For patients living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), it is important to take precautions to protect yourself and others. HIV attacks healthy cells and damages the immune system, making the body vulnerable and unable to fight diseases and infections. HIV is spread by the exchange of bodily fluids with an infected person. The most common means of spreading is unprotected sex and the sharing of drug needles.

If the infection is left untreated, the disease can develop into AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Symptoms of HIV include fever, fatigue, sore throat and swollen lymph glands. If you are not sure whether you have HIV, get tested. Your doctor or healthcare provider can administer testing for HIV. Many clinics, health centers, hospitals and substance abuse programs offer testing too. You can also buy at home STD test kits online or at the pharmacy. Patients can live healthy with HIV, however, because there is no cure, maintaining a healthy lifestyle using the following precautions, and getting treatment can help suppress and fight the virus:

1. Consume a balanced diet
Consume a healthy diet. Eating healthy is beneficial to your overall health, and it provides the below benefits:

• Provides nutrients and the energy needed by the body to fight infection and HIV.
• Supports a healthy weight.
• Reduces HIV complications and symptoms.
• Helps manage the side effects of medications and help with the absorption of medications.

Your doctor or health care can offer advice or refer to a dietitian or nutritionist.

2. Exercise regularly
Maintaining a consistent exercise routine can help your mental and physical health. Some of the benefits include:

• Increases endurance, fitness and strength
• Reduces the chance of depression.
• Boost the immune system to help fight infections.

3. Avoid smoking
Negative effects of smoking are numerous, and it tends to affect HIV patients worse than those who are not affected with HIV. Smoking leaves HIV patients susceptible to the following conditions:

• Lung cancer, cervical cancers, anal cancers and head and neck cancers.
• Bacterial pneumonia, heart disease and obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Oral hairy leukoplakia and oral candidiasis (thrush).
• Little or no response to HIV treatment.
• Shortened lifespan.

4. Seek help for mental or substance disorder
Feeling depressed can affect your mental state and it can reduce your desire to adhere to your treatment plan. Also, avoid alcohol or drug use, both can affect your overall health.You can also manage stress through support from family, friends and your healthcare provider.

5. Other Precautions
Additional precautions to keep HIV patients health include:

• Do not share needles or syringes. If you have to use needles, use clean syringes and injection equipment.
• Do not have unprotected sex.
• Protect others by using condoms and taking medicines as prescribed.

6. Take antiretroviral medication as prescribed by your doctor
you can control it with proper care. A majority of patients get HIV under control in six months. HIV treatment decreases the amount of virus in your body. The amount of the virus is called viral load. HIV antiviral medication can help reduce the viral load and increase your healthy cell count. Take your medication as your doctor prescribes it and try not to skip any doses. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember and take the next dose as scheduled. Keeping your viral load low is how you stay healthy and protect others.