THERE’S A FUTURE AFTER GETTING INFECTED WITH HIV
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Hey Guys,
Trust we are all doing well? Last week was HIV Awareness week.
Having HIV doesn’t have to stop you living a healthy life in the way that you choose to do. With the right treatment and care, you can expect to live if someone who doesn’t have HIV.
HIV is a global infection which has affected a lot of people but the good news is that there is a way to manage it. Due to medical advances, people with HIV and access to quality healthcare very rarely develop AIDS once they have started taking HIV treatment.Experts such as theWHO has observed thatHIV has become a manageable condition, and many people with HIV have long, healthy lives.
HIV is a virus that targets and alters the immune system, increasing the risk and impact of other infections and diseases, itstands for “human immunodeficiency virus,” and it attacks immune cells called CD4 cells.Without treatment, the infection might progress to an advanced stage called AIDS, it stands for “acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.”It is an advanced stage of HIV infection.
The life expectancy of a person with HIV is now approaching that of someone who tests negative for the virus, provided that the person takes medications called antiretroviral therapy on an ongoing basis.
As of 2019, around 68% of adults and 53% of children with HIV worldwide were receiving lifelong treatment.
It is worth noting, however, that some people have HIV for long periods without experiencing any symptoms.
HIV is a lifelong condition, but treatments and certain strategies can prevent the virus from transmitting and the infection from progressing.
FAST FACTS
- Starting antiretroviral treatment as soon as possible, and sustaining it as part of your everyday routine, is the best way of ensuring that your immune system stays strong.
- Exercising regularly, eating well, getting enough rest and quality sleep are all vital to maintaining your health.
- Your mental wellbeing is just as important as your physical health. Talking about your concerns with family, friends or a support group can really help.
- Avoid excessive alcohol and Drug use
Undetectable = untransmittable
HIV can only transmit through fluids that contain a certain amount of the virus. If a person has undetectable levels of HIV, the virus cannot transmit to another person.
Doctors consider HIV to beundetectable when the amount of the virus in the body is so low that a blood test cannot identify it.
Having undetectable levels requires a person to continually receive effective treatment and follow the recommended plan carefully, which usually involves taking medications every day.
A person with undetectable levels still has HIV, and regular monitoring with blood tests is key to maintaining this status.
