A Healthy Lifestyle Can
Help You Treat AIDS

A healthy lifestyle is important in treating any major disease, but especially so for patients with AIDS.  The HIV virus attacks the immune system that is the body’s natural defense against bacteria, germs, and other microorganisms.  When are natural immunity is compromised, the body find it more difficult to fight off even minor infections and health problems.  Although you may not have any symptoms of AIDS for ten years or more, your body is still being attacked and weakened by the HIV virus.  After being infected you may only experience flu-like symptoms and they may go away without treatment. 

Staying healthy means getting the proper amount of rest.  You will feel tired when you have AIDS, and rest and sleep are important ingredients to helping you fight off small infections.  When the disease progresses, the body finds it more difficult to fight off minor infections like vaginitis, colds, flu, and sinus infections.  Rest boosts the immune system and gives your body a chance to fight off infections. 

Eat a healthy diet.  Your diet is important in your treatment plan.  Eat balanced meals with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Fiber is also important in your diet and you will benefit from following a high fiber diet.  Stay away from raw fish and undercooked meats.  They can carry parasites or bacteria that can make you sick.  You will be better to stay away from refined sugar because the disease can disrupt your metabolism.  Don’t smoke, drink, or use illegal and recreational drugs.  You may want to consider taking a multivitamin that supplies your body with most of your vitamin and mineral intake.

Did You Know? 

The signs of symptoms of AIDS or HIV are different depending on what stage the infection is in. When a person is first infected they may have flu-like symptoms and swollen lymph nodes but recover quickly. This flu-like sickness may occur two to six weeks after being infected and is not always associated with the possibility of HIV infection. Even if you do not have any of these symptoms until years later, you can still infect other people with the virus. Once your body is invaded with the HIV or AIDS virus, your immune system is under attack. Even though you may not be having any symptoms, you can still pass the disease on to another person. Meanwhile, even if you are symptom free, your cells that coordinate your immune system are slowly being destroyed. You can remain this way for as many as ten years but during that time you will begin it experience more frequent infections as your immune cells are destroyed. You may experience chronic symptoms such as diarrhea, weight loss, shortness of breath, cough, fever, and unexplained weight loss.

Exercise regularly.  This may seem impossible because you feel so fatigued, but in the end it will keep you healthier and give you a better quality of life.  Exercise can be as simple as taking a walk in the morning and evening.  You don’t have to join a gym or buy elaborate equipment to receive the benefits of regular exercise.  Exercise will help you physically but also emotionally.  It is known to reduce stress and ease depression, two common problems that AIDS patient’s experience.

Stay positive and use your spiritual and religious experience to help you through this emotional roller coaster.  Prayer is a powerful weapon to use to improve your physical and psychological health.  Support groups and loving relationships will help you stay positive while fighting your disease. 

Take an active role in choosing treatment for your disease.  Depression can cause you to lose interest in your health and treatment but this is something you should fight against.  Don’t put your life and quality of life in someone else’s hands.  You should always be active in the choice of treatment choices.

AIDS Facts A healthy immune system may be able to fight off the HIV virus far longer than one that is already damaged. Being exposed to the virus does not mean you will get it, and having the virus does not guarantee you will develop AIDS.

When it is time for you to begin treatment, take an active role in choosing which treatment is best for you.  Seeing a doctor that specializes in HIV and AIDS related diseases will be helpful when it comes to choosing treatments.  There are always new treatments being found so read and do your research.  Your doctor may help you to find a clinical trial you can be part of to have access to drug treatments that are not available to the public.  People do not die of AIDS; they die because of opportunistic infections the body is not able to fight off.

Important Information in AIDS and HIV Issues

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