Decades ago being diagnosed with HIV or the human immunodeficiency virus was considered to be fatal as it would ultimately lead to AIDS and death. However, ever since antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been introduced it has now become possible for both HIV-affected men and women to live a healthy and long life. ART is a very powerful medicine and it delays the possibility of progression of HIV into AIDS .
On AIDS Day today know how you can prevent or delay HIV from progressing to the fatal disease and live a healthy and happy life. To make this possible you have to take medications regularly without fail and follow the medication regimen.
Another important thing is to keep in touch with your doctor regularly. Regular communication with your health expert is a must because he is well aware of the symptoms of AIDS and can ensure that you are healthy and maintaining the lifestyle required for an HIV patient .
Also health choices and lifestyle changes must be introduced immediately in your daily routine the moment you are diagnosed with HIV.
Understanding how ART stops HIV’s progression to AIDS
Most of the time if you take ART regularly, your HIV never progresses to AIDS. HIV tends to attack CD4 cells in the body which are an important part of our immune system. When these cells get destroyed due to repeated attacks by HIV, the body becomes incapable of fighting infection. A person is diagnosed with AIDS when a person is infected with opportunistic infections or cancers or even when the CD4 count drops to less than 200 cells/cubic mm of blood.
Earlier during the mid-90s when ART was not introduced, people with HIV used to get AIDS within a few years. Things have changed now and since HIV-positive people immediately start getting ART treatment the advancement of the disease is curtailed and now even HIV-infected people can live as long as normal, healthy people do.