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Tag: Aids

Solidarity by candlelight

April 17th, 2023 by The Hello Doctor Team

On the third Sunday of May, light a candle for everyone whose life has been touched by Aids. Just like a single candle can push back the dark, every individual has a role to play in building awareness and acceptance.

It has been 40 years since the first International Aids Candlelight Memorial was held in 1983. Back then, it was the darkest years of the epidemic – the disease was mostly fatal and not fully understood. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way since: antiretroviral medicine now makes it possible to live a long and healthy life. What’s more, people with HIV can have fulfilling relationships and become parents with effectively no risk of transmitting the virus.

And yet people with HIV and Aids still face stigma. Fears continue to abound and someone with the virus or disease can easily feel isolated. That’s why this memorial, held on 21 May in 2023, is so vital. It’s a powerful symbol of hope and remembrance. For each of us, it’s an opportunity to stand with others, to share stories, to support people who live with HIV and to remember those who have passed away due to Aids.

Coming together to light a candle

Around the world there are almost 38 million people living with HIV today. It’s a reminder that it continues to be a global health crisis that affects millions of people. About one in every seven South Africans lives with HIV – if not you, then someone close to you: a family member, friend, colleague or acquaintance. For so many people to go through life feeling alone would be a tragedy. When we stand side by side and light candles of hope, we’re sending a message that we’re in this together, which is vital for reducing stigma.

The root of the issue

Why is there stigma around HIV and Aids? The negative attitudes and beliefs about people with HIV are rooted in fear. Many of our ideas about the virus and Aids go back to the early 1980s when knowledge and treatments were limited. Even four decades later, outdated beliefs about HIV transmission and living with the virus continue to exist.

It’s important to combat stigma because negative attitudes, behaviours and judgements about HIV affect all our lives. People with HIV may become discouraged from learning their status, accessing treatment, staying in care or simply talking about it. The rest of society misses out on honest, close and rewarding relationships with far too many people.

Build your community

How do you go about commemorating the International Aids Candlelight Memorial? From a candlelit meal with a few friends and family members to thousands of people marching through town holding lit candles, the event can be anything the community needs or wants it to be. Visit local government websites to find official events or organise your own memorial if you are moved to do so. It doesn’t have to be a complex ceremony, the mere act of marking this day raises awareness and builds acceptance.

Watch your words

You might not even realise that you are carrying hidden prejudices around. Did you know that the way you talk about the disease can influence the way others feel? Certain words and expressions can be problematic because they seem to place blame or aren’t precise. For example, talking about “an HIV sufferer” emphasises the disease and makes the person seem powerless. Learn which words have negative meanings and which are empowering – be intentional and mindful when speaking about HIV and Aids.

Stop the stigma

Whether through fear or simply not knowing better, sometimes people treat others with HIV differently. They might behave as if people with HIV are contagious or make moral judgements. If you see stigmatising behaviour, change the script – model positive ways to behave and share the basics about HIV. Because it can be difficult to think on your feet, take a look at these typical scenarios and suggested responses so you are prepared to act.

By knowing the correct facts, getting involved in events such as the Candlelight Memorial and speaking up for people with HIV, you will be making the world a more compassionate place.

References

HIV/Aids: How we are winning against this disease

November 25th, 2021 by The Hello Doctor Team

We’ve come a long way since HIV/Aids first showed up in South Africa in 1982. Unfortunately, due to a complex political history, we only really started addressing the problem in the mid-90s when South Africa already had the largest population of HIV-positive people in the world.

HIV is not yet under control. Infections are still on the rise in young people, and many who have the disease, don’t take medication. Despite this, it’s important for us to look at the progress we’ve made, and remind ourselves that although the battle is tough, there still is hope.

What we have accomplished so far

  • Mother-to-child transmissions (where HIV-positive moms infect their new-borns) dropped from 8% in 2008 to 2% in 2012, and the number of children who are HIV positive has dropped by 20%. This is thanks to well-monitored antenatal programmes.
  • 92% of people living with HIV now know their status and 70% of people with HIV are receiving treatment.
  • 64% of people who are HIV positive, are virally suppressed – which means the treatment is helping them live normal, healthy lives.
  • We are the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to approve PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), which is medication taken to prevent getting HIV, particularly for people who are at risk of exposure, such as healthcare workers, people with multiple sex partners or drug abusers (by injection).
  • South Africa has the largest antiretroviral treatment (ART) programme in the world, offering treatment to HIV-positive patients. Thanks to some success in these programmes, we have seen a decline in new infections for pregnant women, as well as young adults aged 15 to 24.

What we still need to do

Nevertheless, HIV infection is still on the rise in our country, especially among adults over 25. In addition, many young people still don’t have enough knowledge on how to prevent the spread of HIV, especially those who are uninformed or living in rural locations.

What you can do to help 

  1. Know your status
    If you haven’t been tested yet, do so today. We all need to know our HIV status and we need to get checked regularly.
  1. Abstain
    Try to avoid a sexual relationship, unless you are sure that you can have safe, protected sex with a single partner. There are also safer alternatives to getting intimate without having sexual intercourse.
  1. Always practice and promote safe sex
    Unless you are in a committed relationship where you only have sex with one person, and you are sure that person is faithful, you should always practice safe sex. With multiple partners, you are at higher risk of getting HIV. The use of condoms is the best option to protect you against HIV. Visit your GP or local clinic to find out more about prevention.
  1. Support HIV-awareness organisations
    There are several NGOs and organisations helping to spread the word and educate people on HIV/Aids. Here are a few organisations you can support by joining their campaigns, giving financial support, or volunteering:

Even though World Aids Day is commemorated on 1 December, you can get involved with spreading awareness anytime of the year. Visit https://www.worldaidsday.org/ to find out more.

Resources:

Can HIV increase your risk for TB?

January 23rd, 2019 by The Hello Doctor Team

Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s leading infectious killer. It’s also the number one cause of death among HIV-positive people. In 2015, over 10 million people across the globe had TB disease. Of these, about one million also lived with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus).

If you’re wondering why these two infections often go together, and what you can do to stay free of TB if you’re HIV-positive, read on.

Why HIV increases your risk for TB

HIV is a virus that destroys those cells in your body that help to fight germs and infections. These are called CD4 cells. When you don’t manage your HIV properly, your body finds it hard to fight off the bacteria that cause TB.

If you’re healthy, your immune system is usually able to destroy TB bacteria before they make you sick. But if your immune system is struggling because of HIV, the TB bacteria can infect your body and stay there. The bacteria can either make you sick straight away or cause symptoms (e.g. coughing, chest pain, or coughing up blood) at a later stage.

Your risk of getting TB increases about three weeks after first becoming infected with HIV. If your HIV is not managed with antiretroviral treatment (ART) this risk can double by the end of your first year of HIV infection. If you’re HIV-positive, your risk of getting TB is around 27 times higher than people who don’t have HIV.

How TB hurts if you have HIV

If you do get TB, it can affect how fast HIV develops into AIDS (the final stages of HIV infection when your immune system is very weak). The TB infection speeds up the loss of your infection-fighting CD4 cells and ups your risk for other life-threatening infections.

While your body is focussed on fighting the TB bacteria, it takes the pressure off the HI virus, which means it can make new copies of itself faster.

How TB spreads

When you come into close contact with someone who has TB, you can easily become infected. When someone who is infected with TB coughs or speaks, the bacteria spreads through the air. If you’re nearby, you may breathe in the bacteria and become infected, too. The bacteria can lodge themselves in your lungs and begin to replicate. From here, they can move through your blood to other parts of your body, including your kidneys, bones and brain. When this happens, your life could be at risk.

Tips to prevent TB disease

If you have HIV, it’s important to take great care to prevent TB disease.

  • Start ART as soon as possible. Visit a doctor or clinic without delay, as your risk for TB and other infections is high.
  • Take your antiretroviral treatment as prescribed, for the rest of your life. This will help keep your immune system strong.
  • Get tested for TB. This is easily done with a blood or sputum test at your doctor’s consultation rooms or clinic.
  • Speak to your doctor about using an anti-TB drug. If it is prescribed, it’s important to complete the course.

If you do get TB, complete your course of antibiotics and regularly check in with your doctor to see if the medicine is working. If you don’t use your medicine exactly as prescribed, the TB bacteria may become stronger, and therefore harder to kill.

References:

Can you treat HIV with a tablet per week?

October 22nd, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

HIV is a human immunodeficiency virus that, if not managed correctly, can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is the final and most severe stage of HIV. According to UNAIDS in 2017 over 30 million people around the world were living with HIV.

If you have HIV, you should start antiretroviral treatment as soon as possible as the human body can’t get rid of HIV completely, even with treatment. HIV attacks your white blood cells and reduces the number of them in your body. White blood cells are important for keeping your immune system healthy. Without treatment, HIV slowly weakens the immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off illness or infection.

Antiretroviral treatment

Antiretroviral drugs are called ARVs. These medications treat HIV, but don’t kill or cure the virus. They can only keep the virus from completely destroying your immune system. When the virus is slowed down, so is the development of the HIV disease. HIV therapy involves a mix of drugs that must be taken once or twice daily.

ARV therapy works by keeping the level of HIV in your body low (your viral load). This lets your immune system recover and stay strong. When your viral load is low it also helps to prevent HIV being passed on to a partner.

One pill to fight HIV

HIV experts have developed a capsule that can slowly release one week’s worth of antiretroviral drugs in a single dose. Researchers say a once-a-week, slow-release pill may keep HIV infections under control and help prevent new HIV infections altogether. The aim is to make it easier for patients to take their medication.

A combination of antiretroviral drugs must be taken every day for treatment to be successful, but patients can find it hard to stick to such routines. So, taking one pill for the week could simplify the schedule.

A study done with animals suggests that this new approach could work. The tablet looks like a normal capsule, but when it reaches the stomach, its coating dissolves and a special structure unfolds. It stays in the stomach for seven days and slowly releases the drugs into your system. On testing the drug-loaded capsule on pigs, the researchers found that the capsule successfully settled in the animals’ stomachs, and slowly released the drug over the course of a week.

Although research on animals doesn’t always have the same effect as humans, researchers believe that their results show promise. The capsule needs to be tested in humans before it can be used for the prevention and treatment of HIV.

When will this new tablet be available?

Testing in people is expected to begin within two years. If it becomes a success, the pill may be available within five years. Replacing daily pills with a weekly routine could help patients stick to their dosage schedule.

References:

 

“The cure” for HIV and other myths

April 20th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

About seven million people in South Africa are living with HIV. Our country has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world. HIV is a virus. If HIV is not treated and managed, it can lead to AIDS, the final and most severe stage of HIV.

Having HIV also means that your body becomes weaker, since HIV kills the cells in your body that protect you from infections and viruses like the flu, colds and other diseases.

However, having HIV does not mean you will automatically get AIDS. This is why it’s so important to treat and manage HIV as soon as you’re diagnosed.

Most of us have the wrong ideas (myths and misconceptions) about HIV. Here’s what you need to know.

Myth 1: I can get HIV by being around people infected by the virus.

Fact: Research has proven that HIV can’t be spread through saliva, sweat, tears and touch. You can get the virus from infected blood, semen, “pre cum”, vaginal fluid, or breastmilk. You can’t catch HIV by:

  • Kissing, hugging or shaking hands with someone who is HIV-positive.
  • Sharing utensils with an HIV-positive person.
  • Using the same gym equipment.
  • Breathing the same air as someone who is HIV-positive.
  • Using the same toilet seat or touching a door handle after an HIV-positive person.

Myth 2: An insect or animal bite can transfer infected blood into you.

Fact: You can’t get HIV from insects. When a mosquito bites you, it sucks your blood. It doesn’t inject the blood of the last person it bit. HIV can only be passed between human beings.

Myth 3: It’s risky swimming with someone who is HIV-positive.

Fact: You won’t get HIV from swimming pools, shower areas, baths, washing clothes or drinking water.

Myth 4: If I’m receiving treatment I can’t spread the HIV virus.

Fact: According to the AIDS Foundation South Africa, when HIV treatments work well, they can reduce the amount of virus in your blood to a low level that won’t show up in blood tests. But research shows that the virus may still be “hiding” in other areas of the body. It’s still important to practise safe sex to prevent infecting someone else with the virus.

Myth 5: My partner and I are both HIV-positive, there’s no reason for safe sex.

Fact: You’re still likely to get drug-resistant strains of HIV. Two sexual partners who are both HIV-positive may have different strains of the virus. Through unprotected sex they can still infect one another with another strain. This will lead to their immune systems being attacked by two different forms of the virus. It could further weaken their immune systems; which will change their treatment, because different HIV strains need different medication.

Wear a condom at all times. Keep your immune system strong and healthy. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, starchy carbohydrates, protein and dairy to provide fibre, vitamins and minerals and energy for your body.

References:

World Aids Day: How we will win this war

November 27th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Can you believe that the war against HIV has been going on for 35 years!?  Since the beginning of the war, we lost many battles, but we still have a good chance to win the war.

Since the start of this war, 78 million people around the world have become infected with HIV and 35 million people have died of AIDS-related illnesses.
In 2016, one third of all new infections in Sub-Sahara Africa came from South Africa, and the latest figures show that around 7.1 million people are currently living with HIV.

If we want to take this war to full victory, we need to stick to our battle-plan:

Phase 1: Prevention

  • Before 2001 up to 30% of babies born to HIV positive mothers tested positive for the virus at six weeks of age. As of 2016 this had dropped to around 1.4%! At the core of this success is South Africa’s program for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission which was launched in 2002. It is believed that it may even be possible to eliminate HIV in children altogether!
  • Between 2007 and 2010, the distribution of male condoms increased by 60%. Female condom distribution increased from 3.6 million to 5 million
  • By 2011, more than 150,000 medical male circumcisions had been conducted with an estimated one new HIV infection averted for every five procedures done.
  • In 2016 South Africa began an HIV vaccine trial, the first time in 7 years that such a big project to combat HIV has happened. The trial aims to enrol 5,400 men and women, making it the largest and most advanced HIV vaccine clinical trial to date in South Africa.

What YOU can do:

  • Never have unprotected sex. Have a condom ready, so you don’t get caught off guard.
  • If you are HIV positive and pregnant, make sure you know what medication to take, to prevent transmission to your baby.
  • If you know any HIV positive moms-to-be, encourage them to get to Ante natal clinic, and make sure they take their medication.

Phase 2: Testing

  • Between 2008 and 2012, annual HIV testing increased from about 19% to 38% in men, and from 29% to 53% in women.
  • A campaign launched in 2013 targeted testing in the private sector, farms and higher education. By 2015, an additional 9.5million tests were done, taking the total number of HIV tests since the 2010 campaign began to 35 million
  • In 2015, take-home HIV tests were made available for sale to the public, making testing easier and discreet.

What YOU can do:

  • Get tested at least once a year, especially if you have multiple sexual partners.
  • Never have unprotected sex.
  • Share your status, and inspire others to do the same.

Phase 3: Treatment

  • South Africa has the largest antiretroviral therapy programme in the world! Estimates are that ours is larger than the size of India, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Mozambique’s programs combined.
  • In 2000, only 90 people in South Africa were taking medication. By 2016, more than 3 million people were receiving treatment!

What YOU can do:

  • If you are HIV positive, get into an HIV clinic ASAP, and attend all your appointments.
  • If you know someone with HIV, support them – help them to make their clinic dates, and offer help to remind them to take their medication. Winning this war will have to be a team-effort!

Join the campaign for World Aids Day this year. The theme  is “Right to Health”. Without their right to health, people cannot prevent HIV get access to treatment and care. Everyone counts, and everyone has a fundamental right to health.

Since that everyone includes YOU, here’s how you can get involved:

  1. What does “right to health” mean to you? Post a picture of yourself realising your right to health by exercising, eating a nutritious meal, breathing clean air, having a blood test or buying condoms. Encourage your friends and family to do the same. Include the hashtag #myrighttohealth.
  2. Get involved in Red Ribbon Friday. Wear a red ribbon to work or svarsity every Friday, take a pic and share it. Use the hashtags #RedRibbonFriday, #WAD2017 and #PreventionRevolution
  3. Know your status, know your numbers. If you are HIV positive, ensure you take your medication as prescribed and go for your regular check ups.
  4. Stay safe. While the vaccine trial is underway, its important to focus on prevention. Make sure you follow the standard HIV prevention guidelines.
  5. Stay informed. Knowledge is power so keep up to date with the latest news and developments in the fight against HIV.

References

https://africacheck.org/reports/yes-south-africa-has-the-worlds-largest-antiretroviral-therapy-programme/
https://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/sub-saharan-africa/south-africa
https://www.health-e.org.za/2017/08/23/deaths-rates-declined-due-hiv-success-report/
http://www.hst.org.za/publications/Pages/HST-South-African-Health-Review-2017.aspx
http://ewn.co.za/2017/11/20/unaids-21-million-hiv-positive-people-receiving-treatment
https://www.niaid.nih.gov/news-events/first-new-hiv-vaccine-efficacy-study-seven-years-has-begun

Frequently asked questions about ARVs

October 27th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Can ARV’s cure HIV?

  • No, ARV’s can decrease the viral load (the amount of virus in the bloodstream), but they are not a cure.
  • Even if the viral load on a blood test is so low that it’s “undetectable”, the virus is not gone.

How can a doctor tell if the ARV’s are working?

  • The viral load should go down and the CD4 count should go up.

What happens if I miss a dose of ARV’s?

  • Take the medication as soon as you can and take the next dose at the scheduled time (except if the drug may have daytime side effects, in which case you should check with your doctor.)

Where can I go to receive ARV treatment?

  • You can go to your nearest primary health clinic or doctor. If necessary, you will be referred to the nearest HIV treatment site
  • The National AIDS Helpline: 0800 012 322
  • HIV 911: 0860 448 911

Can I take a break from ARVs (like a ‘drug holiday’)?

  • No! Breaks in treatment can cause the HIV to become resistant, and stop the ARVs from working!

If you change to a new ARV, can you go back to the old ones in the future?

  • The decision will depend on why the change was made in the first place and if the virus is resistant to those ARV’s or not.

What is Pulmonary Hypertension?

October 27th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Pulmonary Hypertension is a form of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of your heart.

Pulmonary Hypertension begins when tiny arteries in your lungs, called pulmonary arterioles, and capillaries become narrowed, blocked or destroyed. This makes it harder for blood to flow through your lungs, and increases pressure in your lung’s arteries. As the pressure builds, your heart’s lower right chamber has to work harder to pump blood through your lungs, and over time this causes the heart muscle to weaken and eventually fail.

Pulmonary Hypertension is a serious illness that becomes progressively worse and is sometimes fatal. Although it isn’t curable, there are treatments available that can help lessen symptoms and improve quality of life.

Symptoms of Pulmonary Hypertension

In its early stages, the signs and symptoms of pulmonary hypertension may not be noticeable for months or even years. As the disease progresses however, symptoms increasingly become worse. The most common symptoms include:

  • Shortness of breath, first while exercising and eventually while at rest
  • Dizziness or fainting spells
  • Fatigue
  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Swelling in your ankles, legs and eventually in your abdomen
  • Racing pulse or heart palpitations
  • A blue tinge to your lips and skin

Causes of Pulmonary Hypertension

When an underlying cause for high blood pressure in the lungs can’t be found, the condition is called idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (IPH). Some people with IPH have a gene that predisposes them to the development of pulmonary hypertension, but in most people with IPH the cause isn’t known.

Secondary pulmonary hypertension is a more common form of the condition, and it’s caused by other medical conditions. These causes include:

  • Blood clots in the lungs
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, such as emphysema
  • Connective tissue disorders, such as scleroderma or lupus erythematosus
  • Sleep apnoea and other sleep disorders
  • Congenital heart abnormalities (i.e. you’re born with a condition, for example Eisenmenger syndrome*)
  • Sickle cell anaemia
  • Chronic liver disease
  • AIDS
  • Lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that causes scarring in the tissue between the lungs’ air sacs
  • Left-sided heart failure
  • Living at altitudes higher than 8,000 feet (2,438 meters), or climbing to such heights
  • Use of certain stimulant drugs, such as cocaine

*Eisenmenger syndrome is a congenital heart defect, most commonly caused by a hole in the heart between the two lower heart chambers, called a ventricular septal defect.

Complications of Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension can lead to a number of complications, including:

  • Right-sided heart failure
  • Blood clots. Pulmonary hypertension increases the risk of blood clots developing in the small arteries in your lungs, which can be dangerous if you already have narrowed or blocked blood vessels.
  • Arrhythmia. Irregular heartbeats in the upper or lower chambers of the heart may be complications of pulmonary hypertension. These can lead to palpitations, dizziness or fainting and can be fatal.
  • Bleeding. Pulmonary hypertension can lead to bleeding into the lung space and the coughing up of blood, and it can be fatal.

Tests and diagnosis of Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is hard to diagnose in its early stages as it’s often not detected in a routine physical exam. Even when the disease is more advanced, the signs and symptoms are similar to those of more common heart and lung conditions. The doctor may do a number of tests to rule out any other possible causes.

The first group of tests done to diagnose pulmonary hypertension include blood tests, a chest X-ray, a Doppler echocardiogram, and perhaps an exercise echocardiogram to help determine how well your heart works under stress.
Further tests include:

  • Transesophageal echocardiogram
  • Right heart catheterisation performed under local anaesthesia and sedation
  • A pulmonary function test
  • Perfusion lung scan
  • CT scan
  • MRI test
  • An open-lung biopsy. This will only be done to see if certain treatments are suitable, or to allow discontinuation of some medication.
  • Genetic tests

Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension

Treatment for pulmonary hypertension is often complex and highly personalized, and requires extensive follow-up care. It’s possible that during treatment, medication and treatments may change if they’re no longer effective.

When pulmonary hypertension is caused by another condition, your doctor will treat the underlying cause whenever possible. Treatment will include a combination of medication and lifestyle changes including restrictions on travelling, stress and physical activities, and plenty of rest.

Read Jenna Lowe’s Story  for more info on this condition, or chat to one of our doctors.

Sources: WebMd, Mayo Clinic

Why it’s so important to stick to your ARV treatment schedule

October 21st, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

ARV treatment doesn’t cure you of HIV, it only helps to keep the infection under control so that you can stay healthy for as long as possible. If you do not take your ARVs as prescribed, you’re putting yourself in danger. Some of the risks include:

1. Your HIV infection may become resistant to the medication – this means that the treatment will no longer keep the infection under control because the virus finds ways to protect itself from the ARVs. Also, you’ll never be able to use that particular medication again – it will not work and please remember that there’re only a limited number of drugs used in treating HIV.

2. The virus will be able to replicate and you’ll end up with a high viral load in your body – a high viral load means that treatment is failing and your body is becoming weak

3. The HIV infection will progress and you’ll become ill. To succeed in treating HIV, it’s up to you to be responsible for your health – take your medication exactly as directed. ARV treatment used to be complicated with many different pills to take, but these days combined pills are available, which means you only need to take one tablet once or twice a day – much easier to remember!

ARVs leave the body quickly, which is why you need to take your medication regularly – ensuring that there is always the correct level of medication in your blood stream working to keep the HIV under control.

As soon as you skip a dose, it gives the HIV a chance to recover slightly, start replicating and learn ways to fight the medication you’re using – scary, hey!

So how can you ensure that you adhere to your treatment schedule? Here’re some tips:

  • Practice first with jellybeans- if you find the schedule difficult to follow then at least you can work with your doctor to iron out issues before you start taking the real medication
  • At the beginning of each week, divide your pills up into daily doses using a pill box – this way you simply need to open up the correct day and drink your tablets. Planning makes pill taking much easier
  • Work your pill taking into your daily routine- for example take them after brushing your teeth and leave your pill box next to the tooth paste in your bathroom cupboard (make sure this is out of children’s reach!)
  • Make sure you do not run short- keep an emergency supply of a few pills for just in case
  • Set an alarm on your phone to go off each day at the correct time to take your tablets

If you find that you keep missing your dose, do not be afraid to ask for help- that is what doctors and other medical professionals are there for, to help you!

You can try and work out together why it is you are struggling – are you having unpleasant side-effects? Your doctor could help you find a way to manage this, or perhaps you need to change to a different drug – not everyone tolerates medications in the same way.

The main goal is to keep yourself as healthy as possible, for as long as possible and by using your medication correctly you are increasing your likelihood of success.

Need some additional help staying on track? Speak to our doctors directly. You can ask our doctors a variety of questions at the touch of a button. Simply sign up on our website, and download the free Hello Doctor app from the Google Play or iTunes store. With the app, you can talk to, or text our doctors, anytime, anywhere!

My CD4 cell count – when should I worry?

August 1st, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

Being HIV-positive can throw your entire world upside down, changing life as you know it. While many things change, with the right medicine and a healthy outlook, you can live a full life. Part of managing your health is to keep track of your body’s defense system – your CD4 Cell count.

What are CD4 cells?

Think of your body as a castle, the germs that try to invade your body as the enemy, and your white blood cells as your body’s army. The CD4 cells fight and destroy the enemy germs and keep your body healthy. When you’re infected with HIV, the HIV virus attacks your CD4 cells!

Why are CD4 cells important to HIV + people?

As time passes, the virus gets stronger and damages your defence system. When there aren’t many of your defense cells left, your body can’t fight other infections, leaving you open to certain illnesses. So, your doctor will perform tests to see how many CD4 cells are in your body. If the count is high enough, that’s a good sign. If it’s low, the doctors will give you medication to help increase your CD4 count.

How low is low?

In healthy people, HIV+ or not, the CD4 cell count should be between 500 and 1200. It’s important for HIV+ people to keep their count as close to 500 as possible. If it goes under that amount, it’s vital that you go for regular check-ups with your doctor. You might be given ARVs from that point on.

Current health guidelines show that doctors may only start ARV treatment once the count is under 350. Should your doctor give you medicine, it’s important to stick to the schedule. Not sticking to the schedule will affect your cell count. If your count drops below 200, it’s a sign that your infection is getting worse. You will have to remain in close contact with your doctor regarding your treatment, otherwise your HIV will eventually progress into Aids.

What should I do to keep my CD4 count up?

Now you know why it’s important to keep your count well above 200! To keep it up, you need to:

  • eat a healthy diet – it doesn’t have to be expensive, just include protein, fresh fruit and vegetables, avoid too much junk food and don’t skip meals
  • exercise regularly
  • have a good support structure for when you’re feeling down
  • get regular check-ups with your doctor!
  • keep taking your ARVs once your doctor prescribes them.

Things to remember

Regular check-ups with your doctor or clinic are truly important as they need to monitor your cell count and adjust your treatment if needed. The latest guidelines show that HIV+ people should have their cell count tested every 3-6 months.

Most importantly, finding out you have HIV shouldn’t bring you down. The news may be devastating at first, but know that with modern medicine you can live a healthy life. Our doctors are also just a message away. Subscribe to our Hello Doctor service if you need some advice, or even another person to talk to.

Source: Aids.gov, WedMD, aidsmap, bhiva

Living positive with HIV

December 1st, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

Antiretroviral medications (ARVs) have changed the lives of millions of people all over the world. Why is it so important? Because it’s the only medication that’s known to help manage the disease we call HIV/Aids.

How Have ARVs Changed Life?

Without treatment life expectancy of an HIV positive person was around 10 years and people experienced a poor quality of life with multiple infections and secondary diseases (like flu). But with the introduction of ARVs, along with a good diet and some lifestyle changes, life expectancy has pushed past the 20-30 year marker.

While researchers are still hard at work trying to find a cure for the viral disease, people living with HIV should not despair as successful management of the disease can make it as harmful to lifespan and quality of life as other non-infective chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.

Sticking to Your Schedule

If you’re on ARVs, it’s very important for you to follow the treatment plan. If you mess up by choosing to skip a dose or forget to take your meds, or stop medication without first speaking your doctor, you could help the virus build up resistance towards the drug.

You Need a Little More Than Just ARVs

But using ARVs alone will not get you to the 30-year survival line. You have to use them in partnership with healthy changes to your lifestyle, which include:

  • Changes to what you eat and the way you eat
  • How you move your body and whether you get enough exercise
  • The thoughts and emotions you experience – keeping a calm mind and an open heart.
  • Stopping smoking

All of these can either build up your immune system, or break it down. The immune system is the target of HIV and when it has collapsed your body deteriorates into the Aids-phase of the disease. By making lifestyle choices that also suppress your immune system you make it easier for the HIV to take over. By doing the opposite you can proactively boost your immune system and make the virus a non-issue.

You are not alone

Magic Johnson is an American basketball player who came out as HIV positive in 1991. People thought he was on his way out, but 23 years later this 55-year-old man is still running strong.

A successful businessman, a sports personality in the USA and a prominent HIV activist, Johnson isn’t on a special expensive American-only drug. In fact, he is using the same drug regimen available in countries like South Africa. But he combines the meds with immune-supportive lifestyle choices, which make the world of a difference.

Another local example is Judge Edwin Cameron, a 61-year-old South African Constitutional Court Judge who has lived with HIV for over 25 years. He is someone who has used ARV’s to successfully keep the virus under control in combination with healthy lifestyle change.

These gentlemen are examples of people who have made HIV a manageable chronic disease, one that is not to be feared and denied but engaged with and proactively managed. By combining responsible ARV use, a healthy anti-inflammatory diet, an immune-building exercise regime and a stress-reducing mental and emotional health practice like meditation, you too can create a long and healthy future.

Author: Dr Yesheen Singh

Can we end AIDS by 2030?

July 21st, 2014 by The Hello Doctor Team

Can the world have AIDS under control by 2030? The UN thinks it’s possible.

The claim: According to the UN, new HIV infections and deaths from AIDS are decreasing, which means it could be possible to bring the epidemic under control by 2030, and eventually end it “in every region, in every country”.

What the claim is based on: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS can be transmitted via blood, breast milk and by semen during sex, but can be kept in check with cocktails of drugs known as antiretroviral therapy. So, twin approaches – reduce the number of new HIV infections, and get those who are HIV-positive onto antiretroviral therapy – are already showing results.

1. UNAIDS said that at the end of 2013, 12.9 million HIV-positive people had access to antiretroviral drugs – a dramatic improvement on the 10 million who were on treatment just one year earlier, and the only 5 million who were getting drugs in 2010.

2. Since 2001, new HIV infections have fallen by 38%, it said. AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 35 percent since a peak in 2005.
What it means: According to the UN report, the AIDS landscape worldwide has seen more achievements in the past five years than in the preceding 23 years.

“More than ever before, there is hope that ending AIDS is possible. However, a business-as-usual approach or simply sustaining the AIDS response at its current pace cannot end the epidemic,” said the report.

Seems that it’s time to roll out education about HIV and AIDS to a new generation and, for the first time, there may be an end in sight.

Source: New.yahoo.com

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