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).
Thanks!
Good job i-base members keep it up
Hi,
Questions about life expectancy are difficult to answer. This is because this is very individual and affected by lots of things that have nothing to do with HIV. You do seem to be doing very well though. Having an undetectable viral load is great – it shows you treatment is working. Your CD4 count is also significantly above the point where you have to worry about HIV related illnesses.
I started treatment at cd4 of 50. Now at 326 and undetectable viral load. What is my life expectancy?
Thanks
Hi,
There are more and more people with HIV today who also have Hep C. It is important that you have a doctor who knows how to manage both of these conditions. Life expectancy is difficult to measure in anyone. 2076 is a great goal, but 113 is very old for anyone!
You can find lots of information about being co-infected with both HIV and Hep C here:
http://i-base.info/guides/hepc
2016/01/19 at 5:59 am
Do let me know if we can help with anything else. You can email us directly at:
questions@i-base.info
I’ve been living with HIV for 23yrs I’m 53. I’ve recently picked up Hep C. I’ve only had it a month and have 268 thousand copies of the hep C virus. If treated for both how long can I expect to live? I planned on living till 2076 is that possible? I’m active, have a poor diet and I’ve smoked for a year and a half. I know that has to stop. Give me hope, my dream was to live till the tri-centennial?
Hi Steven, I don’t have the answer to your situation. If you are just traveling through Dubai this may be okay, also if you are going for a holiday or even to work. This depends on whether or not your meds are seen – and most people travel without their luggage being opened.
Unless you are applying to work you are not required to have an HIV test.
See this link for updated information about UAE.
please I’m HIV+ and on meds and I’m planning to travel to abroad to Dubai. I’m scared about if I will be deported. please help me. I’m in nigeria.
Hi keshav
It sounds like you are all doing very well on treatment. This is really good news.
HIV meds make a huge difference to your future.
So long as your are taking the meds and not getting side effects, they should continue to work for many years.
If you have results from viral load and CD4 tests, this gives a bit more information.
Having an undetectable viral load means that the drugs should alsways continue to work.
Please let me know if you have more questions.
Me, my partner, and my son all have hiv. We have all bee taking treatment from the doctor for the last 8 years. what is our future?