While fighting against HIV, being patient going through therapy is the key to living with HIV. Therefore, it is important for us to be a support system for our friends who are living with HIV, Ladies! Then, what kind of lifestyle that people living with HIV should have?
Once you have started the HIV treatments, maintaining a balanced diet and active lifestyle can help contribute to the success of your HIV treatment regimen.
- Dietary Habit
While there is no specific diet for people living with HIV, keep in mind that the immune system is working harder to fight infection, so the body needs more calories. So, eating nutritious foods with balanced nutrition is an important part to maintain the immune system. Therefore, it is advisable to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, fibrous carbohydrates, protein, various dairy products, and healthy fats such as those found in avocados.
It is also important to pay attention to water intake to keep your body hydrated properly. Fluids help the body to process drugs during the HIV treatment regimen, if you're planning to start taking certain vitamins, minerals, or herbal supplements, make sure to check with your doctor first.
- Sports Activities
In addition to losing weight, some people living with HIV may experience muscle loss, so regular exercise is a great way to help prevent this. There are three main types of sports, namely :
- Aerobics
Adults are recommended to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, such as walking and leisurely cycling. This activity can also be replaced with vigorous-intensity exercise such as running and cycling uphill for a shorter time each week.
- Resistance Training
Weight training and strength training are included in this type. This type is recommended to be done twice a week on non-consecutive days.
- Flexibility Training
When it comes to flexibility training, there are no concrete guidelines for how often you should do it. However, doing exercises like yoga and pilates can help relieve stress while also improving your physical health.
- Social Relations
Talking about your HIV condition with your social circle can be challenging, but that doesn’t mean that your relationships with your loved ones will change in the long run. The doctor will give you advice on the best way to discuss your HIV status with others. Talking to your family members and your closest friends can help you build up your personal support system.
It is important for people with HIV to discuss their situation with their current and previous partners. Even so, don’t worry too much because modern HIV treatment has been able to effectively reduce the risk of transmitting it to others. Partners with HIV-negative status may consider taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs to further reduce the risk of transmission.
Here are some facts and lifestyle patterns of people living with HIV, Ladies. Ready to assist your friends who are living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)? Remember, stay away from the disease, not the person!
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Sources :
Murrel, D. (2020). Doctor Discussion Guide: Will My Day-to-Day Life Change with HIV? Healthline. [online]. https://www.healthline.com/health/hiv/daily-life-change-hiv-diagnosis
Murrel, D. (2020). Taking Care of Yourself with HIV: Diet, Exercise, and Self-Care Tips. Healthline. [online]. https://www.healthline.com/health/hiv/self-care-with-hiv