Life expectancy with HIV. How long can you live with HIV
How long will I live?
One of the earliest signs of HIV infection is the appearance of rashes. It can emerge in single spot or on multiple body parts, causing itchiness and discomfort on the skin. Alongside the development of this skin condition are other flu-like symptoms, such as fever, common cold, muscle aches, fatigue, diarrhea, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands.
The acute HIV rash can be tender and sore. While it is the most common symptom of HIV infection, not all people experience the condition. Thankfully, antiviral drugs are available to treat HIV rash and lessen its impacts. Antiviral drugs make it possible for an HIV-positive person to live longer amidst the severity of the said viral infection.
Life expectancy with HIV
What is an individual’s life expectancy with HIV? Since 1994, the number of deaths involving HIV has declined. The prognosis of HIV has improved after the development of antiretroviral therapy. This therapy helps extend the HIV life expectancy of infected individuals to 70 years old. This improvement is a breakthrough in the medical field, which supports life better for people with the human immunodeficiency virus.
The truth is, there are many factors that affect people’s life expectancy with HIV. These are as follows:
- An individual’s accessibility to efficient HIV treatment and medication
- Taking HIV medications as soon as possible – This factor involves consuming antiviral drugs after initial infection.
- Obtaining high-quality medical care, especially with diagnosing HIV in a fast-paced manner.
- Lifestyle change also helps in having good health alongside the consumption of antiviral medications.
Besides the availability of antiviral drugs for HIV treatment, compliance with the antiretroviral therapy program is a must. It includes smoking cessation, regular exercise, practicing safer sex, following good nutrition, and immediately attending to other health conditions.
How long can you live with HIV?
The procurement of antiviral drugs makes it easier to treat the infection. But, how long can you LIVE with HIV? How can infected people be assured of living a life as those non-positive individuals have?
If you haven’t known yet, there are four stages of HIV. Each stage has occurrences that people should consider and subdue to avoid complications.
1st stage – Acute HIV infection
2nd stage – Chronic HIV infection
3rd stage – Moderately symptomatic stage
4th stage – AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)
The first stage of the infection is where flu-like symptoms appear. It includes fever, sore throat, headache, and rashes. In this period, the virus rapidly multiplies and spreads throughout the body.
Among these stages, the most advanced is AIDS. When AIDS occurs, opportunistic infections emerge, paving the way for different health complications to colonize the body.
The best stage to start ART (antiretroviral therapy) is in the acute or first stage of the infection. Its purpose is to prevent HIV from advancing to AIDS, the most severe and deadly phase of the viral infection. During this period, the body’s immune system is severely damaged. Without proper treatment, people with AIDS only survive for a maximum of three years.
HIV survival rate
An individual’s HIV survival rate has significantly improved over the past few years. With the help of antiretroviral treatment, people who are HIV positive can already live longer compared to before.
In a study involving Swiss people with HIV, 78% of deaths due to AIDS-related complications occurred between 1988 and 1995. However, between the years 2005 and 2009, this rate dropped to 15%. This improvement catered to the use of antiretroviral therapy.
If you ask yourself, ‘how long will I live if I have HIV?’, the answer will depend on your commitment to treating the infection:
- Commit to taking antiretroviral drugs after an HIV diagnosis.
- Abstain from drinking too much alcohol and smoking cigarettes.
- Live healthily by observing proper nutrition and having regular exercise.
Sticking to these practices will increase your survival rate against HIV.
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Biktarvy 50/200/25mg 30 Tablets
Also available as:
Bikratvy, bictegravir/emtricitabine $274.57 – $1,399.99Select optionsWhat is Biktarvy (Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenemide?) Biktarvy is a combination drug that provides medical alleviation to people with HIV infection. Its main components are bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide. This medicine works by inhibiting the infection from replicating within the body. It is suitable for adults and children. How does it work? Similar to other antiviral …
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Triumeq
$1,489.00Select optionsWhat is Triumeq? Three antiretroviral medicines have been combined to create an efficient medicine called Triumeq. This medication is composed of dolutegravir, lamivudine, and abacavir. Triumeq has demonstrated quality performance in offering medical care to thousands of people who have HIV. How does Triumeq work? Its three integral ingredients are: Dolutegravir – HIV integrase inhibitor Lamivudine – nucleoside …
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Truvada
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Emtricitabine-TenofovirDisoproxil, TavinEM, TenvirEM $70.00 – $1,015.00Select optionsWhat is Truvada? Emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil are the two HIV medicines that comprise Truvada. It is designed to help treat HIV. Apart from its treating quality, the medicine can also be administered as a PrEP medication. Use this medicine to treat children, adults, and adolescents, regardless of age and gender. Truvada is the brand name of Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Disoproxil, …
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Atripla
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Efavirenz-Emtricitabine-TenofovirDisoproxil, Viraday, Vonavir $104.00 – $1,600.00Select optionsWhat is Atripla? HIV treatment observes the rule of ART or antiretroviral therapy, which means taking a fixed-dose combination of ARV drugs. This form of treatment includes Atripla. This ARV drug is a combination of three different drugs. 600mg of efavirenz 300mg of tenofovir disoproxil 200mg of emtricitabine Atripla medication is also available under names such as Viraday …
HIV drugs types
As mentioned, controlling HIV and its symptoms involves using antiretroviral HIV drugs. These medications are a mixture of two or more drugs under different categories. These are as follows:
- NRTIs (Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors)
- NNRTIs (Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors)
- Integrase Inhibitors
- Protease Inhibitors
- Pharmacokinetic Enhancers
- Entry/Attachment Inhibitors
- Fixed-Dose Combination Drugs
Sources:
healthhearty.com/acute-hiv-rash
aidsmap.com/about-hiv/life-expectancy-people-living-hiv
healthgrades.com/right-care/hiv/hiv-prognosis-and-life-expectancy
medicinenet.com/how_long_can_you_live_with_hiv/article.htm
healthline.com/health/hiv-aids/life-expectancy
webmd.com/hiv-aids/hiv-treatment-history
Written by D
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