Over 1 million people 13 years and older are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the United States, and people of color are disproportionately impacted.
HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If left untreated, HIV can lead to late-stage infection known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Advances in HIV treatment have allowed those living with HIV to help manage the disease, however HIV remains a major public health challenge.
It is possible to live a long, healthy life despite your HIV status. You can live more positively with HIV by understanding the condition, managing your health, and prioritizing your mental well-being.
Addressing the Myths
There are many misconceptions about living with HIV.
Myth: An HIV diagnosis is a death sentence.
Myth: People living with HIV can’t have children.
Truth: HIV-positive individuals can have HIV-negative children. When HIV medication is taken as prescribed, the amount or virus in the body (otherwise known as the viral load) can be reduced to very low levels. When virus levels are low, so is the risk of virus transmission during pregnancy and childbirth.
Myth: You can’t live a fulfilling life with HIV.
Truth: It is possible to live a fulfilling life with HIV with the proper treatment plan and support.
Living Well with HIV
Tips for living with HIV:
- Take HIV medication as prescribed
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle that supports healthy eating, exercising, and avoiding harmful substances
- Commit to regular check ups and lab monitoring
- Seek support for mental and emotional health when needed
- Help protect yourself and others by practicing safer sexual activities and avoiding activities with a high risk of HIV transmission
- Prioritize community involvement and advocating for others living with HIV
Fostering Acceptance and Understanding
Living with HIV carries not only physical challenges but also the weight of social challenges. HIV stigma describes the negative attitudes or judgements towards people living with HIV. It can significantly affect an individual’s mental and emotional well-being, leading to isolation, shame, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
Reducing negativity by fostering acceptance and understanding is one way to improve the quality of life
Creating safe spaces where people living with HIV can share their experiences without fear of judgment promotes mental health and community support.
Living Positively
Ultimately, living positively with HIV means embracing a lifestyle committed to your own personal health and well-being. This includes advocating for yourself and others, dismantling misconceptions, and helping reduce stigma associated with HIV. With the right resources, support, and mindset, individuals with HIV can not only help manage their condition but also live healthy, meaningful lives. Living positively can include understanding all aspects of
HIV prevention, testing and treatment options. A clinical trial is one option in the journey of understanding.
By joining a clinical trial or learning more about how you can participate, you can play a crucial role in advancing HIV research and helping to ensure that new treatments are safe and effective. Visit here to learn more about how you can get involved and make a difference in the fight against HIV.
References
Minority HIV/AIDS Fund. U.S. Statistics.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV Treatment as Prevention.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Narrowing the Gap in Life Expectancy Between HIV-Infected and HIV-Uninfected Individuals With Access to Care.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vital Signs: HIV Diagnosis, Care, and Treatment Among Persons Living with HIV — United States, 2011
