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Diabetes and HIV Rates of diabetes are higher in people living with HIV than in the general population. Changes to your lifestyle can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes

Many people develop type 2 diabetes without noticing it. When symptoms do occur, this is often after diabetes is a little more advanced. Changes to your lifestyle (such as eating a healthy diet and exercising) can reduce your risk of diabetes.

Depression and HIV Depression is an ongoing low mood which interferes with your everyday life.

There are many different causes of depression, including biological, psychological, and social factors.
Our page provides information on depression and HIV, including symptoms, causes and treatment options.

Chronic kidney disease and HIV HIV can contribute to the risk of kidney disease. But the two most common causes are diabetes and high blood pressure.

The two most common causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure, although HIV can contribute to the risk of kidney disease. Your HIV clinic will monitor your kidney function regularly.

Turning HIV’s power against itself may help target hidden virus — another step towards a cure Researchers used selected molecules to make human cells less tolerant of damage, so that reactivating hidden HIV becomes a clear trigger for cell death. While making cells more vulnerable to dying may sound counterintuitive, the strategy ensures that cells harbouring HIV are eliminated, removing the hidden virus they contain. This in turn means there potentially will be no viable virus left to re-do the spreading all over again in the absence of treatment.

Turning HIV’s power against itself may help target hidden virus — another step towards a cure

Life expectancy for people living with HIV With the right treatment and care, people with HIV can live a normal lifespan. You can increase your life expectancy by having a healthy lifestyle.

HIV-positive people are living increasingly long lives. Many people living with HIV can expect to live as long as their peers who do not have HIV. Find out more about life expectancy & HIV on aidsmap.com.

Frailty and HIV ‘Frailty’ is a term doctors use to describe a general decline in physical health and a loss of reserves. This leads to a person being less robust and less able to bounce back after an adverse event.

‘Frailty’ is a term doctors use to describe a general decline in physical health and a loss of reserves. A comprehensive, holistic assessment by a healthcare professional can often identify changes that could help reduce frailty.  

Pneumococcal disease and HIV Pneumococcal infections are common in people living with HIV, even with higher CD4 cell counts. Vaccination and HIV treatment reduce the risk.

Pneumococcal infections are common in people living with HIV. Symptoms of pneumococcal disease include fever, chills & sweats, headache, cough & a general feeling of being unwell. Mild cases are likely to go away after a few days.

Bone loss, osteoporosis, and HIV Rates of osteopenia and osteoporosis are higher in people living with HIV than in the general population.

Rates of osteopenia and osteoporosis are higher in people living with HIV than in the general population. You should have blood tests that help doctors understand your bone health at least once a year at your HIV clinic.

Low-level but detectable HIV raises the risk of treatment failure, but not long-term harm Persistent low-level detectable HIV appeared to significantly increase the risk of treatment failure but had no long-term impact on the occurrence of serious health problems in a recent study. Having ...

Persistent low-level detectable HIV appeared to significantly increase the risk of treatment failure but had no long-term impact on the occurrence of serious health problems in a recent study.
www.aidsmap.com/news/sep-202...

Eye problems and HIV Most people living with HIV don't experience eye problems related to HIV. Sight problems are more likely to occur in people with very low CD4 counts.

HIV can affect your eyesight, but this is much less common than it used to be thanks to effective anti-HIV treatment. Sight problems are more likely to occur in people with very low CD4 counts. 

Post-traumatic stress disorder and HIV Acute stress disorder (ASD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can sometimes be experienced by people with HIV.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can sometimes be experienced by people with HIV. There are a number of treatments available, including psychological therapies. These can be a very successful way of managing PTSD.

Myths and realities about ageing with HIV This page talks about ten myths and realities of ageing with HIV.

Is HIV treatment less effective as you get older? Do people living with HIV have a lower life expectancy?
We've put together a list of 10 myths & realities about ageing with HIV. 

Cancer and HIV Cancers are diseases of cells in the body. Rates of some, but not all, cancers are higher in people living with HIV than other people.

Rates of some, but not all, cancers are higher in people living with HIV than other people. Changes to your lifestyle, including stopping smoking, can reduce your risk of developing cancer. 

Despite U=U, concerns about sharing HIV status persist among older people Despite a decade of widespread ‘Undetectable equals Untransmissible’ (U=U) messaging and advances in HIV prevention, stigma has barely shifted for older people living with HIV in Amsterdam. ‘Disclosure concerns’ fell only marginally over ten years, while negative self-image did not change, report Dr Kevin Moody and colleagues in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

Despite U=U, concerns about sharing HIV status persist among older people #UequalsU

Anxiety and HIV Life with HIV can at times involve worry and uncertainty. Anxiety can be a natural response to a new development in life when you are not familiar with it.

Life with HIV can at times involve worry and uncertainty. It's normal to feel anxious sometimes but if your feelings are ongoing and stop you from doing things you want to do, support may be needed. 

Anal cancer and HIV Anal cancer is a disease in which cancer cells are present just inside or immediately outside the anus. Most cases are linked to human papillomavirus (HPV)

Rates of anal cancer are higher in people with HIV than other people. Taking HIV treatment significantly lowers your risk of developing cancer. You can also reduce your risk of HPV and cancer by getting the HPV vaccine.

Trans and gender diverse people face multiple barriers accessing UK sexual health services Trans and gender diverse people often expect poor treatment at UK sexual health clinics and actively look for signs of inclusivity before accessing services, according to recent qualitative research. ...

Trans and gender diverse people often expect poor treatment at UK sexual health clinics and actively look for signs of inclusivity before accessing services, according to recent qualitative research.
www.aidsmap.com/news/sep-202...

Life expectancy Easy-to-read and illustrated information on life expectancy for people living with HIV.

If you are diagnosed in good time, have access to care and treatment, and are taking your medicines, you can expect to live as long as someone who does not have HIV. 

Read, or download as a PDF, our illustrated page on life expectancy & HIV.

HIV and travel Many people living with HIV travel regularly for work, business, study, and for pleasure. In most cases, HIV is not a barrier to travel and holidays.

People living with HIV are able to travel to most countries of the world, but some countries do have restrictions on entry. Our page provides an introduction to some of the issues you may want to think about if you are planning to travel. 

Travelling with HIV medication When travelling, pack all the HIV medication that you need to last the whole trip, plus extra to allow for delays. If you’re taking prescription medication abro

Have you seen our page on travelling abroad with HIV medication? We cover packing your HIV medications, restrictions, getting treatment abroad and how to deal with time zone changes.

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Anti-HIV drugs This booklet is a starting point for anyone who wants to find out about treatments for HIV. It provides information about the drugs used – known as antiretroviral drugs or antiretroviral therapy (ART). The booklet has been written to help you decide what questions to ask your doctor about any course of treatment you might be considering. It should not replace discussions with your doctor.

Our popular booklet 'Anti-HIV drugs' is now available to download from the aidsmap website. This booklet is a starting point for anyone who wants to find out about treatments for HIV. 

HIV & sex This booklet is about sex, intimacy and sexual health for people living with HIV. These are essential aspects of health and wellbeing for everyone.

We have published our booklet 'HIV & sex' on aidsmap. This booklet is about sex, intimacy and sexual health for people living with HIV. These are essential aspects of health and wellbeing for everyone. 

U=U applies for some pregnancies, but not breastfeeding The risk of vertical HIV transmission – from mother to child during pregnancy or delivery – is zero when a mother has a fully suppressed viral load from the time of conception until after giving birth, an analysis combining 138 studies and 82,723 month-infant pairs has concluded. The analysis found that if viral load is above 50 copies but below 1000 copies during pregnancy, the risk of vertical transmission is approximately one in 77 – in other words, for every 77 pregnancies where viral load is detectable but below 1000 copies, one will result in vertical HIV transmission.

An analysis has found that the risk of vertical HIV transmission – from mother to child during pregnancy or delivery – is zero when a mother has a fully suppressed viral load from conception until after giving birth

Lung problems and HIV HIV seems to affect lung function, and some lung problems can be more serious in people with HIV and occur more frequently.

Lung function declines in everybody as they age. However, research shows that lung function declines faster in people living with HIV. Lung problems are also more common in people living with HIV than in the general population.

Hepatitis C Easy-to-read and illustrated information on hepatitis C for people living with HIV.

Hepatitis C is a serious infection caused by a virus. It damages the liver, which performs essential functions in the body.
Find out about hepatitis C and HIV in our easy-to-read and illustrated page, or download it as a PDF leaflet.

Feelings about sex after your HIV diagnosis HIV stigma can impact how you feel about sex. Both positive and negative feelings about sex are a normal part of adjusting to having HIV.

Feelings about sex can be complicated by an HIV diagnosis. Both positive and negative feelings about sex are a normal part of adjusting to having HIV.

Myths and facts This illustrated leaflet gives basic information on how to separate HIV myths from the facts.

There's a lot of misunderstanding about HIV and AIDS: not everything you hear is true. Our easy-to-read and illustrated page separates HIV myths from the facts (also available to download as a PDF leaflet).

Transmission and the law Easy-to-read and illustrated information on HIV transmission and the law in England and Wales.

Some people have gone to prison because they have passed HIV on to another person. The law is only involved in very specific circumstances.
Take a look at our easy-to-read, illustrated page on HIV transmission & the law in England & Wales

Your own feelings about having HIV Stigma is one of the main reasons that some people end up having quite negative feelings about themselves in relation to their HIV diagnosis.

Stigma is one of the main reasons that some people end up having negative feelings about themselves in relation to their HIV. If you feel this way, it’s important to question and challenge these thoughts and feelings.