Question
How long will I live if treatment is working?
29 August 2006. Related: All topics, Newly diagnosed.
I was diagnosed as HIV+ in March 2006 and started treatment immediately. I now have a good CD4 count & my viral load is now undetectable and I don’t need to have these checked again for 3 months (was every month before).
If I continue as above, what is my life expectancy? I’m now 32 & would like to live to a ripe old age.
Answer
You should expect to live a long natural life. One recent report (from Switerzerland) suggested that life insurance companies should see HIV-positive people on successful treatment in this light.
Your risk of many other general illnesses, may be slightly higher because you are HIV positive, but the actual risk for most of this is low in real terms.
Advice for the general population on looking after your health is just as important for HIV positive people though in relation to stopping smoking, eating a healthy balanced diet and taking exercise.
Please see similar questions on life expectancy at this link:
https://i-base.info/qa/category/life-expectancy
Note: This answer to a question in August 2006 was last updated in February 2019.
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