Lifestyle changes are part of your care plan. This may involve:
If you have HIV, your immune system may not be able to fight off other infections. To lower your risk of infections and keep your immune system as healthy as possible:
Having sex or sharing needles with another person spreads HIV.
To keep HIV from spreading to others:
Counseling can:
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on how your thoughts affect the way you feel and act. CBT can help ease stress, lessen anger, and help ease depression and anxiety.
You may find help by joining support groups or art therapy.
2015 Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/std/tg2015/default.htm. Updated January 25, 2017. Accessed September 17, 2018.
Guide for HIV/AIDS clinical care. National Institute of Health and Human Services website. Available at: https://hab.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hab/clinical-quality-management/2014guide.pdf. Updated April 2014. Accessed September 17, 2018.
Living with HIV. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/basics/livingwithhiv/index.html. Updated July 23, 2018. Accessed September 17, 2018.
Overview of HIV infection. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/overview-of-hiv-infection. Updated July 31, 2018. Accessed September 17, 2018.
Last reviewed September 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board David L. Horn, MD, FACP