Question
How long can I live if I’m taking HIV treatment (ART)?
15 January 2018. Related: All topics, Life expectancy, Living with HIV long-term.
Can HIV kill when you have an undetectable viral load? I’m doing well on medication and how long can i live to the cure? Lastly, why cant I stop thinking about my HIV status – first thing in the morning and also just before I fall asleep?
Polio have been eradicated but why cant scientists do the same for HIV?
Answer
The quick answer is that with modern HIV drugs (called ART) your life expectancy is likely to be similar to if you were HIV negative. The earlier someone is diagnosed and start ART, the quicker any damage from HIV can be reversed.
For most people, HIV is easy to treat and easy to manage. ART can give you a normal life expectancy and an excellent quality of life.
Hw long anyone will live depends on things you can change (smoking, exercise, medication) and thing you can’t (genetics and luck). A study in Denmark (2005) estimated that the survival is more than 35 years for a young person diagnosed with HIV infection and another study in Canada (2003) report that in the US, life expectancy at age 20 years was an additional 58.3 years.
As long as your CD4 count stays above 200 cells/mm3, the risk of most HIV complications is pretty low. At higher CD4 levels – above 350, or 500, or 700 – the risk becomes lower still. Although some health problems are slightly higher in HIV positive people compared to HIV negative people, these risks are also often reduced by ART.
If you continue to take your medication as prescribed and do not miss or taking doses late, then the risk of HIV health problems in the future s very low. However, just as HIV negative people become ill, lifestyle changes to reduce these risks are important if you are HIV positive. For example, keeping mentally and physically active, eating a balanced diet, resting well, not smoking etc).
Having HIV might not always be easy though. The shock of being diagnosed sometimes takes a long time to come to terms with and at the moment you are still working on this. Already, I am sure you feel better than when you were first diagnosed and this will continue to become easier every year.
Most people worry about the impact of HIV on their life. This could bewhy you think about your HIV status on a daily basis. If this continues to be difficult perhaps get in touch with a local support group or ask about counselling. Talking about your HIV status can help you to deal with it and also through group support you can share experiences and also learn from one another. You do not have to deal with it in isolation.
Finally, you asked about research into a cure. HIV is very complex in a way that is different to polio. Although currently there is no vaccine or cure, there is a lot of ongoing research.
HIV treatment is one of the successes of modern medicine. The breadth and expertise in scientific advances has not only developed 30 medications in five drug classes but this research has contributed to many other areas of medicine.
Even though curing HIV is difficult, there are lots of reasons to be optimistic.
This question was updated in January 2018 from an original answer posted in November 2011. (See: Question 10 at this link for more information).
I am taking ARV for almost two months now. My cd4 is 44 which is very low. I dont havd any major opportunistic infection except I’m getting bad acne all over my face. Will this heal on its own? I already visited dermatologists but not one of them cleared my face. It’s frustrating really. What will I do? Is there a link between arv and acne breakouts? Is this a side effect?
Hi Morgan,
It’s great that you’re on ART and now have an undetectable viral load.
Yes, people who are HIV positive and on ART can have a similar life expectancy to someone who is HIV negative. But there can be other reasons for not living beyond 70 years of course.
However, I’ve been HIV positive for many years. I’m on ART, and I was 70 years old this spring!
Am HIV positive and am on ART since 2017, October, but few months ago in 2019, I was told by my doctor that the HIV virus in my blood is undetactable. Does this mean that I can live beyond 70 years of age?
Hi Esethu,
All Q&As about transmssion and testing are answered here.
If he’s taking ARVs and has an undetectable viral load the HIV risk to you is zero. Please see U=U (Undetectable=Untransmittable).
I guys i slept wit someone 2 days he nver tell me tht he is taking Arvs then i find them on his bag by the tym we sleep i was on ma periods after when we done its starts to be more heavy we went to the clinic then my results says i am negative then they said i must come bck after six weeks, so my question is will i be affect
Hi Zama,
If you’re positive, then yes you can, and should be taking ARVs. It’s common to worry about possible side effects, however it’s not possible to predict who will have side effects, nor what they will be like. This is because some people get them whereas others don’t get any. However if you do get side effects they should only last a few weeks. This is whilst your body gets used to taking them. Some ARVs have more side effects than others. What are you due to take?
There’s more about starting medication here:http://i-base.info/guides/starting
Can I take arvs now I don’t even know when did I get HIV are there any side effects when am taking ARVs for the first time
Hi Faith,
With regards to transmission, as long as your viral load is undetectable there won’t be any risk to your partner. Please see here: http://i-base.info/u-equals-u/ Therefore, unless other STI’s are an issue, it’s OK to have sex without a condom.
Research trials are there, however as to how you participate will vary depending on where it is that you live. Your HIV doctor may know of one near to you.
I am 52 years old woman and taking arvs since 5years ago and treatment is doing well but now in a relationship with a 56 yr old man who tells me he is negative in all diseases like HIV,prostrate cancer,diabetes and blood pressure and even more.Now my question is how can we enjoy each other sexually since he insisted on getting married and he knows I’m positive on HIV/AIDS and cholesterol yet I’m only 58 kgs,& another issue is that he keeps telling me he’s never used condoms and that he does not like using condoms , I worried I don’t want to infect him. Is there any advice you can give me bcz we haven’t had sexual intercourse yet , he loves me as I am and I love him too.
My other question is how can I enter the research skim I mean like if researchers need persons to do research about diseases, I am willing to be part of it.
Thank you.
Hi Penelope,
Regardless of how your partner contracted HIV. If you’re in a relationship that is abusive, then you may seriously wish to think about leaving it. No one has the right to abuse another person, HIV positive or not.