When the HIV was first diagnosed, it only meant death. When someone had HIV, it was the end of life for him. But it is not the case today. You can still stay healthy if you have HIV. The life expectancy of an HIV+ person is same as any other. Here are 15 ways in which you can stay healthy even if you are diagnosed with HIV.
1. Stay Alert
It is a fact when a person gets a disease, and he stresses over it the condition gets worse. Stress and depression severely affect the immune system. Melissa Lopez is among the thousands of Psychotherapists who work with the HIV patients and develops a plan for them. She says that when you have such deadly disease and above that you stress and are depressed it will harm your immune system. She suggests that the patients who have HIV should stay happy and do not concentrate on the fact that they have that disease; they should not have thoughts such as they will not get treated or this is the end of their life. They need to stay alerted and have a plan to fight the disease. They should prevent having the negative feelings.
2. Keep Fighting
Getting through the situation becomes easy if you have a positive attitude. When things do not seem to go your way, instead of losing hope fighting the condition will keep you live longer. According to the studies the people who use more positive words to describe their health tend to live a longer life as compared to those who used negative words about them. These people live about 80 years. It is not only the life which extends when you stay happy but also life a healthy life. The people who stay active and positive have fewer disease and strokes. The women who stay active and positive also give birth quickly and easily.
3. Keep Your Gut Healthy
The tissue in the “gut” has the “T” cells. HIV affects these T cells. And because of this problem many people who have HIV face the gastrointestinal issues. Your gut will not allow proper absorption of the medication if it is affected. Diarrhea is among many other side effects which occur due to adverse GI. Brian Risley who is an expert at APLA says that having a fibrous diet is helpful in keeping the gut healthy.
4. Exercise
Exercise will keep you 100% healthy especially if you have HIV, make sure that you workout daily. It will help fight diseases and keep the entire body fit. It also helps increase and enhances the T cells in the gut. According to the Brian Risley who is the manager of the AIDS Project Los Angeles, the short bursts of exercise can help keep the gut healthy.
She also said that exercise produces hormones which are necessary to maintain the body in an excellent condition. The Mayo Clinic says that people should daily workout at least half an hour.
5. Brain Music Therapy
If you wish to keep healthy during the HIV positive days and make sure that you are distracted and have positive thoughts, then get a brain music therapy. According to Galina Mindlin, the aging and HIV have side effects such as the loss of the brain function. So, having a music therapy can help ease the brain nerves.
6. Get Some Orgasms
Fighting a disease such as HIV needs you to stay active and happy. The immune system needs a boost and what better way to boost it than orgasms. Orgasm reduces stress and provides the immune system with a significant boost of hormones. It also reduces depression and stress. The best way to get an orgasm is if you are married. It is safe, and your better half will provide you with orgasms than getting them alone.
7. Have Faith
No matter you are Muslim, or a Christian having faith in God will keep you healthy. Spirituality always gives hope. Having belief in God and the fact that life and death are from God and not a disease can help you stay healthy even in conditions such as HIV. Religion is one of the best sources of treatment for your conditions. It is only the religion which provides means to stay positive and have faith.
8. Get Social
Another way to enjoy life is to make more friends. It is a fact that the people who have more friends stay happier than those who do not have friends or do not socialize much. According to the study conducted by the University of North Carolina and Brigham Young University, the people who have a small social circle die earlier than those who have more friends. According to a study, if you have more friends you live extra 7.5 years than those who do not have more friends. The reason is that when a person feels lonely, the immune system backs off a little. So keep on making friends, it will keep you healthy.
Brian Risley who is an expert at APLA says that she always tells her clients (patients) to make friends and socialize more if they have HIV. She advises them to make friends even if they are old. They should find other people so that they can talk to them. This habit will increase the happiness and boost the immune system.
9. Leave The Bad Habits
Everyone knows that smoking is injurious to health. It is estimated that 60 percent of people who have HIV are smokers. Brian Risley who is an expert at APLA says that they overlook the smoking habits of the individuals who are diagnosed with HIV who are given ten to sixteen months of life expectancy. The people who are infected have a weak immune system, and if they smoke the immune system will not protect the harm that the smoking causes. It is, therefore, important to make sure that you stop smoking if you wish to live longer even with HIV. Do not smoke and your life expectancy will double, keep on smoking you will die sooner with HIV.
10. Vitamins
Vitamins and minerals boost the immune system. If you have HIV, then make sure the vitamin intake is at its maximum. The doctors always advise the patients with HIV to have extra vitamin supplements with the diet. The doctors also recommend the selenium supplements. These supplements have proven beneficial for the HIV patients and killing of the viruses. There are many other supplements which the HIV patients should take, these supplements include calcium, Vitamin D, and Iron supplements. But it does not mean that you should take the supplements in abundance. Also, there are a few vitamin supplements that increased intake is harmful. Ask your doctor to prescribe the supplements.
11. Testify
The testosterone reduces after the age of 50. Also, the people who have HIV experience a drop in the hormone. Therefore it is important that you should have a test for “chronic testosterone loss.” Many doctors might say that the fatigue is because of work or tiredness, but Brian Risley says that it can be a result of a virus that affects testosterone.
12. Skip Raw Foods
As mentioned above the T-cell count is important. But if that count is less than 200 it will affect the throat and will get infected. According to studies the HIV patients must avoid the raw foods such as sushi might contain bacteria or fungus. Also, avoid cheese if you have HIV. Do not eat the leftovers as these food items have a higher chance of having fungi. According to Brian Risley, the HIV patients can microwave the marijuana before smoking it as it kills the bacteria and fungi. Not eating raw food items will keep you healthy and boost the immune system.
13. Eat Washed Vegetables
No matter how beautiful and clean the vegetables look, remember how many hands touch the vegetables before they reach you. It is a good idea to wash the vegetables before you cook. Eating healthy vegetables ensures a good immune system. You can add one part vinegar to three parts of water to prepare a veggie wash. Make sure that you have an eating habit that involves clean eating. Eating washed vegetables will keep the health at its maximum and give your immune system a boost.
14. Prepare Your Team
Like many other rich people, you may not have access to the expensive HIV specialists and other expensive HIV therapists. So make sure that just like other average people you also form your team of professionals. Consider a doctor and talk to a nutritionist. He will tell you what diet you should take in such a condition. Many HIV specialists out there who have a large fee also offer some special payment discounts. It is always good to ask if the doctor can relieve you of the extra charges. This way you will get proper treatment for your HIV and live a healthy life. Once you have a team you will know when to visit the doctor and the specialist and the nutritionist and prepare a plan for diet and medication.
15. Customized Medication
Many doctors prescribe the medication based on the condition of the patient and the demographics. For example, the doctors will not give the same medication to a person who lives in an urban area as compared to the individual who lives in a rural area. But for prescribing the personalized drugs for HIV the doctors conduct a proper genetics test, says Risley. It also says that although the genetically tested medication is not widespread but will be soon and will be helpful in treating HIV. You can live a healthy life even if you have HIV by taking the personalized meds.
