HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system. This system fights off bacteria, viruses and other microscopic invaders that can make you sick. Unlike many viruses, the body can’t fight off HIV on its own. Without treatment, the virus multiplies and damages the immune system. AIDS is late-stage HIV, and only occurs when HIV is not treated. People living with AIDS get sick frequently because their bodies can no longer fight off infections.
HIV spreads through direct contact with a body fluid that contains the virus. It’s impossible to get HIV from casual contact such as hugging or shaking hands. You also can’t get it from insects, donating blood, living with someone with HIV, or sharing dishes or silverware or using the same bathroom as someone with HIV.
There’s no cure for HIV, but treatment is available to help prevent the virus from multiplying in the body. Treatment can also help prevent or manage HIV and lowers the risk of passing HIV to another person.
In 2021, there were about 32,000 teens and adults living with HIV in Maryland. Additionally, more than 3,000 people in Maryland that year likely had the virus and didn’t know it.
HIV Treatment
If you’re diagnosed with HIV, your doctor or other medical provider will work with you to develop a treatment plan. Medication is a crucial part of treatment. The medication used in treating HIV is called antiretroviral therapy, or ART. Therapy should start as soon as possible after discovering you have HIV.
You may receive ART in pill form or as injections. Typically, people with a newly diagnosed HIV infection start with ART pills. It’s possible to have side effects from ART, but they’re usually manageable.
ART lowers the amount of HIV in the blood, also called the viral load. In most cases, ART can reduce the viral load so much that the virus can’t be detected on lab tests. This is called having an undetectable viral load. When someone has an undetectable viral load, their immune system can stay strong, and they can have a typical life expectancy. They also cannot pass HIV to someone else through sex.
It’s essential to continue taking medication as prescribed and get viral load testing regularly to stay undetectable. If ART is stopped or isn’t working well, HIV will start multiplying again. This means you will not be protected from getting serious infections, and your sexual partners will not be protected from HIV.
Mental Health and HIV
People with HIV are at a higher risk for several mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression and mood disorders. You may go through a range of emotions following your diagnosis or have ongoing concerns about passing HIV to others or getting sick. Managing ART and other aspects of chronic illness can also increase daily stress.
Supporting your mental health is essential to your overall health. Like HIV, mental health conditions can usually be treated effectively. Be kind to yourself and take proactive steps to care for your mental health. You may benefit from:
- Meditation or other mindfulness practices
- Support groups
- Talk therapy
You may also benefit from medication to treat mental health issues. However, it’s crucial to discuss all your medications with your provider to ensure none interact.
Living Well with HIV
As long as you receive treatment and care for your health, having HIV typically does not affect your ability to work, take care of responsibilities around the house, or enjoy time with friends and family. A healthy lifestyle paired with treatment and mental health support can help you manage the condition, improve your quality of life and reduce the risk of illness and infection.Â
People living with HIV benefit from a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats. Following food safety practices is essential for people living with HIV because of the virus’s effects on the immune system. To help protect yourself from food-borne illness:
- Drink and cook with filtered or boiled water.
- Have a designated cutting board for raw meat.
- Make sure fruits and vegetables are washed well.
- Skip eating raw eggs, meat or seafood, including oysters and sushi.
- Wash your hands before and after food preparation.
Exercising regularly also plays a vital role in staying healthy. Aim for 150 minutes of exercise a week or about 20 minutes a day. Include strengthening exercises at least twice a week. Staying active will also boost your heart health and help prevent Type 2 diabetes.
If symptoms of HIV or side effects from ART affect your ability to live the life you want, talk with your primary care team. They may be able to offer solutions, connect you with supportive services or suggest reasonable accommodations for work.
Reduce the Risk of HIV Infection
You can’t tell if someone has HIV by looking at them. The only way to know is through an HIV test. Testing is accurate and painless. However, it may take up to 3 months after infection with HIV for the virus to show up on a test. If you’ve had a possible exposure to HIV, within 3 months of a test, the test will need to be checked again. If a test does not detect HIV, you’re HIV-negative. If the test detects HIV, you’re HIV-positive. Knowing your status can help you make better choices for your sexual and overall health.
Condoms can reduce the risk of passing or getting HIV and other STIs. If you are HIV negative, pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is medication that can also lower your risk of getting HIV when taken as prescribed.
Are you living with HIV in the Baltimore area?
The THRIVE program can help. THRIVE is a primary care and specialty practice that is part of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Learn more.
Medically reviewed by Sarah Schmalzle, MD, FIDSA.
