World AIDS Day: Three steps HIV positive people must take to prolong their lives

Getting infected with HIV could be devastating, yet it is not the end of the world. This is because Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and other ways to help maintain the condition leads to extension of their lifespan and helps them live normally.

Here are a few steps that a person with HIV must take:

1 Mental health care: Apart from taking ART punctually, patients must also look after their mental health as depression and anxiety are quite common. They need to take the support of their family and friends, as well as see a therapist after consulting with their medical practitioner. 

2 Avoid other health problems: HIV patients must take care of other health issues by adopting a better lifestyle by eating healthy, avoiding smoking and drinking, as the condtion makes them vulnerable to various infections.

3 Manage other illness along with HIV: Conditions like cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, lung disease or kidney diseases along with HIV means that the patient must change their lifestyle and get proper medical advice for his/her health.

Read: World Aids Day- 10 facts about HIV/AIDS in 2015

Also Read: Facts about the difference between HIV and AIDS

Also Read: India among 10 countries facing epidemic of HIV among adolescents