If you have been diagnosed with HIV, then you need to take extra caution of your surroundings along with yourself. Should you stop leading a normal life, stay indoors, and follow a special diet? The truth is that when you are HIV-positive, there are things that you must change in your everyday diet and lifestyle. The medications you take and the symptoms of this syndrome call for lifestyle changes. For instance, you are likely to experience sudden, dramatic weight loss, diarrhea, or infections. Changes in diet or exercise can help manage them.

Here are some lifestyle tips for AIDS/HIV you can follow, to make your life easier:

1. Healthy diet

You can improve your quality of life when you give your body the nutrients it needs to battle this condition. So, regardless of what the HIV status is, you must conform to a healthy eating plan. It will help you manage the symptoms better, and you will also be able to sustain a healthy weight. A good diet also helps the body to absorb medications and manage possible side-effects.

2. Physical activity

Besides following a good diet plan, you need to work out regularly. Exercise has many benefits. It can help you maintain overall physical and emotional wellbeing. Workouts will enhance your overall strength, boost stamina, endurance levels, promote body fitness, and make the immunity stronger.

3. Quit smoking

One of the most important lifestyle tips for AIDS/HIV that you cannot afford to overlook is to quit smoking. Smoking will increase the chances of getting cancer, especially lung cancer, heart problems, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, leading to premature death. Smokers with HIV will also have poorer responses to ART or antiretroviral therapy.

4. Safe sex

Practicing safe sex is another most important lifestyle tips for AIDS/HIV patients. You need to understand how this virus can be transmitted and be concerned about lowering the risks of others getting infected because of you. Also, you need to use protection to stop the spread of this deadly virus. It is necessary to protect both yourself and your partner from getting infected by other kinds of sexually transmitted diseases or STDs.

5. Routine check ups

When you have been infected by an STD, you are likely to transmit the HIV virus to someone else. Sexually transmitted diseases will worsen HIV symptoms, making the disease progress at lightning speed. Moreover, those with HIV will also find it hard to recover from an STD. It is important to undertake routine testing for STD detection if you are already HIV positive.

6. Illness prevention

HIV will weaken your immunity, so, it becomes essential to protect yourself against infections and illnesses. You are susceptible to all kinds of viruses, bacteria, and germs. Ensure that you take all the necessary vaccinations to reduce the chances of infections.

7. Alcohol and drug use

You must not abuse alcohol and drugs because these may trigger feelings of depression. If you stay away from drugs, you can prevent your reasoning and thinking powers from becoming impaired. It is very important for minimizing the risks of HIV-caused dementia.

8. Medications

Finally, you must follow the doctor’s instructions and take medications without fail. You need to take the drugs exactly as prescribed by your doctor. It is dangerous to skip doses as this may make your body resistant to those medications. The medicines must also be taken at a set time every day. Even if you travel, you must carry them with you.