Increased awareness of safe practices to prevent HIV infection results
in people being more careful and ultimately decreases infection rates. HIV/AIDS Awareness programmes help people become aware of the levels of care and treatment, whether they are living with HIV or caring for someone with this disease.
What does HIV awareness mean?
HIV (
human immunodeficiency virus
) is a virus that attacks the body's immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Learning the basics about HIV can keep you healthy and prevent HIV transmission.
How long can you stay undetectable?
A person's viral load is considered “durably undetectable” when all viral load test results are undetectable for at
least six months after
their first undetectable test result. This means that most people will need to be on treatment for 7 to 12 months to have a durably undetectable viral load.
CDC Agrees That Person with
Undetectable HIV Cannot Transmit the Virus
. The agency has adopted the widely accepted position that an HIV-positive person with an undetectable viral load cannot pass the virus through unprotected sex. If you can't detect it, you can't transmit it.
Why is it important to disclose your HIV status?
As HIV becomes more of a chronic disease and PLWHA live longer, disclosure of HIV status is encouraged as
a way to reduce sexual risk behavior and transmission of the virus
, decrease stigma associated with HIV, and increase access to support and care.
What is the normal CD4 count for a healthy person?
A CD4 count is typically reported as a count of cells (expressed as cells per cubic millimeter of blood). Sometimes results are expressed as a percent of total lymphocytes (CD4 percent). A normal CD4 count ranges from
500–1,200 cells/mm
3
in adults and teens.
A viral load
that can't be detected — less than
20 copies — is always the goal of HIV treatment. This doesn't mean you're cured. Unfortunately, the virus is still able to survive in various cells in the body. But maintaining an undetectable viral load is compatible with a normal, or near-normal life span.
Viral load
is the term used to describe the amount of HIV in your blood. … For example, a
viral load
of 10,000 would be considered low; 100,000 would be considered high.
Viral load
changes can be very large, so they are sometimes quantified using the powers of ten, or ‘log scale'.
What are signs of low CD4 count?
Symptoms may include
fever, cough, difficulty breathing, weight loss, night sweats and fatigue
. It is most likely to occur when the CD4+ T cell count falls below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood.
How can I increase my CD4 naturally?
- Vitamin A and beta-carotene: dark green, yellow, orange, or red vegetables and fruit; liver; whole eggs; milk.
- B vitamins: meat, fish, chicken, grains, nuts, white beans, avocados, broccoli, and green leafy vegetables.
What is the lowest CD4 count?
The CD4 cell count of a person who does not have HIV can be anything between 500 and 1500. When the CD4 count of an adult falls below
200
, there is a high risk of opportunistic infections and serious illnesses.
An increase in viral load can occur for many reasons, such as:
not taking antiretroviral medication consistently
.
the HIV has mutated (changed genetically)
antiretroviral medication isn't the right dose.
Include a variety of vitamin and mineral rich foods.
Fruits, vegetables, whole grains
, low-fat dairy and lean protein choices contain vitamins and minerals that help the body function.
What happens if you don't take Arvs on time?
Antiretroviral treatment (ART) reduces the level of HIV in your blood so that it cannot damage your immune system. If you do not take your medication correctly (at the right time every day),
the level of HIV in your blood may increase and the treatment may stop working
. This is known as developing drug resistance.
Can stress cause CD4 count to drop?
Since prolonged stress can depress the immune system, stress is of particular importance for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Studies have shown that
chronic stress, traumatic events
, and depression can all lead to an increased viral load and decreased CD4 counts, and therefore, accelerate HIV disease progression.
How long can you live with a low CD4 count?
A person's CD4 count at the start of treatment remains one of the strongest indicators of life expectancy. The life expectancy between those whose CD4 count is less than 200 at the start of treatment is
8 years less
than those whose count is over 200 at the same time.
