What Should I Do To Stay Healthy?
The first step in staying healthy is to find a physician who is experienced in treating HIV. Look for a doctor who is not only current on all available therapies but is receptive to input from you as well. Having a say in your own care is one of the most important aspects of staying healthy. In addition, exercise, a good diet, and reducing risk behaviors will optimize your ability to live a healthy, productive life.
How Do I Know if I'm Winning the Fight?
In order to monitor you HIV disease and the health of your immune system your HIV specialist will draw blood tests after each visit. The two most important tests include:- A CD4 or T-Cell Count - The higher the CD4 count, the stronger your immune system. If the CD4 count drops below a certain level, a person is said to have AIDS.
- Viral Load - This is a direct measurement of the amount of virus in your blood. A lower viral load indicates less viral replication, which means less damage to the immune system.
What are Opportunistic Infections?
These are infections that take advantage of the body when the immune system has been damaged or weakened by HIV. Medications are available to help reduce the risk of acquiring opportunistic infections. As the immune system weakens, your risk of becoming sick from an opportunistic infection increases.A List of Opportunistic Infections
HIV can be managed and a person can live a healthy life if they have the right information. Ask questions, learn all that you can learn about the virus, if you are on medications take them as prescribed and most importantly enjoy life.
