How to live with a person with AIDS. The devil is not as scary as he is painted: How to prevent, treat and live with HIV. Quit smoking

In 2016, there were 26 thousand HIV-infected people in Kazakhstan. In the same year, 2,900 Kazakhs contracted the virus, and another thousand died of AIDS. These figures have risen by 39% and 32% respectively since 2010.

What is HIV and how is it related to AIDS?

(HIV) is a virus that attacks the cells of the immune system. It destroys T-helpers, that is, lymphocytes that enhance the immune response, and fills their place with its copies. The more viruses, the weaker the human immunity. If a person has HIV but does not take antiretroviral therapy, they become sick more and more often, scratches or wounds heal slowly, and sometimes bruises appear.

Without treatment, HIV can turn into AIDS - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is also called the last stage of HIV. At this stage, the immune system cannot fight infections on its own - without treatment, the infected can live up to three years.

Who can get HIV?

Anyone. There are stereotypes that most often a positive HIV status is found in sex workers, homosexuals or. This is not entirely true. The virus can enter the body through blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. Therefore, most often infections occur when sharing syringes, during sexual intercourse, or from mother to child during childbirth. There are known cases of infection with the virus in hospitals when using non-sterile instruments.

Do not be afraid to drink from the same glass with an HIV-positive person or share a towel, shake hands, talk or kiss. The infection is not transmitted by airborne droplets or through saliva.

How to identify the symptoms of HIV?

Symptoms can be different at all stages of the disease. In the first 2-4 weeks from infection, 40 to 90% of those infected feel a cold. They have sore muscles, sore throats, scabies, mouth ulcers, and swollen lymph nodes. Sometimes during the "incubation" period, some types of HIV tests may not detect infection in the blood. But most of them can detect antibodies, which begin to be released a few weeks after infection with the virus.

If you suspect that you may have put yourself at risk of infection, it is best to get tested. Even if there is no cause for concern, it is worth making a habit of getting an HIV test every six months or a year.

Kazakhstanis can get free HIV testing at polyclinics at their place of residence and do it anonymously.

Can HIV be cured?

The human immunodeficiency virus can be treated, but in this case they are not talking about recovery, but remission. With the help of highly active antiretroviral therapy, doctors have been able to extend the life expectancy of HIV-positive patients to 70-80 years.

The mechanism of therapy is based on the fact that drugs either suppress the virus enzyme that acts on proteins in human cells, or block receptors on immune cells, preventing the virus from contacting them. Due to this, the amount of virus in the blood decreases and in practice this is called an undetectable viral load. In this case, HIV will not be able to go into the stage of AIDS.

Saltanat Musina, Deputy Chief Physician of the Center for Prevention and Control of AIDS in Astana, emphasizes that when a virus is detected, the first thing to do is to register at the dispensary at the AIDS center, since the most important thing is control of the disease. As part of the GOMBP, registered citizens can receive free antiretroviral therapy and artificial nutrition for newborns from mothers with HIV-positive status. Infected children under the age of 18 at the dispensary receive medicines free of charge.

I had unprotected intercourse. What if I might have contracted HIV?

In the case of unprotected sex (and even when using condoms) with an HIV-positive partner, pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis can also be used. These important drugs contain the antiretroviral drugs tenofovir and emtricitabine. They look like combination pills.

As Saltanat Musina explains, such prevention helps to minimize the risk of HIV infection. Under certain conditions, pre-exposure prophylaxis can reduce the number of HIV infections by 90%. This method is more acceptable for persons belonging to risk groups.

After unprotected sex or other contact with an HIV-infected person, post-exposure prophylaxis is most commonly used. Post-exposure prophylaxis reduces the risk of HIV transmission by preventing the virus from replicating. However, it will be most effective if treatment is started within the first 72 hours of contact and then continued for 28 days.

How should I behave in an HIV-positive person?

Being HIV positive is not a death sentence. You can live with it, continue to work and even give birth. If a loved one opened up and reported his illness, then the best thing is to support. At first, the infected person already experiences a wide range of negative emotions because of his new status. It can sometimes lead to depression. Therefore, it is especially important that friends and relatives do not leave a person alone with their misfortune.

Saltanat Musina says that in practice, in families or couples where relationships are built on respect and trust, indicators of physical and mental health are satisfactory. Where relationships with relatives do not add up, there is low adherence to treatment, non-compliance with the regimen, which can lead to an exacerbation of the course of the disease.

The Deputy Chief Physician reminds of precautionary measures - a family member with HIV should use such personal means as a toothbrush, nail scissors and shaving accessories.

Sexologists and sex bloggers suggest talking openly with both new and regular partners about health and safety: use barrier contraception and regularly take tests once a year.

I was told that HIV does not exist. It's true?

People who deny the existence of the HIV virus are called HIV dissidents. Despite scientific research, several generations of HIV tests, and even the fact that there are pictures of the virus, some people are convinced that the drug companies invented the virus for their own financial gain.

The saddest thing about this situation is that people who deny HIV and really have it can refuse treatment and aggravate their situation. Some of the dissidents are sadly dying from the effects of AIDS.

“I don't believe in HIV dissidence. These are common offenders and law enforcement agencies should work with them. The method of intimidation with AIDS mortality statistics has proven to be ineffective. So you need to be able to explain. This is exactly what an AIDS Center doctor should be able to do. The explanation begins at the stage of passing the HIV test, when psycho-social counseling is carried out with the patient. High-quality and competent counseling helps the doctor to achieve successful results in the treatment in the future, and the patient to follow all the recommendations,” concludes Saltanat Berikovna.

Thanks to breakthroughs in HIV drug development, infected people today can enjoy better and longer lives than ever before. In most cases, this disease does not affect the ability of patients to work, study and perform other social functions.

HIV affects millions of people around the planet. They generally live the same life they had before they were diagnosed, although they need constant medication and regular medical check-ups.

HIV patients also need to take extra precautions to stay healthy and prevent the dangerous virus from spreading to others.

In the current article, we will talk about the challenges that HIV-infected people have to deal with, as well as consider methods for overcoming them.

Antiretroviral therapy helps HIV-infected people live healthy lives

Medications and regular medical check-ups are essential components of living with HIV.

HIV treatment is most often successful when patients take an active part in it.

To control HIV, people should take medication every day and follow all the doctor's instructions exactly. They also need to visit the hospital periodically to monitor the progress of the treatment and its effectiveness.

That is, infected people need to constantly remember to take medications and visits to the doctor, as well as monitor symptoms. These tasks are conveniently performed using a calendar or special diaries.

Symptoms of opportunistic infections and cancer

Those HIV-positive people who do not receive the necessary treatment have an increased risk of developing a number of opportunistic infections and some forms of cancer.

Vaccinations and antiretroviral drugs minimize the chances of developing complications. However, people with HIV should monitor their health and be able to recognize the symptoms of cancer and infectious diseases. They should also talk to their doctor about ways to reduce their risk of developing these problems. When opportunistic infections occur, they should be treated with antibiotics, antifungals, and other therapeutic strategies.

Healthy lifestyle

Proper diet and regular physical activity are especially important for people with HIV. A healthy lifestyle supports the immune system and the body's ability to fight infection.

Some of the basic dietary principles that HIV-infected people should follow include the following:

eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains;
including healthy fats in your diet, such as those found in nuts, avocados, and olive oil;
consumption of lean proteins, such as fish, poultry, legumes and tofu;
avoiding processed foods, as well as foods high in sugar and salt.

People who are HIV positive sometimes have trouble eating or absorbing certain foods. This is because HIV drugs can cause stomach upset or infections that cause difficulty swallowing.

People can work closely with a dietitian or physician to avoid gaining or losing weight unintentionally, or to prevent certain nutrient deficiencies.

Regular physical activity is also important. Exercise stimulates immune function, improves appetite and mental health. In addition, an active lifestyle often helps to avoid constipation.

In most cases, HIV patients can play sports in the same way as healthy people, unless a doctor forbids it.

Food hygiene

In the third stage of HIV or AIDS, people are more likely to develop opportunistic diseases because they have a weakened immune system.

Such patients should avoid potential sources of infection, including foods that may contain harmful microorganisms. Diseases that have begun to develop in the digestive system are often difficult to tolerate by people with HIV-positive status. These health problems can cause longer recovery periods, hospitalizations, and even death.

The following tips will help prevent infections:

observe hygiene when storing, consuming and preparing food;
avoid raw meat, seafood, eggs and unpasteurized dairy products;
never drink the river from lakes and rivers;
do not smoke, take drugs or drink alcohol.

In countries with poor hygiene standards, only drink bottled water, avoid using ice, and avoid consuming peeled fruits and vegetables.

Smoking, alcohol, drugs

By quitting smoking and alcohol, you can strengthen the immune system

It is important for people with HIV to maintain their health at the highest possible level, as this can prevent the development of a number of dangerous complications.

To boost your immune system, you can do the following:

stop smoking;
give up alcohol or limit its consumption;
stop taking drugs.

Smoking significantly increases the risk of developing certain forms of cancer, especially lung cancer. In addition, cigarette smoke contributes to other respiratory diseases. However, people with HIV may be more likely to develop these complications.

Studies conducted in 2017 by a group of researchers from African countries showed that a significant proportion of patients with HIV are smokers. And in 2013, American researchers found that such people often consume alcohol. At the same time, scientists noted that regular drinking of alcoholic beverages causes a poor response of the body to treatment and the rapid progression of the virus. Drugs can affect the body in a similar way.

Advice on smoking, alcohol and drug control is available from doctors.

Talking about HIV with others

Support from others makes it easier for people to overcome the challenges that HIV poses to them.

Talking to friends or family members can be helpful in this regard. In addition, you can work with a psychologist or become a member of special support groups.

HIV-positive people do not have to tell friends, acquaintances and colleagues about the disease. However, such a step often brings practical and emotional benefits. It can be of particular benefit in the implementation of labor activities, because infected people often need to leave the workplace.

Sexual partners should be aware of their HIV-positive status. Disclosure of this information gives people with HIV the moral right to have sex and allows partners to make informed choices.

mental health

HIV can increase stress levels, leading to depression and anxiety. Therefore, infected people should protect their emotional health, avoid HIV-related complications, and take steps to increase their life expectancy.

Patients who experience symptoms of depression or anxiety should tell their doctor or mental health professional.

Depression and anxiety respond well to treatment with specific medications and positive lifestyle changes. Relaxation techniques can be practiced to manage stress and emotional disturbances, such as:

alternative medicine techniques - acupuncture, manual therapy or aromatherapy;
art therapy or music therapy;
deep breathing techniques;
doing things you love (hobbies);
meditation or mindfulness;
yoga.

Prevention of HIV transmission

People with HIV should:

use correctly during sexual activity;
do not share needles and other drug-related equipment;
consult a doctor in a timely manner if signs of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are detected.

Pregnant women should take their medicines exactly as directed by their doctor. This should be done throughout the entire period of pregnancy, as well as during childbirth and breastfeeding.

Enough sleep

Reading books and other relaxing activities help people fall asleep faster

A good night's rest is the key to good physical and emotional well-being, as well as strong immune function.

Studies by American scientists have shown that up to 70% of HIV-infected people suffer from sleep problems that can develop under the influence of the following circumstances:

depression or anxiety;
taking drugs to treat HIV;
medical conditions or symptoms associated with HIV;
sleep apnea;
worries about discrimination, relationships, or financial hardship.

For a good rest, you should sleep from 7 to 9 hours daily. To achieve this result, you can follow the following recommendations:

go to bed and wake up at the same hours every day, even on Saturday and Sunday;
unwind before bed by taking a warm bath, reading a book, drinking herbal tea, or listening to music.

People who experience serious sleep disorders should talk to their doctor about the problem. The specialist can correct the list of medication prescriptions or recommend pills for insomnia. In addition, positive lifestyle changes or counseling may help.

Conclusion

Being diagnosed with HIV can be a huge shock, but in fact, people with the condition often manage to live full and long lives with the right treatment.

To feel good, HIV-positive patients should eat a healthy diet, exercise, avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs, manage stress and get enough sleep.

In addition, remember to take your medications, see your doctor regularly, and watch for signs of opportunistic infections.

Infected people should also take steps to prevent transmission of the virus to others and tell sexual partners of their HIV status.

Living with HIV is not an easy psychological challenge, but patients may seek support from friends, family members, doctors and special organizations.

People living in discordant couples where one of the partners has HIV told Snob about their fears, having children and how the virus affected their relationship

Photo: Uwe Krejc/Getty Images

“I thought no one would marry me like that”

Olga, 32 years old

I found out that I have HIV at the age of 21. I was infected by my ex boyfriend. I didn't know he was sick. After parting with him, we met by chance, and he asked with a grin: “How are you?” When I found out about my status, I understood what this question was about. I don't know why he did it, we never saw each other again.

I wanted to die. I thought that life was over, that no one would marry me like that, and I would never have children. The feeling is that you are dirt, an infection and infect everyone around you through a spoon, a plate. Although you know that HIV is not transmitted in everyday life. I moved away from my parents and began to live alone. Even now, nearly 12 years later, I can't tell them about HIV. Only my closest friends know about my status. They perceive me as absolutely normal, without focusing on the disease.

At some point, the realization came that pitying yourself and even dying is as easy as shelling pears, that you need to pull yourself together and live.

I periodically meet people who cannot move independently and take care of themselves, and I am convinced that HIV is not a sentence

I met my future husband three years later. I was very afraid to tell him about HIV, but I told him right away. He was in shock. I thought we would never see each other again, but he stayed. We didn't have an intimate relationship for a long time. He did not like to have sex with a condom, and in my case, without it, nothing. In the end, he accepted this situation, we got married, and we had a healthy son. The child was conceived in the usual way - it was my only unprotected intercourse with my husband. The doctors told him what to do so that he did not get infected. Unfortunately, our marriage soon fell apart. The husband never talked about it, but I think it's because of the restrictions on sex. Without an intimate life, the relationship fell apart.

Now I meet young people, I go on dates. Someone, having learned my HIV status, immediately disappears, while someone continues to communicate. Of course, it's always scary to talk about HIV because you don't know what the reaction will be. But you need to learn to perceive this not as a defeat, because relationships do not add up for many reasons. For example, many men who do not know my status are not ready to accept me with a child. Should I give up my child? No. The problem is not in the child, but in the fact that this particular man is not ready to communicate with a woman who has a child. So this man is not for me. It's the same with HIV.

From time to time I meet people who cannot move independently and take care of themselves, and I am convinced that HIV is not a sentence. We live a normal full-fledged life: we work, love, give birth to healthy children - and this is a great happiness.

“I was a dissident until I got HIV from my husband”

Ekaterina, 42 years old

Shortly before the wedding, my husband and I took tests, and it turned out that he had HIV. He panicked and offered to break up, leaving the final word to me. I somehow calmly accepted this news, I only said that they live normally with HIV - there were already discordant couples among my acquaintances.

It turned out that women lived with HIV-positive men for several years, had unprotected sex and did not become infected. Then I came across dissident forums, and one friend began to convince me that she had lost her child after therapy. In general, for some time I became an HIV dissident. The husband did not say anything about this, but he felt fine and did not take therapy. We didn't protect ourselves. Soon I became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy child. She didn't tell the doctors about her husband's status. She, too, was healthy.

Nurses in the maternity hospital, knowing about my HIV status, were afraid to go into the box to wash the floor

Then I had an unsuccessful second pregnancy, and when I got pregnant for the third time, tests showed that I had HIV. It happened in the third year of our life together. But even after that, I did not want to take therapy, I was looking for workarounds. Soon my condition worsened, and I decided to talk to dissidents who had already given birth. I sent them private messages asking how they were doing. Basically, they didn’t answer me, those who answered, things were not very good. Therefore, in the middle of pregnancy, I decided that I needed to take medication. The child was born healthy. I remember that nurses in the maternity hospital, knowing about my HIV status, were afraid to go into the box to wash the floor.

Now I think that it would be better if I used protection, because my husband, it seems to me, is gnawed by guilt. I also became quite aggressive towards dissidents. There are still couples I know who are as careless as we once were about therapy. I'm trying to convince them.

“My husband’s relatives don’t know about my diagnosis”

Alexandra, 26 years old

I found out that I have HIV in 2009. This was not a shock to me: I had injected drugs for many years and slept with HIV-positive people. I came to the AIDS center to confirm the diagnosis and get registered. By that time, I had already given up drugs.

Once, a security officer called at the door of my apartment, who was questioning the tenants: one of the apartments in our entrance was robbed. So I met my future common-law husband. His colleagues had worked in the department for a long time and knew me from the other side. I think they warned him. But even at the stage of courtship, I told him that I had used drugs before, that I had HIV and hepatitis C. This did not frighten him. The only thing he asked was if I could give birth to healthy children.

We had a great life. Sex - only with a condom. When they decided to have a baby, they calculated ovulation and injected sperm into me with a syringe. I got pregnant, I was prescribed antiretroviral therapy, the viral load dropped to zero and we stopped using protection. We had a healthy daughter, now she is almost five years old.

After a couple of years, our relationship has become obsolete. I thought that no one, except for my husband, needed such cholera. But, when I liked another man and I told him who I am and what I am, he was not afraid, he said that everything was fine. Then I realized that my fears are just prejudices. And she left her husband. True, we did not live long with a new friend: in fact, I did not leave him, but from my first husband.

My husband and I live in the same house with his brother and daughter-in-law. Recently, they showed a program about HIV on TV - so they shouted with one voice that all those infected should be sent to the forest, over the fence

Now I have been living with another man for three years. I immediately warned him that I had HIV. He is also a former drug addict, but he only has hepatitis. I cured my hepatitis C, I am taking therapy, the viral load is zero - I am not contagious. I'm more afraid of getting hepatitis C back from him - the treatment was difficult.

My husband and I live in the same house with his brother and daughter-in-law. Recently, a program about HIV was shown on TV - they shouted with one voice that all those infected should be sent to the forest, over the fence. It's better for them not to know about my diagnosis.

In general, I am no stranger to discrimination. Once in dentistry, the doctor wrote on the cover of the card in large letters "HIV, hepatitis." I went to swear, threatened the Malakhovs and Solovyovs - in the best traditions - and they changed my card. In another dentistry, I decided not to say anything about my HIV status, but foolishly got burned when I answered the question of what medications I take. The dentist bulged her eyes, said that everything was fine with my teeth, and sent me out. I had to go to another doctor to get my teeth fixed.

Once I came to the antenatal clinic, brought booklets from the women's help center, told the nurse that I was an equal consultant at the center and that if there are girls with HIV, send them to us. The head nurse, apparently, did not know who the “equals” were, and began to yell: “Daughter, it’s better to go to work in the salon, and let these scum die! I have a box of cards over there, let me turn away, and you rewrite the addresses and bring your junk to them yourself. I silently went to the manager, she was just being nominated as a deputy - they immediately allocated me a stand and took booklets.

“I was afraid that my husband might die early because of HIV”

Roxana, 33 years old

We met in a group of anonymous co-dependents. We saw each other a couple of times, he interested me. Then we met by chance in the subway: it turned out we live in the same area. While driving, we started talking and from that day on we began to communicate more often. Well, we kind of got into a relationship. He invited me on a date, and then admitted that he had HIV - he contracted it while using drugs. I reacted calmly to this, as I knew that nothing threatened me if the virus was controlled and precautions were taken. After some time we decided to get married. Mom found out about the HIV status of my future husband and tried to warn me, but I explained that I was not in danger. I was not afraid of getting infected, but I took tests every six months. There was a little fear that he might die early, but I knew many cases where people with HIV lived a long time. Faith in the best dispelled fears.

After six months of marriage, when her husband's viral load was not stable, we began to practice unprotected sex. It was our conscious choice. True, at first my husband tried to dissuade me, because he was afraid for my health. Then we decided to have a baby. Pregnancy was planned in advance, passed all the tests, consulted with doctors. As a result, a healthy girl was born to us. Mom had to lie that we were protected, and the child was conceived with the help of artificial insemination, cleansing the sperm. So she was calmer.

My husband and I lived together for nine years, then divorced: the feelings were gone. He did not have a permanent job, and I, on the contrary, had a career growth. When we first started living together, we wrote down wishes for each year: travel, important purchases, personal achievements. Nothing came true. Everything had to be planned by myself. I didn’t have enough determination and action in my husband, but HIV has nothing to do with it, it’s generally a problem for Russian men.

At the moment when a person learns about a positive HIV status, the colors of life fade. But there are ways to improve living with HIV. What can be done to prevent HIV from becoming a death sentence?

To live safely and happily with HIV, you need to know how to help yourself and not harm others. Today, HIV infection is incurable, but this is not a sentence that is carried out immediately. In Russia, the average life expectancy is 70 years. People with HIV live to an average of 63 years, and this figure is constantly growing. If you follow the recommendations of the doctor and fight for the future, it will certainly be happy. Every day you win gives you hope. Every year there are new drugs that allow to achieve a positive therapeutic effect.

There is a lot of prejudice about the immunodeficiency virus. There are still people who believe that life with AIDS is short and painful. Due to the lack of information, social death sometimes occurs earlier than biological. Explanatory work in the media helps to realize that HIV-infected people live in society without posing a danger to others.

The disease is not transmitted by household means. There are no contraindications to be in the same room with a carrier of the virus, eat from common dishes and stay healthy.

When an HIV infection is detected, a person has the right not to disclose his status. He is obliged to do everything possible to prevent infecting other people. It is necessary to warn those who live nearby to follow simple rules for preventing infection.

Important task: to achieve the realization that the patient is not always an asocial person. Society should not condemn, but support HIV-infected people. The need to hide the disease will disappear only in this case.

A positive HIV status is not a reason to withdraw into oneself and lead the life of a hermit. Carriers of the virus can create families and have children. Modern techniques allow minimizing the risk of infection of the child from the parents. A man, aware of his status, donates sperm for special processing. As a result of artificial insemination, a healthy baby is born. Women who are registered during pregnancy undergo a routine blood test. If the expectant mother is HIV-positive, from the 2nd trimester they start taking drugs that prevent the transmission of the disease in a vertical way (from mother to child). With the timely start of treatment in 75% of the newborn is born with a negative HIV status.

Need to start healing

After infection with the immunodeficiency virus, you need to tune in to the fight and arm yourself with information. Faith in the victory over the disease will help to live on. If you can’t get yourself together and act, you should seek help from professionals. A separate direction in psychiatry is to protect the rights of the patient. Specialists provide psychological support, convince - you need to live on. They explain how to behave properly with loved ones.

A positive attitude is very important, but medical help is indispensable. Having discovered the symptoms of HIV, a person should immediately consult a doctor. He will give a direction for the necessary tests and advise when they can be taken.

Warning signs that require attention:

weight loss;
fever;
constant weakness;
headaches;
inflammation of the lymph nodes;
skin rashes;
thrush;
mouth ulcers.

The first stage of the disease most often occurs without clinical symptoms. The first signs sometimes appear after 5 to 10 years. If there was a threat of infection, you should consult a doctor without waiting for the onset of symptoms.

If HIV infection is detected, antiretroviral therapy (ARVT) is prescribed. Preparations of this group are used in a complex, 3-4 at a time. The amount is due to the fact that the virus adapts to the drug over time. When one ceases to act, the other continues to prevent the reproduction of viral cells.

With the development of HIV infection, a gradual suppression of the immune system occurs. Prescribed vitamins and nutritional supplements help maintain immunity. It is impossible to completely cure HIV infection, but successful therapy can reduce the viral load to an undetectable value (less than 50 cells per 1 ml of blood).

Information helps in the fight against HIV. Today, lessons on the topic: "Beware of AIDS!" carried out in schools and kindergartens. Posters are placed in universities and enterprises, in offices and clinics, listing the ways of infection and methods of protection.

The main objectives of outreach activities:

Ending illiteracy is the first step in HIV treatment and prevention. There are fewer and fewer attempts to escape from the problem by avoiding a medical examination. Infected people understand that by starting treatment on time, you can live for many years without denying yourself the majority of human joys. The earlier the disease is detected and the list of control measures is determined, the higher the chances of success.
The second area of explanatory work is the integration of HIV-positive people into society. Rehabilitation of HIV patients in society allows them to live without isolating themselves from others. Carriers of the infection benefit others, build a career, and engage in creativity.

How life and behavior change

Life with HIV is no less long and full of impressions, but still different from the life of a healthy person. Medical support of the patient plays a significant role in the fight against the disease. But antiretroviral therapy will not succeed without the patient's desire for healing.

Only adherence to treatment allows you to live long and brightly. It involves the implementation of measures aimed at maintaining and strengthening health:

Strict adherence to the doctor's recommendations for taking medications.

Quitting alcohol, drugs, and other habits that destroy the immune system. When an HIV infection is detected, there is often a desire to escape from reality, to forget. Such behavior is the path leading to a quick end.

To live long, you need to take good care of your health. No need to panic, you just need to adhere to the general rules of conduct for all. Do not visit public places during epidemics, dress according to the weather, observe sleep and wakefulness. Pay attention to all the signals of the body and immediately inform your doctor about the ailment.

Moderate physical activity. HIV and sports are quite compatible. It is recommended to avoid traumatic sports where contact between the blood of a sick person and a healthy person (boxing) is possible. Regular jogging, swimming pool, yoga classes will benefit. Physical activity helps to strengthen the body, relieves stress. Exercising is good for keeping a positive attitude. During physical activity, the hormones of joy - endorphins - are released.

Proper nutrition. Fast food and excess sugar have a devastating effect on health. Instead of fighting infections, the body is forced to spend energy on neutralizing the toxins found in snacks and sweets. With the help of healthy food, you can have a beneficial effect on the immune system. Eating well is just as important as taking medication. Every day you need to eat 400 g of fruits, fresh vegetables - unlimited. It is recommended to include fish, seeds, nuts, vegetable oils, cereals and legumes in the diet. You should drink 1.5 - 2 liters of clean water per day.

The news of the disease is not a reason to give up and wait for death. The patient should reconsider habits, learn to value time and live, enjoying every day. A carrier of HIV should not deprive himself of the opportunity to live a long, colorful life. It is necessary to take medications, lead a healthy lifestyle and maintain faith in success.

HIV positive people are living longer and longer. Already today there is strong hope that many people living with HIV will live as long as those who do not have HIV.

Research shows that a person living with HIV has the same life expectancy as an HIV-negative person—provided they are diagnosed promptly, have good access to health care, and adhere strictly to their doctor's prescribed HIV treatment regimen.

A number of factors can affect the life expectancy of people living with HIV, each of these factors affecting the lives and health of individuals in different ways.

Starting HIV treatment as early as possible after infection, before the number drops to a low level. The sooner a doctor diagnoses and starts treatment for HIV infection, the better the patient's long-term health will be.
Having a serious illness in the past associated with HIV. They may have occurred before HIV was diagnosed and/or before HIV treatment was started. These diseases negatively affect life expectancy.
Results of HIV treatment after a year. Studies show that life expectancy is higher for people who respond well to therapy within a year of starting therapy than for people who do not. In particular, people whose CD4 count reaches at least 350 cells/ml and who have no detectable viral load for a year have very good long-term prospects.
Year of diagnosis. HIV treatment and medical care has improved over the years. People who have been diagnosed in recent years are expected to have a longer life expectancy than people who were diagnosed a long time ago.
Concomitant diseases such as heart disease, liver disease, and cancer. They are more likely to cause death than HIV.
Injection drug use. Life expectancy for people with HIV who inject drugs is shorter due to drug overdose and bacterial infections. Injecting drug users are at a disadvantage both in terms of HIV-related and non-HIV related illnesses. Poor adherence and hepatitis C co-infection were the strongest factors. In general, life expectancy of injecting drug users 20 years less than all other groups of HIV-infected.
Access to effective HIV treatment and high quality medical care.
CD4 count at the start of treatment remains one of the strongest predictors of life expectancy. If treatment is started late, untimely, when the CD4 count is below 200 cells / ml, then a person could already lose as much as 15 years of life.
Smoking. Smokers with HIV lose more years of life to smoking than to HIV. In fact, the risk of death from smoking is twice as high among smokers with HIV and can reduce a person's life expectancy by up to 12 years regardless of HIV.
Race and longevity are inextricably linked to HIV. African Americans with HIV live an average of 8.5 years less than their white counterparts, according to a Bloomberg Public School of Health study.

It is also important to consider the factors that affect the life expectancy of each person, whether they have HIV or not.

Socio-economic conditions. There are important differences in life expectancy depending on where a person grew up, their income, education, social status, and so on. A 2017 study in the journal HIV MedicineTrusted Source shows that a person with HIV living in a high-income country would have 43.3 years added to life expectancy if diagnosed at age 20.
Floor. Women generally live longer than men.
Lifestyle. Life expectancy is longer for people who eat a balanced diet, are physically active, maintain a normal weight, avoid excessive alcohol or drug use, and maintain social connections. Smoking cessation is especially important for longevity.

Let not the hand of the giver fail

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How is life expectancy calculated?

Life expectancy is the average number of years a person can live.

More precisely, this is the average number of years that a person living at a given age should live, taking into account current mortality rates. This is an estimate that is calculated for a certain group of people, taking into account the current situation and predicting it for the future.

However, HIV is a relatively new disease and HIV treatment is a rapidly changing, dynamic area of medicine. Therefore, it is difficult to know whether the current experience will be an accurate guide to the future.

There are now a large number of people living with HIV: they are in their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties and sixties. Current mortality rates are very low, leading to encouraging figures for future life expectancy. But we have very little experience with people living with HIV in their 70s and 80s, so we know little about the impact HIV can have in their later lives.

In addition, it is likely that the quality of care for people with HIV will improve in the future. Those who are HIV positive will benefit more from improved HIV drugs that have fewer side effects, are easier to take, and are more effective at suppressing HIV.

These drugs help lower the level of HIV in the blood and slow down the damage caused by the infection, which helps prevent the HIV infection from passing to.

In the 1980s and 1990s, antiretroviral therapy began as a monotherapy, then it was replaced by dual therapy. Now there is a combined one, which includes the use of three or more drugs.

After being diagnosed with AIDS, people who are not treated usually survive. within 3 years. If a person who is not receiving treatment for AIDS, is also developing opportunistic disease, life expectancy decreases up to 1 year.

Conclusion

With the right treatment and care, most people living with HIV will have a more or less normal life expectancy.

In fact, the most important causes of death in people living with HIV are now very similar to those in the general population: heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, depression and cancer.

A wide range of factors influence the risk of shortening life. Some of them are factors that cannot be changed, such as age, hereditary diseases, or the presence of HIV.

Other risk factors can be changed, such as increasing life expectancy by not smoking, being physically active, eating a balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding excessive alcohol or drug use, and maintaining close social bonds.

Used sources

Friedman, S.; Cooper, H.; and Osborne, A. Structural and Social Contexts of HIV Risk Among African Americans. American Journal of Public Health. 2009;99(6):1002-8. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2008.140327.
Hasse, B.; Ledergerber, B.; Furrer, H.; et al. Morbidity and Aging in HIV-Infected Persons: The Swiss HIV Cohort Study. 2011;53(11):1130-39. DOI: 10.1093/cid/cir626.
Helleberg, M.; Afzal, S; Kronborg, G. et al. Mortality attributable to smoking among HIV-1-infected individuals: a nationwide, population-based cohort study. Clinical Infectious Diseases. March 2013; 56(5):727-34. DOI: 10.1093/cid/cis933.
Hogg, R.; Althoff, K.; Samji, H. et al. Increases in life expectancy among treated HIV-positive individuals in the United States and Canada, 2000-2007. 7th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. June 30-July 3, 2013; abstract TUPE260.
Murray, M.; Hogg, R.; Lima, V.; et al. The Effect of Injecting Drug Use History on Disease Progression and Death Among HIV-positive Individuals Initiating Combination Antiretroviral Therapy. HIV medicine. February 2012; 13(2):89-97. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1293.2011.00940.x.