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Summary
What are HIV and AIDS?
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It harms your immune system by destroying a type of white blood cell that helps your body fight infection.
AIDS is the final stage of infection with HIV. It happens when the body's immune system is badly damaged because of the virus. Not everyone with HIV develops AIDS.
Are there treatments for HIV?
There is no cure for HIV, but there are many medicines to treat both HIV infection and the health problems and infections (called opportunistic infections, or OIs) and that come with it. These other infections are called opportunistic infections (OIs). The medicines allow people with HIV to have long, healthy lives.
How can I live a healthier life with HIV?
IIf you have HIV, you can help yourself by:
- Getting medical care as soon as you find out that you have HIV. You should find a health care provider who has experience in treating HIV.
- Taking your medicines every day.
- Letting your provider know if you get any symptoms or health problems.
- Keeping up with your regular medical and dental care.
- Managing stress and getting support, such as from support groups, therapists, and social service organizations
- Trying to live a healthy lifestyle, including:
- Eating healthy foods.This can give your body the energy it needs to fight HIV and other infections. It can help you manage HIV symptoms and medicine side effects. It may also improve absorption of your HIV medicines.
- Getting regular exercise. This can strengthen your body and immune system. It may also reduce the risk of depression.
- Getting enough sleep. Sleep is important for your physical strength and mental health.
- Not smoking. People with HIV who smoke have a higher risk of developing conditions such as certain cancers and infections. Smoking can also interfere with your medicines.
- Avoiding heavy drinking or taking illegal drugs. They can damage your liver, which means your HIV medicine may not work as well. They can also make it harder for your body to fight infections.
- Protecting yourself from OIs. Talk to your provider about medicines and vaccines that prevent certain OIs. Also be careful to avoid exposure to contaminated food and water.
It is also important to reduce the risk of spreading HIV to other people. You should tell your sex partners that you have HIV and always use latex condoms. If your or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms.
Diagnosis and Tests
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Stages of AIDS-Related Lymphoma
(National Cancer Institute)
Treatments and Therapies
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How to Find HIV Treatment Services
(National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
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Treatment Option Overview (AIDS Related-Lymphoma)
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
Living With
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Get the Facts about HIV Medical Care
(National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
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HIV and Nutrition and Food Safety
(National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
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HIV Treatment Adherence
(National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
- Living with HIV (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
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Mental Health
(HIV.gov; National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research)
- Mental Health and HIV (Department of Veterans Affairs)
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Seeing Your Health Care Provider
(HIV.gov; National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research)
Related Issues
- Drugs, Alcohol and HIV (Department of Veterans Affairs)
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HIV and Heart Disease
(National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
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HIV and Immunizations
(National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
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HIV and Kidney Disease
(National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
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HIV Infection and Cancer Risk
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
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Just Diagnosed: Next Steps after Testing Positive for HIV
(National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
- Sex and Sexuality and HIV (Department of Veterans Affairs)
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Smoking and HIV
(HIV.gov; National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research)
- Travelers' Health: Human Immunodeficiency Virus / HIV (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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Types of Providers
(HIV.gov; National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research)
- Ways HIV Can Be Transmitted (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
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What's a Blip?
(National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Body Shape Changes with HIV (Department of Veterans Affairs)
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General Information about AIDS-Related Lymphoma
(National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
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HIV and COVID-19
(National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
- HIV and COVID-19 Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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HIV and Mental Health
(National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
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HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
(National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
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HIV/AIDS and Infections: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
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HIV/AIDS and Oral Health
(National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) Also in Spanish
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How to Take Care of Your Mental Health with HIV
(National Library of Medicine) - PDF Also in Spanish
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Neurological Complications of HIV and AIDS
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) Also in Spanish
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People with HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections
(HIV.gov; National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research)
Images
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Pets and People with HIV
(National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
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Tips for HIV Treatment Regimen Adherence
(National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
Statistics and Research
- HIV in the United States and Dependent Areas (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- HIV in the United States by Age (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- HIV Statistics Overview (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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The Science Is Clear: With HIV, Undetectable Equals Untransmittable
(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: HIV/AIDS and Quality of Life
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: A multi-country study of the associations between HIV vulnerability status, perception...
- Article: Patterns of HIV Disclosure and its Impact on the HIV Care...
- Article: Psychometric evaluation of the computerized battery for neuropsychological evaluation of children...
- Living with HIV -- see more articles
Reference Desk
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Glossary
(HIV.gov; National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research)
Find an Expert
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
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Clinicalinfo: Information on HIV/AIDS Treatment, Prevention, and Research
(HIV.gov; National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research) Also in Spanish
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HIV.gov
(National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research)
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HIVinfo
(National Institutes of Health, Office of AIDS Research)
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NIAID Division of AIDS
(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
Women
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HIV/AIDS and Pregnancy: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Older Adults
- Aging with HIV (HIV.gov)
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HIV, AIDS, and Older Adults
(National Institute on Aging) Also in Spanish