Fight Against HIV/AIDS

There are several fronts in the fight against HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)/AIDS (Auto Immune Deficiency Syndrome), with the overall goals of reducing the number of people who become infected with HIV and treating patients who are already infected with HIV so that they are less likely to progress to AIDS.

Prevention

The first step is prevention. Together, we can slow or even stop the spread of HIV/AIDS by learning more about the disease, how it is spread, and the steps to take to keep from becoming infected or spreading the infection to others.

Testing

As mentioned previously, testing for HIV infection is an important part of the fight against HIV/AIDS. If you think you or your loved one may be infected, it is important that you are tested, or your loved one is tested right away to determine if you or your loved one has the virus. The earlier you or your loved one is diagnosed, the earlier you can take steps not only to prevent the spread of the disease, but also to make changes in your lives so that you can stay healthy and fight the virus.

HIV Treatment Does Work

While there is no "cure" for HIV or AIDS, there are treatment options available that can help your loved one fight the virus.

No two people are alike, and not all medications are equally effective for everyone. You, your loved one, and your loved one's doctor and care team can help determine which drug therapy or combination may be best suited to your loved one's condition.

Medications

HIV medications can help the body fight HIV. Talk to your or your loved one's doctor about whether they should begin taking HIV medications, and if so, which medications are right for your loved one's treatment.

There are a variety of treatments that, when used together, can help slow the progression of HIV infection. After an HIV infection is confirmed, your doctor may decide to start your loved one on a drug regimen of several HIV meds. Unfortunately, taking HIV meds is not always easy. Each medicine within the treatment regimen must be taken at the right time, every single day. Also, these medicines can cause a number of side effects, which you should know about as a caregiver and discuss with you or your loved one's doctor.

Complications of HIV Treatment

Treatment of HIV is complicated because your loved one's doctor will need to prescribe more than one medication to effectively fight HIV. The key to successful treatment of HIV is knowing which medications to use, how much of each to use, and in what combination they should be used. You, your loved one, and your loved one's doctor will need to plan ahead to determine what medications should be chosen first and which should be reserved for later, just in case some of the medications stop working.

You can help your loved one's healthcare professionals by being informed and staying involved in your loved one's healthcare decisions.

Keeping Virus Levels Low

One treatment goal for patients with HIV is to keep virus levels as low as possible for as long as possible. If your loved one skips even one dose of his or her HIV medications, the decreased levels of medicine in his or her blood give HIV the opportunity to reproduce quickly, increasing the amount of virus in the blood (the viral load). Also, if he or she misses a dose and HIV is allowed to make copies of itself, there is a greater chance that the HIV will make mistakes or mutations as it replicates quickly. In order fight HIV effectively, it is important that your loved one takes all HIV medications as prescribed so that the levels of medicine in his or her blood remain constant.

Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

If your loved one has HIV, it is important that he or she maintains a healthy, active lifestyle in order to ensure that his or her immune system is working at its best to fight the virus. Eating healthy and exercising regularly are vital parts of his or her overall HIV treatment plan.

This information is intended only as an educational aid and is not intended as medical advice. This information is not intended to discuss information related to your HIV treatment options. As always, talk to your healthcare professionals if you have any questions related to treatment or health status.

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