An HIV diagnosis is life-changing, but it doesn’t mean you can’t live a happy and full life.
In the field of HIV care, incredible progress has been made over the last four decades. We are now in an era where most people diagnosed with HIV who are treated effectively with antiretroviral therapy can expect to live a long and healthy life similar to that of the general population.[3]
HOW CAN I LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE WITH HIV?
The things you need to do to achieve a healthy life will be unique to you because everybody living with HIV is different. If you’re newly diagnosed or have been diagnosed for years, make sure to regularly check in with your doctor or HIV Support Team.
Feel confident and prepared – get your Conversation Guide today
MENTAL HEALTH & HIV
If there’s one topic that’s almost as difficult to discuss as HIV, it’s mental health. Yet, looking after your emotional wellbeing is just as important for your overall health as taking your medication on time.
If you are struggling right now, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Whether it’s the shock of diagnosis, keeping your status a secret, negotiating sex and relationships, dealing with rejection by friends and family, stigma, isolation or even side effects from medications – it can all impact your emotional well-being.[18-20]
If you are experiencing any challenges living with HIV, it’s important that you tell your doctor. That’s the only way they can help you.
THINKING ABOUT YOUR LONG-TERM HEALTH
Thanks to advances in HIV treatment and care, having a long, healthy life is an achievable
goal for most people living with HIV today. [1]
However, as HIV life expectancy continues to increase, our health priorities and treatment
needs may change.
Starting the conversation about your future health now and planning ahead with your healthcare team can help you make sure that as you grow older, you aren’t just living well with HIV, you’re thriving.
To ensure you remain as healthy as possible when living with HIV, it’s important to think long-term about your health – and there’s no better time to start than now.
HIV is a lifelong condition and people living with HIV can look forward to just that: a long life. [1] Whether you were born with the condition or you were diagnosed in your 50s, you can expect a happy and healthy life. In fact, as long as you are diagnosed in good time, continue to take your treatment as prescribed, and look after yourself, the life expectancy for someone living with HIV is the same as for everyone else. [2]
It’s natural to have concerns about how treatments may impact the future of your health when you live with a long-term condition like HIV.
In fact, the Positive Perspectives study found that 68% of people were worried about the long-term effects of HIV medicines. [21]
Regular conversations with your doctor and connecting with HIV support groups can help to ease your concerns. Understanding your treatment options can also help you make more informed decisions about your HIV treatment and care.
Get the right treatment for you
HOW YOUR HIV TREATMENT WORKS
Understanding how your HIV treatment works to manage your condition and help you stay undetectable can enable you to make more informed decisions about your care.
When it comes to HIV treatment options, there are many choices available. Your doctor will work with you to ensure you're always taking the best HIV treatment for you.
[5]
HIV treatment could help you to achieve undetectable viral levels, a scientifically sound concept known as U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable). When the virus is undetectable in your blood, it cannot be transmitted to sexual partners.[6]
[7] Many people living with HIV who are undetectable still report lots of other treatment side effects which may happen over time such as fatigue, insomnia, sadness, sexual dysfunction and changes to their appearance.[8]
To reduce the severity and frequency of side effects
To reduce the number of medicines they take
To reduce the number of pills they takeWhatever the reason for switching, finding a better option begins with you communicating your treatment concerns and aspirations to your healthcare team, then working together to find the right fit for you: [8,9]
*Total number of participants is 2,112 as the figures were calculated before the inclusion of additional data from Russia and South Africa.
Your HIV treatment should fit around you and your lifestyle, not the other way round. If at any time you feel your treatment is affecting your quality of life, it’s important to let your HIV Support Team know.
Finding an HIV treatment that is right for you could make a big difference to your adherence, health and emotional well-being.
Undetectable = Untransmittable
- There is a moderate risk of transmitting the virus.
- There is a low risk of transmitting the virus.
- There is zero risk of transmitting the virus.
- The risk of transmitting the virus is unknown.
What does a suppressed viral load imply in terms of HIV transmission through sexual contact?
Tap to choose your answer and find out if you're right!
Make healthy choices
What does “healthy” mean to you?
There was a time when HIV care focused solely on suppressing the virus. As HIV care has evolved, ensuring a good quality of life for people living with HIV is now just as important as effective HIV treatment and care.
A good place to start is to think about how HIV impacts your life now, how you feel about yourself and your future. The next step is to chat about it with your doctor and HIV Support Team and together set some goals to help you get where you want to be.
THRIVING WITH HIV BEYOND 50
It is currently estimated that around 25% of people living with HIV globally are aged 50 and over, and this number is increasing.[22]
As a natural part of growing older, people living with HIV often have to manage other health conditions along with HIV – but that shouldn’t impact what you can do or how you feel.[23]
There are lots of ways you can ensure you age well with HIV. From staying social to partnering with your HIV Support Team to manage multiple medications, here are some top tips for staying healthy in mind and body in your fifties and beyond.
Looking after yourself as you age with HIV
Read these top tips from people living with HIV to help keep your body, mind and soul in great condition.
We know that you could have been living with HIV for 25 years or more and today be any age (including 25!), so whilst these tips were written for older members of the community, they are a great starting point for anyone living with HIV.
Stay active
There are lots of physical and mental health benefits to exercise including preventing age-related conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. "A little bit, often" is a good approach.[24]
Ideally, try to commit to 150-300 minutes of physical activity that significantly raises your heart and breathing rate a week.[24] The effort is always worth it.
Know your body
By talking to your HIV Support Team about what you're experiencing, you can find the cause of these changes together.
Don't ignore it
Speaking to your doctor as soon as you notice a difference can help catch any potential issues quickly, so you can stay in control.[21]
Be kind to yourself
Whether you were diagnosed 30 days ago or 30 years ago, saying "I'm HIV positive" can be very difficult. Having a positive attitude towards your status and yourself can be a big help for your mental well-being.[23]
Stigma can hurt
Even though HIV has been around for decades, it still carries an unfair and unrealistic stigma. Dealing with this stigma, as well as everything else, can come at a cost to your emotional health.[26] What's important to remember is that stigma is based on fear, not fact. Your life with HIV can be, and is, a beautiful one.
Surround yourself with loved ones
The positive strength of friends and family who truly support you can empower you through every stage your HIV journey. Being surrounded by people who have educated themselves about HIV and with whom you can speak freely about your experiences can be great for your emotional well-being.[23]
Chat with an expert
As with any health-related issue, talking with an expert - doctor, nurse, counsellor - is a wise decision. Many people also find that meeting with a HIV peer mentor is very useful.[23]
Your experience is valuable
No matter when you were diagnosed, remember how much you have to offer. Your wealth of experience could help inspire future treatment innovations or help other people living with HIV. Why not think about becoming an HIV advocate or peer mentor?
Full of spirit
Living with HIV isn't always easy, but people living with HIV have built the resilience to overcome anything. Despite the hardships, we look to the future with hope, turning challenges into solutions and raising the voice of the community together.
Keep yourself busy
Whatever your history or age, research shows that maintaining 'meaningful occupation' and staying involved in society is hugely beneficial for a healthy body and mind.[27] This could be anything from running a business to collecting stamps!
Be productive
Being HIV positive can actually open more doors for being productive. For example, you could volunteer for a local HIV organisation. Your experiences and advice could benefit others going through the very same challenges as you.
Managing HIV alongside other health conditions
[28-30] Living with a chronic condition like HIV, also increases the risk of developing other health conditions and certain cancers.[28,29]
This means they are more likely to have to take additional medications along with their HIV therapy (polypharmacy).
If you have any concerns about your future health, talk to your your doctor and HIV Support Team.
Make healthy choices
Thriving with HIV involves more than just physical health. It also includes emotional and mental well-being as well as the pursuit of personal goals and aspirations.
One aspect that may support you to thrive, is having informative conversations with your doctor and HIV Support Team regarding decisions around your healthcare and individual needs.
Each person’s unique circumstances must remain at the centre of all conversations about their care.
Because with the right care,
we can all hope to thrive.
STARTING A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR DOCTOR OR HIV SUPPORT TEAM
Starting a conversation with your doctor may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.
Being involved in decisions about your care can bring lots of benefits.
Our conversation guide will help support you to feel better prepared to speak to your doctor and HIV Support Team and be fully equipped to make informed choices about your care.
Complete the conversation guide below. It can be downloaded or saved on a mobile device or printed to share with your doctor or HIV Support Team.
Conversation Guide
SETTING GOALS WITH YOUR HIV SUPPORT TEAM
As a member of your HIV Support Team, your doctor’s first priority is to make sure your HIV treatment is a good fit for you and your lifestyle. However, living a healthy and happy life with HIV is about a lot more than just medication. Your time with your HIV Support Team is an opportunity to chat about your health goals, so together you can set the wheels in motion to help you achieve the quality of life you want.[38]
By communicating your needs, goals and preferences to your HIV Support Team, you can work together to ensure you feel empowered in your care.
Having a goal to work towards is a good way to keep your HIV health moving in the right direction and make managing your HIV condition a little easier. It doesn’t matter if your goals are big or small, simply having one can help.
Remember, your HIV treatment is there to keep you healthy. If you find taking your medication is impacting your life by stopping you doing the things you want to do, it’s important to let your doctor know so together you can find a treatment that works better for you.
As the main goal of HIV treatment, achieving and maintaining an undetectable viral load is a great start.
However, what else would you like to achieve for a good quality of life with HIV?
Click on each box for examples.
Health goals go beyond treatment
Living a healthy life with HIV is about more than just treatment, your health goals are equally important. From dealing with stress better to looking for love, any goal that’s important to you, your health or your wellbeing is worth sharing.
Talking about your goals and ambitions with your HIV Support Team will mean you’ll have their support and encouragement to help you achieve them.
Health goals go beyond treatment
Living a healthy life with HIV is about more than just treatment, your health goals are equally important. From dealing with stress better to looking for love, any goal that’s important to you, your health or your wellbeing is worth sharing.
Talking about your goals and ambitions with your HIV Support Team will mean you’ll have their support and encouragement to help you achieve them.
Here are some examples of health goals that go beyond HIV care and treatment:
Click on each box for examples.
