Treatment FAQ

how long can you really live with hiv treatment

by Dr. Alfonzo Stiedemann DDS Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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A 2017 study in the journal AIDS found that the additional life expectancy for people with HIV at age 20 during the early monotherapy era was 11.8 years. However, that number rose to 54.9 years for the most recent combination antiretroviral era.Jan 30, 2019

Full Answer

How long does HIV kills you?

Without treatment, a person may develop stage 3 HIV 2–15 years after contracting the infection. The life expectancy after a stage 3 HIV diagnosis is 3 years. However, with effective medication, many people never develop stage 3 HIV, and the incidence of opportunistic infections is much lower than it was in the past.

What is the life span of someone with HIV?

Key points

  • With the right treatment and care, people with HIV can live a normal lifespan.
  • People who have a good response to HIV treatment have excellent long-term prospects.
  • You can increase your life expectancy by not smoking and having a healthy lifestyle.

How long can a person remain healthy with HIV?

This has resulted in a highly effective HIV treatment regimen. In 1996, the total life expectancy for a 20-year-old person with HIV was 39 years. In 2011, the total life expectancy bumped up to about 70 years. The survival rate for HIV-positive people has also dramatically improved since the first days of the HIV epidemic.

How long can you live without knowing you have HIV?

The natural history of untreated HIV infection is as follows: Viral transmission followed 2-3 weeks later by acute retroviral syndrome, which can last 2-3 weeks, followed by recovery and seroconversion over the next 2-4 weeks. This is then followed by an asymptomatic period of chronic HIV infection that can last, on average, 8-9 years.

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How long can you live HIV treatment?

Specifically, a 35-year-old man who had a CD4 cell count over 350 and an undetectable viral load (below 400 copies/ml) one year after starting HIV treatment could expect to live to the age of 81. A 50-year-old man with the same results after one year of treatment was predicted to live to the age of 83.

Can you live 20 years with HIV?

During the first period, life expectancy for a 21-year-old with HIV was 38 years, compared to 60 for uninfected peers. By 2014, that gap narrowed dramatically: A 21-year-old with HIV could expect to live to 56, compared to age 65 for uninfected adults, according to the report.

Can you live a long live with HIV?

They found that people with HIV live substantially fewer healthy years than people without HIV. In the period 2014 to 2016, the HIV-positive 21 year old was predicted to be living without any of the mentioned health problems to the age of 36, whereas their HIV-negative peer would do so to the age of 52.

How long can a person with HIV live without treatment?

Population studies proved that AIDS patients who did not take HIV medications survived for roughly three years. Once they developed a dangerous opportunistic illness, life expectancy with AIDS (in the absence of treatment) decreased to one year or less.

How to improve life expectancy with HIV?

1. Staying physically and mentally active. Socializing with friends, reading, listening to music, and engaging in your favorite hobbies helps battle depression and the loss of brain function .

How to treat HIV and AIDS?

Beginning a treatment regimen is the first step in creating a positive care plan and should include strategies for protecting your immune system. Since numerous ART options exist to manage the virus, consult your health care provider about tailoring a drug plan to your unique symptoms.

How to maintain long term physical and mental health?

Exercise is a great way to maintain long-term physical and mental health, while also upping strength, endurance, and fitness. An HIV or AIDS diagnosis will not affect your ability to engage in these activities. Ask your health care provider about how to stay fit and make workouts a part of your daily routine. 6. Practicing safe sex.

Do you have to wear a condom every time you have sex?

However, the number one rule to follow is to wear a condom every time you have sex! Scientific research establishes a clear link between condom usage and a reduced risk of HIV transmission. They also shield you from other sexually transmitted infections which might impact your ability to fight HIV or AIDS.

Do IV drugs affect HIV?

Those who abuse intravenous (IV) drugs or possess a preexisting immune disorder, however, do not fare as well. In light of huge disparities in access to health care and ARTs, the CDC regularly publishes reports on obstacles to HIV and AIDS treatment.

Can a person with HIV live longer than anyone else?

Recent research shows that a young person with HIV or AIDS could potentially live almost as long as anyone else in the general population. But this is only the case if they have routine access to health care and respond well to modern antiretroviral treatments (ARTs).

How long does a person live with HIV in 2011?

In 2011, the total life expectancy bumped up to about 70 years. The survival rate for HIV-positive people has also dramatically improved since the first days of the HIV epidemic. For example, researchers. Trusted Source.

How does HIV affect life expectancy?

HIV can quickly cause damage to the immune system and lead to stage 3 HIV, so getting timely treatment can help improve life expectancy. People living with HIV should visit their healthcare provider regularly and treat other health conditions as they arise.

Why are people living with HIV?

Trusted Source. U.S. people are living with HIV, but fewer are contracting the virus each year. This may be because of increased testing and advances in treatment. Regular antiretroviral treatment can reduce HIV in the blood to undetectable levels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How many cells are needed for stage 3 HIV?

A healthcare provider will likely diagnose stage 3 HIV if the number of certain white blood cells ( CD4 cells) in an HIV-positive person’s immune system drops below 200 cells per mL of blood. Life expectancy is different for every person living with stage 3 HIV. Some people may die within months of this diagnosis, ...

Why is routine HIV screening important?

That’s why routine HIV screening is vital. Early detection and timely treatment are key to managing the virus, extending life expectancy, and reducing the risk of transmission. Those who remain untreated are more likely to experience complications from HIV that could lead to illness and death.

What are the long term effects of HIV?

These may include: accelerated aging. cognitive impairment.

When did the life expectancy increase for people with HIV?

Kaiser Permanente researchers found that the life expectancy for people living with HIV and receiving treatment increased significantly from 1996 on. Since that year, new antiretroviral drugs have been developed and added to the existing antiretroviral therapy.

How long does life expectancy last after HIV treatment?

This may have occurred before HIV was diagnosed and/or before HIV treatment was begun. These illnesses have a negative impact on life expectancy. Results one year after starting HIV treatment. Studies show that life expectancy is better for people who respond well within a year of starting treatment than for people who do not.

Why is life expectancy shorter for HIV patients?

Injecting drug use – life expectancy is shorter for people with HIV who inject drugs, due to drug overdoses and bacterial infections. It’s also important to consider things that affect everyone’s life expectancy, whether or not they have HIV.

How can HIV affect your life?

People who have a good response to HIV treatment have excellent long-term prospects. You can increase your life expectancy by not smoking and having a healthy lifestyle . HIV-positive people are living increasingly long lives.

How long can a 50 year old live?

Among men, a 35 year old and a 50 year old could expect to live to 78 and 81 years respectively. Among women, a 35 year old and a 50 year old were predicted to live to 81 and 83 years respectively. For people whose initial response to treatment was not quite so good, life expectancy was a little shorter.

How does HIV help people?

People living with HIV will benefit from improved anti-HIV drugs that have fewer side-effects, are easier to take and are more effective in suppressing HIV. Doctors’ understanding of how best to prevent and treat heart disease, diabetes, cancers and other conditions in people with HIV is improving.

Why is life expectancy longer?

Lifestyle – life expectancy is longer for people who have a balanced diet, are physically active, maintain a healthy weight, avoid excess alcohol or drug use, and remain socially connected. Avoiding smoking is particularly important for life expectancy.

When do HIV deaths occur?

When deaths do occur, they usually happen in the first year after diagnosis and involve people who were diagnosed with HIV very late, when they were already very ill because of HIV. In many of these cases, the person did not attend an HIV clinic or did not take HIV treatment, or only did so irregularly.

How long does HIV last?

In the case of an untreated HIV infection, the overall mortality rate is more than 90%. The average time from infection to death is eight to ten years. This may; however, vary from person to person. Many factors affect survival:

How long does it take for HIV to progress?

If ART is not given, a chronic HIV infection usually advances to AIDS in 10 years or longer. In some people, however, it may advance faster. If ART is administered, the person may stay in this stage for several decades.

What is the final stage of HIV?

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome ( AIDS) is the final and most severe stage of HIV. In this stage, HIV reduces CD4 cell counts to very low levels (less than 200 units), which severely damages the immune system.

What is the stage of asymptomatic HIV?

Chronic HIV infection. This is the stage of asymptomatic HIV infection or clinical latency. In this stage, the symptoms of stage one go away but the HIV infection continues to multiply in the body, though at very low levels.

Does HIV increase over time?

With the increasing use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the introduction of better antiviral regimens, survival with HIV infection has increased over time. The survival, however, is not yet equivalent to that in uninfected individuals.

How long does it take to get rid of HIV?

There is no effective cure for HIV. But with proper medical care, you can control HIV. Most people can get the virus under control within six months. Taking HIV medicine does not prevent transmission ...

How long does it take for a mother to give her baby HIV?

If a mother with HIV takes HIV medicine as prescribed throughout pregnancy, labor, and delivery and gives HIV medicine to her baby for 4 to 6 weeks after birth, the risk of transmitting HIV to her baby can be 1% or less.

What does it mean when your HIV is suppressed?

Viral suppression is defined as having less than 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood. HIV medicine can make the viral load so low that a test can’t detect it (called an undetectable viral load ). If your viral load goes down after starting HIV treatment, that means treatment is working.

What is the amount of HIV in the blood called?

The amount of HIV in the blood is called viral load . Taking your HIV medicine as prescribed will help keep your viral load low and your CD4 cell count high. HIV medicine can make the viral load very low (called viral suppression ). Viral suppression is defined as having less than 200 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood.

Why is it important to take HIV medication?

Taking HIV medication consistently, as prescribed, helps prevent drug resistance. Drug resistance develops when people with HIV are inconsistent with taking their HIV medication as prescribed. The virus can change (mutate) and will no longer respond to certain HIV medication. If you develop drug resistance, it will limit your options ...

What to do if substance use is interfering with your ability to keep yourself healthy?

If substance use is interfering with your ability to keep yourself healthy, it may be time to quit or better manage it. If you need help finding substance use disorder treatment or mental health services, use SAMHSA’s Treatment Locator. external icon. .

Does HIV harm the immune system?

HIV will continue to harm your immune system. This will put you at higher risk for developing AIDS. Learn more about AIDS and opportunistic infections. This will put you at higher risk for transmitting HIV to your sexual and injection partners.

How long can a person live with HIV?

With early diagnosis and proper treatment, people with HIV can live a healthy and long life. There is no generalized definitive period for which a person with HIV can live. In the case of untreated HIV infection, the overall mortality rate is more than 90%. The average time from infection to death is 8 to 10 years.

How long does it take for HIV to progress?

If ART is not given, HIV infection usually advances to AIDS in 10 years or longer. In some people, however, it may advance faster.

Why is it important to get tested for HIV early?

It is important to get tested for HIV in the early stages of infection to minimize the damage to the immune system.

What are the factors that affect the survival of HIV patients?

Many factors that affect survival include: Genes. Mental health. Drug or alcohol abuse. Superinfection with another HIV strain. Nutrition. Age. Treatment. In the early days, the life expectancy and quality of life were drastically reduced in people with HIV.

Can HIV be cured?

HIV is a lifelong infection and cannot be cured. Antiretroviral treatment can, however, control the virus and the associated symptoms. Medications also lower the risk of complications and transmission of HIV. With proper treatment, people with HIV can lead long and healthy lives.

Does ART help with HIV?

This enables timely change in treatment if one treatment regimen does not work well for a person. With the increasing use of ART (anti-retroviral therapy) and the introduction of better antiviral regimens, survival with HIV infection has increased over time.

Can HIV be diagnosed?

With the advances in diagnosis and treatment, people with HIV infection can be diagnosed and put on an excellent treatment regimen before their immunity declines significantly. They are thus also protected from various opportunistic infections (infections that occur in a person with a weak immune system) and cancers.

Causes Of Hiv Infection

HIV is found in the body fluids of an infected person. This includes semen, vaginal and anal fluids, blood and breast milk.

Can Hiv Be Cured

The first thing to come to terms with after an HIV diagnosis is that there is currently no cure for the virus. However, there are treatments that are very effective at preventing the virus from progressing and damaging your immune system.

What Is The Last Stage Of Hiv Infection

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is the final and most severe stage of HIV infection. Because HIV has severely damaged the immune system, the body can’t fight off opportunistic infections.

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Understanding Hiv And Aids

Generally speaking, the time it takes to go from HIV infection to AIDS is around five to 10 years if no medical intervention is made. Differences in time can be due to any number of factors, including:

Latency Causes A Break In Symptoms

After initial exposure and possible primary infection, HIV may transition into a stage called clinically latent infection. Its also referred to as asymptomatic HIV infection due to a noticeable lack of symptoms. This lack of symptoms includes possible chronic symptoms.

Third Stage: Aids Symptoms

AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV infection. This is usually when your CD4 T-cell number drops below 200 and your immune system is badly damaged. You might get an opportunistic infection, an illness that happens more often and is worse in people who have weakened immune systems.

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