There are a lot of reasons people are
thinking positively about HIV treatment.
LIVING WITH HIV HAS CHANGED
Before the development of HIV treatments, HIV could lead to AIDS in just a few years—shortening the lives of everyone with the virus. But with early diagnosis and treatment, people with HIV are now living nearly as long as those without HIV.
The way people live with HIV has changed, too. There are lots of places to find support. There’s so much information available. And there are more treatment options available than ever.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
i
About 1 million adults were estimated to be living with HIV in the U.S. by the end of 2016.
An estimated
1 in 7 of these adults
There were almost 39,000 people with new HIV diagnoses in 2017.
[+]
Less than 40% of Americans have had an HIV test.
HIV & Your Body
Your body has cells called CD4+ T-cells.
CD4+ T-cells are white blood cells that help keep your immune system strong so you can fight infections.
HIV ENTERS AND KILLS CD4+ T-CELLS; WITHOUT TREATMENT, HIV CONTINUES TO ENTER AND KILL MORE AND MORE OF THESE IMPORTANT CELLS.
That means you have fewer CD4+ T-cells to help keep you healthy, and more HIV virus.
THE AMOUNT OF HIV VIRUS IN YOUR BLOOD IS CALLED VIRAL LOAD.
You want your viral load to be as low as possible.
If your viral load is really low, it may be “undetectable.”*
Being “undetectable” means you have very little HIV virus in your blood. But “undetectable” doesn't mean cured—you still need to keep taking your medicine, go for regular visits with your healthcare provider, and follow safe-sex practices and avoid needle sharing.
*An undetectable viral load generally means there are less than 50 copies of HIV-1 RNA per milliliter of blood.
WITH PROPER HIV TREATMENT, WORKING WITH A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, AND TAKING HIV MEDICINES EXACTLY AS PRESCRIBED, MOST PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR VIRAL LOAD TO BE UNDETECTABLE.
Know your numbers
Your CD4+ T-cell count and viral load can go up and down, so your healthcare provider needs to keep watching them by doing lab tests—usually once every 3 to 6 months during the first 2 years of starting medication. If your viral load becomes undetectable, and stays that way, your provider may start to measure these less often.
Source: US National Institutes of Health. http://aidsinfo.nih.gov.
That’s why it’s so important to go to your regular appointments with your healthcare provider.
Your body has cells called CD4+ T-cells.
CD4+ T-cells are white blood cells that help keep your immune system strong so you can fight infections.
HIV ENTERS AND KILLS CD4+ T-CELLS; WITHOUT TREATMENT, HIV CONTINUES TO ENTER AND KILL MORE AND MORE OF THESE IMPORTANT CELLS.
That means you have fewer CD4+ T-cells to help keep you healthy, and more HIV virus.
THE AMOUNT OF HIV VIRUS IN YOUR BLOOD IS CALLED VIRAL LOAD.
You want your viral load to be as low as possible.
If your viral load is really low, it may be “undetectable.”*
Being “undetectable” means you have very little HIV virus in your blood. But “undetectable” doesn't mean cured—you still need to keep taking your medicine, go for regular visits with your healthcare provider, and follow safe-sex practices and avoid needle sharing.
*An undetectable viral load generally means there are less than 50 copies of HIV-1 RNA per milliliter of blood.
WITH PROPER HIV TREATMENT, WORKING WITH A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER, AND TAKING HIV MEDICINES EXACTLY AS PRESCRIBED, MOST PEOPLE CAN GET THEIR VIRAL LOAD TO BE UNDETECTABLE.
Know your numbers
Your CD4+ T-cell count and viral load can go up and down, so your healthcare provider needs to keep watching them by doing lab tests—usually once every 3 to 6 months during the first 2 years of starting medication. If your viral load becomes undetectable, and stays that way, your provider may start to measure these less often.
That’s why it’s so important to go to your regular appointments with your healthcare provider.
Source: US National Institutes of Health. http://aidsinfo.nih.gov.
That’s why it’s so important to go to your regular appointments with your healthcare provider.
COMMON LAB TESTS
Along with getting tested for HIV, your healthcare provider may suggest a number of other common tests to help create a plan for your overall health.
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COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT
Can reveal blood disorders such as anemia (low red blood cell count) or low platelet count and some infections
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BLOOD CHEMISTRY PANEL
Helps see how well some organs, such as your liver or kidneys, are working
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URINALYSIS
Can detect diabetes, urinary tract infections, and other conditions
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FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE
To diagnose or monitor diabetes
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LIPID PANEL
Measures cholesterol and other risks for heart disease
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HEPATITIS A, B & C
Tests for hepatitis, which can affect your liver and complicate HIV treatment
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STI Screening
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can make your HIV get worse faster if they’re not treated
Find HIV resources in your area.
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