When you received the news that you are HIV positive, you may have wondered “Just what is HIV and what is it doing to my body?” That’s a very good question and it’s important that you take the time to learn all you can about the virus. This will help you understand how HIV medications work and help you partner with your healthcare provider to decide which medications are best for you. Remember, it’s important that you take charge of your health!
Knowing the basics about HIV is your starting point:
- HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). Being HIV-positive does not mean you have AIDS, but it does mean you may develop AIDS, especially if left untreated.
- HIV attacks your immune system, which is made up of millions of cells that help fight against infection and disease. One of the most important of these infection-fighting cells is called the CD4 cell or "T-helper cell."
- When HIV enters the body, the virus infects CD4 cells and multiplies inside these cells. These new viruses are released from the infected CD4 cells into the blood and go on to infect and destroy other CD4 cells.
- Without treatment, the number of CD4 cells will most likely go down and the immune system will become less able to fight certain infections and cancers. These infections are called opportunistic infections (OIs).
- Once the immune system becomes seriously damaged or weakened, or OIs occur, HIV infection has progressed to AIDS.
You probably have many more questions about HIV and its impact on your health. There are a variety of reliable sources of information you can turn to, including:
- A healthcare provider who specializes in HIV
- Your HIV case manager or HIV treatment educator
- Websites like the The Body, Project Inform, AIDS InfoNet and others
- Your local public health department
1. Adapted from HIV and Its Treatment: What You Should Know. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Fact Sheet. September 23, 2005.
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