Treatment FAQ

what is the main goal of hiv treatment?

by Lucile Conroy II Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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By reducing the amount of HIV in the body, HIV medicines also reduce the risk of HIV transmission. A main goal of HIV treatment is to reduce a person's viral load to an undetectable level.Aug 16, 2021

Which is the main goal of HIV treatment?

Aug 16, 2021 · A main goal of HIV treatment is to reduce a person’s viral load to an undetectable level. An undetectable viral load means that the level of HIV in the blood is too low to be detected by a viral load test. People with HIV who maintain an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to their HIV-negative partners through sex.

What is the goal of HIV therapy?

Treatment Reduces the Amount of HIV in the Blood. 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.

How to optimize HIV treatment?

Mar 29, 2019 · HIV treatment involves taking medicines that slow the progression of the virus in your body. HIV is a type of virus called a retrovirus, and the combination of drugs used to treat it is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART is recommended for all people living with HIV, regardless of how long they’ve had the virus or how healthy they are.

How long do people live with HIV without treatment?

To assist AI/AN individuals in becoming aware of their HIV status; To reduce the number of new HIV infections annually; To reduce transmission risk by behavior change, prevention education and open discussion about HIV/AIDS; To ensure access to and quality health services for those living with HIV/AIDS and those at risk

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What is the main goal of HIV treatment How is that goal achieved?

The guidelines state that the primary goals of antiretroviral therapy are to maintain maximal suppression of the viral load (i.e., fewer than 50 copies per mL), restore or preserve immunologic function, improve quality of life and reduce HIV-related morbidity and mortality.Aug 1, 2000

What is the goal of HIV virus?

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) targets the immune system and weakens people's defense against many infections and some types of cancer that people with healthy immune systems can fight off.Nov 30, 2021

What are the goals of antiretroviral therapy?

The goals of antiretroviral treatment are to improve the quality of life of the HIV infected, reduce HIV related morbidity and mortality, and restore or preserve their immune function through maximal suppression of viral replication.

What are the goals of management for patients with HIV?

Restore and preserve immunologic function; Reduce HIV-associated morbidity and prolong the duration and quality of survival; and. Prevent HIV transmission.Jan 28, 2016

Which is usually the most important consideration in the decision to initiate antiretroviral therapy?

[17,18] Regardless of CD4 cell count, the decision to initiate ART should always include consideration of any co-morbid conditions, the willingness and readiness of the patient to initiate therapy, and the availability of resources.

What is antiretroviral treatment and what are the benefits?

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the treatment for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection using a combination of Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. ARV drugs do not 'kill' HIV virus but prevents HIV virus from multiplying and destroying infection fighting CD4 (soldier of the body) cells.Mar 9, 2020

What is HIV treatment?

HIV treatment involves taking medicine that reduces the amount of HIV in your body. HIV medicine is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). There is n...

When should I start treatment?

Start Treatment As Soon As Possible After Diagnosis HIV medicine is recommended for all people with HIV, regardless of how long they’ve had the vir...

What if I delay treatment?

HIV will continue to harm your immune system. This will put you at higher risk for developing AIDS. Learn more about AIDS and opportunistic infecti...

What are the benefits of taking my HIV medicine every day as prescribed?

Treatment Reduces the Amount of HIV in the Blood The amount of HIV in the blood is called viral load. Taking your HIV medicine as prescribed will h...

Does HIV medicine cause side effects?

HIV medicine can cause side effects in some people. However, not everyone experiences side effects. The most common side effects are Nausea and vom...

Will HIV treatment interfere with my hormone therapy?

There are no known drug interactions between HIV medicine and hormone therapy. Talk to your health care provider if you are worried about taking HI...

What if my treatment is not working?

Your health care provider may change your prescription. A change is not unusual because the same treatment does not affect everyone in the same way.

Sticking to my treatment plan is hard. How can I deal with the challenges?

Tell your health care provider right away if you’re having trouble sticking to your plan. Together you can identify the reasons you’re skipping med...

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 ...

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 ...

Can HIV be transmitted through sex?

If you have an undetectable viral load, you have effectively no risk of transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative partner through sex. Having an undetectable viral load may also help prevent transmission from injection drug use.

Can I take pills at work?

A busy schedule. Work or travel away from home can make it easy to forget to take pills. It may be possible to keep extra medicine at work or in your car. But talk to your health care provider first. Some medications are affected by extreme temperatures and it is not always possible to keep medications at work.

Can you take a medicine if you missed it?

Missing a dose. In most cases, you can take your medicine as soon as you realize you missed a dose. Then take the next dose at your usual scheduled time (unless your pharmacist or health care provider has told you something different).

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.

What is the treatment for HIV?

HIV treatment involves taking medicines that slow the progression of the virus in your body. HIV is a type of virus called a retrovirus, and the combination of drugs used to treat it is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART is recommended for all people living with HIV, regardless of how long they’ve had the virus or how healthy they are.

How successful is HIV treatment?

HIV treatment is most likely to be successful when you know what to expect and are committed to taking your medicines exactly as prescribed. Working with your health care provider to develop a treatment plan will help you learn more about HIV and manage it effectively.

How long do HIV side effects last?

Some side effects can occur once you start a medicine and may only last a few days or weeks.

What happens if your CD4 is low?

If your CD4 cell count falls below a certain level, you are at risk of getting an opportunistic infection. These are infections that don’t normally affect people with healthy immune systems but that can infect people with immune systems weakened by HIV infection.

How soon can you start ART for HIV?

Treatment guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend that a person living with HIV begin ART as soon as possible after diagnosis. Starting ART slows the progression of HIV and can keep you healthy for many years.

Can HIV cause drug resistance?

Drug resistance can be a cause of treatment failure for people living with HIV. As HIV multiplies in the body, it sometimes mutates (changes form) and produces variations of itself. Variations of HIV that develop while a person is taking ART can lead to drug-resistant strains of HIV. With drug resistance, HIV medicines that previously controlled ...

What is drug resistance testing?

Drug-resistance testing identifies which, if any, HIV medicines won’t be effective against your specific strain of HIV. Drug-resistance testing results help determine which HIV medicines to include in an HIV treatment regimen. Taking HIV medication every day, exactly as prescribed helps prevent drug resistance.

Answer

I think the correct answer to the question is to keep the persons immune system functioning. HIV usually multiply quickly in a body and can damage the immune system. Immune system is what allows the body to fight off infections and cancers. HIV treatment greatly slows down the damage it does and allows the immune system to recover.

New questions in Biology

1. What mountain ranges on Earth would require you to take oxygen with you to reach the peak? Find at least two mountains. Be sure to include their el …

What to do if you think you have HIV?

If you think you might have HIV infection, you're likely to start by seeing your family doctor. You may be referred to an infectious disease specialist — who additionally specializes in treating HIV / AIDS.

How to diagnose HIV?

Diagnosis. HIV can be diagnosed through blood or saliva testing. Available tests include: Antigen/antibody tests. These tests usually involve drawing blood from a vein. Antigens are substances on the HIV virus itself and are usually detectable — a positive test — in the blood within a few weeks after exposure to HIV.

What is the CD4 T cell count?

CD4 T cell count. CD4 T cells are white blood cells that are specifically targeted and destroyed by HIV. Even if you have no symptoms, HIV infection progresses to AIDS when your CD4 T cell count dips below 200. Viral load (HIV RNA). This test measures the amount of virus in your blood.

What are some ways to reduce stress?

Mind-body practices. Practices such as yoga, meditation and tai chi have been shown to reduce stress, as well as improve blood pressure and quality of life. While they need more study, these practices may be helpful if you're living with HIV / AIDS.

Is HIV a life threatening illness?

Receiving a diagnosis of any life-threatening illness is devastating. The emotional, social and financial consequences of HIV / AIDS can make coping with this illness especially difficult — not only for you but also for those closest to you.

What is HIV RNA?

Viral load (HIV RNA). This test measures the amount of virus in your blood. After starting HIV treatment the goal is to have an undetectable viral load. This significantly reduces your chances of opportunistic infection and other HIV -related complications.

Can you take supplements with HIV?

However, there is no scientific evidence that any nutritional supplement improves immunity, and many may interfere with other medications you're taking. Always check with your doctor before taking any supplements or alternative therapies to ensure there are no medication interactions.

What are the different types of HIV drugs?

Types of drugs. Initial HIV treatment generally consists of two medications called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors in combination with a third active antiret roviral (ARV) drug from one of three drug classes: integrase strand transfer inhibitors. non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

What is the DHHS?

Current guidelines. Recent updates. HIV resources. Bottom line. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is the U.S. federal government agency responsible for protecting the health of the American public. The DHHS HIV guidelines help inform healthcare professionals of the best ways to treat HIV based on the latest clinical evidence ...

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Diagnosis

  • HIVcan be diagnosed through blood or saliva testing. Available tests include: 1. Antigen/antibody tests. These tests usually involve drawing blood from a vein. Antigens are substances on the HIV virus itself and are usually detectable — a positive test — in the blood within a few weeks after exposure to HIV.Antibodies are produced by your immune system when it's exposed to HIV. It ca…
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Treatment

  • Currently, there's no cure for HIV/AIDS. Once you have the infection, your body can't get rid of it. However, there are many medications that can control HIV and prevent complications. These medications are called antiretroviral therapy (ART). Everyone diagnosed with HIV should be started on ART, regardless of their stage of infection or complications. ART is usually a combina…
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Clinical Trials

  • Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
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Lifestyle and Home Remedies

  • Along with receiving medical treatment, it's essential to take an active role in your own care. The following suggestions may help you stay healthy longer: 1. Eat healthy foods.Make sure you get enough nourishment. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein help keep you strong, give you more energy and support your immune system. 2. Avoid raw meat, eggs and mo…
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Alternative Medicine

  • People who are infected with HIV sometimes try dietary supplements that claim to boost the immune system or counteract side effects of anti-HIVdrugs. However, there is no scientific evidence that any nutritional supplement improves immunity, and many may interfere with other medications you're taking. Always check with your doctor before taking any supplements or alter…
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Coping and Support

  • Receiving a diagnosis of any life-threatening illness is devastating. The emotional, social and financial consequences of HIV/AIDScan make coping with this illness especially difficult — not only for you but also for those closest to you. But today, there are many services and resources available to people with HIV. Most HIV/AIDSclinics have social workers, counselors or nurses wh…
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Preparing For Your Appointment

  • If you think you might have HIV infection, you're likely to start by seeing your family doctor. You may be referred to an infectious disease specialist — who additionally specializes in treating HIV/AIDS.
See more on mayoclinic.org

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