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).
My sister was tested last year June and she was HIV positive and she had TB. They treated her TB and gave her treatment. She defaulted her treatment and after 3 months she felt sick and we were not aware of her status. She told us the day we took her to hospital. But now she’s been discharged from the hospital. I would like to know how long will she survive?
Hi Queen,
How are you coping with your diagnoses? Are you able to get any support?
Do you know what your CD4 count is? And what is your viral load?
The World Health Organisation recommend that everyone who is positive is on medication. Therefore, if its possible then you should be on meds. This is more important if your CD4 is 200 and below.
With regards to life expectancy, please see question 10 here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
I’ve just found out that I’m HIV positive. How long will I live? Must I start taking medicine?
Hi Titos,
Being diagnosed with HIV can be a shock. Give yourself some time, and breath. If you can, then talk to someone, maybe a friend, relative, or support group.
Its normal to ask how long you might live for. No one of course can predict this. However, HIV is now a very manageable health condition and the medication is excellent. We get asked this question a lot, therefore please see the following:
http://i-base.info/qa/?s=life+expectancy
I find out that am hiv+ this month, December. I’m worried and want to know how long I will live for.
Hi Eugene,
Please see question one here:
http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
I had unprotected sex September 3 since then I have done blood test and it came negative. computer test read staphylococcus and much toxicity. all through this period I had some common sytoms like stomok noise pains in the brain. Doriah. lype node. sometime it disappeared. and came back again with biting in my stomuk pain at my back eye brain bone marrow and lype node at my two ampity scratching in my trouth. pls are my having HIV or staphylococcus help pls
Hi Kasongo,
We have a lot of information about life expectancy on our site. Please see the following:
http://i-base.info/qa/?s=life+expectancy
43years old women from DRC congo living in south Africa l m HIV positive for 17years and my dauther she is 18 also HIV positive I’m warried how long we a going to survive please help
Hi Ireen,
Lipodystrohphy can happen when taking ARVs. However, it isn’t a common side effect. This is because of advancements in treatment. For more on this please see the following link:
http://i-base.info/guides/side/lipodystrophy