV during the first 2-3 years of his active sex life. The who claims that 2/3 of all people who had sexual contact with an infected person, for 3 months after a risk event the infection develops. The use of a condom may help reduce the risk of HPV infection. However, because condoms do not cover the entire genital area, they are not able to prevent the infection fully.
Infection can occur with any sexualactivity involving genital contact. This means that a person can buy a virus without immediate intercourse. Many people who are infected with HPV do not show any signs or symptoms, so they can transmit the virus without even knowing it.
The group's maximum risk
Cervical cancer can occur at any age in women, beginning in adolescence. About half of all women diagnosed with cervical cancer are between the ages of 35-55 years. Many of these women likely to have been exposed to HPV infection during the period of adolescence and at the age of 20-30 years.
The reason young women are quicker to become infected, is that the mucous membrane of the cervix is the most susceptible to infection at the beginning of sexual life. The risk is also male, the previous partner who had cervical cancer. Man becomes infected and passes the infection to the following partners.
How to diagnose cancer of the cervix?
In a large percentage of people with HPV, the body's defenses are able to get rid of the virus. However, in women, in whom its presence is not detected in a timely manner not in time starts treated, the viral infection can cause abnormal changes in cervical epithelium that can lead to cancer and precancerous conditions.
Since HPV usually shows no signs or symptoms, people are likely not aware of the presence of an infection. Most women are aware of HPV infection after receiving abnormal PAP test (PAP-test). This test, also known as a PAP smear, is part of the gynecological exam and helps in early diagnosis.
The result of the smear is evaluated in the form of cells, its characteristics. Degree are as follows:
- Normal.
- Normal inflammation (bacterial, fungal).
- Suspicion (the number of starting HPV infection, severe inflammation).
- Precancerous condition.
- Cancer.
If a woman regularly takes surveys regularly conducted test PAP, cervical screening, half of the terminals may be adjusted, and the woman keeps health. It depends on the immune system and other factors such as Smoking, immune disorders, deficiency of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, sexual promiscuity.
Time from HPV infection to cervical cancer is different, this period can take several years, but in some cases, cancer may develop in the course of one year. In the case of this diseases are very important preventive examinations, because in their framework, the doctor can detect precancerous stage. In our country, unfortunately, the preventive medical examinations, in accordance with the latest data on preventive examinations, is only 1/3 of the women.
Treatment
Viral infections are often associated with the development of chronic diseases, which are considered diseases of noninfectious origin. Are described, for example, are common in this case as:
- mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr),
- sclerosis,
- cytomegalovirus (herpes virus),
- atherosclerosis,
- hypertensive disease,
- as well as various types of cancer.
As of today there are no really effective drugs for treatment mentioned viral diseases, treatment of these infections is based on the suppression of manifestations of the disease, stimulating the immune system, so she was able to suppress the virus, and avoiding the limiting factors that can worsen the condition. The immune system, in addition, it is important not only in combating infection, but also against various chronic diseases, and Oncology.
In addition to additives that affect the immune system itself, in accordance with new research findings, the scope of supply is also very important not only in terms of effects on the immune system, but also on the virus itself (for example, people with selenium deficiency comes to the more rapid and extensive mutation of the virus).
Like other types of cancer, cervical cancer can be treated in several ways. The doctor before determining therapeutic methods, consider a number of factors which include:
- the size and spread of the tumor,
- the woman's age and her overall health,
- the choice of the patient.
There are 3 main methods of treatment of cervical cancer – surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Treatment may include 2 or more of these methods. Tests may include x-ray, biopsy, blood tests and other studies.
What helps?
Folate
The active form of folic acid contained in leafy vegetables and liver. According to the observations of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, lower plasma levels of folic acid have HPV-positive women are associated with a high risk of developing cervical dysplasia (a precancerous condition). Women with sufficient intake of folic acid and vitamin B12 have a 70% lower riskthe development of dysplasia. Despite the beneficial effect of folate, with its use as synthetic supplements you should not overdo it, folic acid should be consumed from natural sources.
Indole-3-cannabinol
Indole-3-cannabinol contains vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. In the dual study University medical center Louisiana state consumption, at least 200 mg of indole-3-cannabinol per day in women with dysplasia II-III degree led to a complete disappearance of symptoms in half of the cases. Compared to placebo was not one case of spontaneous regression. Indole-3-cannabinol, which is contained in drugs Indanol (150 mg), Indole-3-C (150 mg) and Indole (150 mg).
Glutathione
Glutathione is one of the most powerful antioxidants that are formed in our body. Glutathione plays a key role in the immune response against various types of infections and carcinogenesis, promotes the formation of T-cell and increases the activity of b-cells, and therefore plays a role in the elimination of viruses including herpes virus, HIV, and HPV.
You can use glutathione tablets for oral use, however, it is poorly absorbed by the mucous membrane of the intestines, and hence has a value only application by injection under medical supervision. This method is not yet available (besides, it is relatively expensive), with the boundary now used in chemotherapy to reduce side effects in the treatment of male infertility, treatment of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, hepatopathy, in order to maintain immunity in HIV-positive people and as adjuvant therapy for severe infections.
Glutathione is produced in the body from the amino acids cysteine, glycine and glutamate, and for its production, in particular, selenium, vitamin D and magnesium. The source of the said amino acids are animal products such as meat, eggs, whey protein, gelatin, contains selenium in seafood and Brazil nuts, so during infection it is recommended to increase consumption of these products. On the resumption of glutathione in the liver positive effects the tea of milk Thistle and melatonin (formed during quality sleep).
Curcumin
Curcumin is a component of the spice turmeric, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action. In addition to various inflammatory diseases, curcumin has great potential in the treatment of HPV infection, as well as integral to her cervical dysplasia. Curcumin has potent antiviral activity (in particular, providing the maximum subsidiary risk types 16 and 18), its use leads to apoptosis (death) of cancer cells and slows the expression of oncoproteins. Efficacy has been shown in local and systemic treatment.
Green tea
Green tea in addition to other beneficial ingredients, contains EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), used eg in ointments to treat genital warts that are dispensed by prescription. However, EGCG helps with HPV infection and systemically. Studies have shown the ability of EGCG to reduce the activity of human papilloma virus, and induce the apoptosis of cancer cells.
Beta-glucan
Beta-glucan (β-glucan) is a polysaccharide isolated from mushrooms, yeast and some grain crops (oats, barley), has antiviral and immunomodulating activity. Medicinal mushrooms in addition to beta-glucan contain other polysaccharides, associated with a wide range of applications. In particular, in treatment HPV infection most studies have proved the effectiveness of shiitake (Lentinula edodes), which also contain immunomodulatory AHCC – active hexose correlated compound and anti-cancer substances and lentinan Reishi (Ganoderma Lucidum). The use of beta-glucan (local and systemic) have been successful in the fight against genital warts, however, the treatment continued much longer than in the case of standard therapy.
Additional precaution
Smoking increases the risk of persistent HPV infection in 5 times, so in the case of a positive HPV screening tests, it is advisable to quit Smoking (or, at least, to limit Smoking).
Significantly increase the risk of infection and prolonged use of hormonal contraceptives, it has been proven that women who use hormonal contraceptives for 5-9 years and longer, have 3 times higher risk of chronic infection, in that case, if the contraception of this type is applied for more than 10 years, the risk increases 4 times.