Question
How can my husband get his CD4 count to increase?
30 July 2010. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
My husband has been told that he has a month to increase his CD4 count or he will have to start ARVs. Currently it’s 240. He has been given some pills to help with this. What else can we do?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
The best way for your husband to increase his CD4 count is to start HIV medication. In studies of every ARV drug, CD4 counts consistently and dramatically increase. Nothing else has been found that can do this.
Most countries now start HIV medication at a CD4 count of 350. If his CD4 count is already 240 then he should start taking HIV medication.
However, 240 is still a pretty strong immune system. Many people have started at much lower levels and have responded very well and it has kept them alive and healthy for many years.
Other things that will help include the same things that are advised for general health. Try to eat a balanced diet, sleep well, exercise, stop smoking, and only use alcohol or recreational drugs in moderation. These are all general health aims that your husband can look at perhaps once is is stable on meds.
For more information on starting treatment and the different treatments available please follow this link to the i-Base ‘Introduction to Combination Therapy’ guide.
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