HIV Patients Can Live a Normal Life, Myth or Fact?

KOMPAS.com – Stigma in affected people HIV is a short life span and no hope of recovery. In fact, people with HIV positive can live a normal life with a high life expectancy.

Research to develop various treatments for HIV has grown rapidly since 1996 and continues to this day. In 1996, the life expectancy for HIV patients was only 39 years. However, in 2011, his life expectancy increased to 70 years.

Currently, there is no drug that really cures HIV patients. However, the presence of medicine ARV or anti-retroviral is a hope for HIV patients.

By taking ARVs regularly, HIV patients can suppress their viral load in the blood so they don’t show any symptoms. Even patients with low viral loads are at low risk of transmitting HIV to their partners and being able to have children as normal.

In addition, ARVs help HIV patients to control their disease and prevent the disease from progressing to phase 3 of HIV, namely AIDS.

How to live healthy with HIV

HIV patients need to maintain a healthy lifestyle and still have a high life expectancy. Reported from WebMDthe following is a healthy way of life for HIV patients:

• Take ARV drugs regularly, immediately after being diagnosed
• Routine vaccines. People with HIV should routinely get vaccinated to protect their bodies from various potential opportunistic infections that may strike in the future.
• Healthy eating pattern
• Regular exercise and active movement
• Enough rest
• Maintain mental health
• Maintain dental and oral health because the mouth can be an entry point for infection
• Quit smoking, because HIV patients are at high risk for oral cancer and smoking increases the risk for oral cancer
• Stop consuming alcohol and illegal drugs

Read also: 3 Stages of Development of HIV Infection to AIDS

Those are the facts and ways for HIV patients to live a normal life with a high life expectancy. The view that being diagnosed with HIV is the end of everything is no longer valid today because of the development of HIV treatment technology that continues to develop. Consult a doctor to confirm the condition and treatment

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