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).
Hi am Hiv positive have infected my partner as well and can not get the fact of it and sometime feel he is punishing me financially and emotional he is not saying it in so many words but his action says a lot and sometimes feel like leaving him but thinking that i infected him it is hard for me
Hi Warren,
Its really possible to say, as we are all different.
hi, how long a person can live w/out treatment for hiv?
Hi CNC,
You are right, we are now living long lives thanks to ART.
But there’s been a huge increase in research for a cure. Please see this Q&A which was updated in February this year.
And here is the cure puzzle. I agree with what it says on this link, as an HIV treatment advocate, it is always good to be optimistic – and hope is a powerful thing.
Just as science developed ART, one day there will be a cure.
To be bluntly honest…. and I have AIDS since 1985,..150 CD4 count,……..AIDS / HIV is a virus. There is a difference between virus and disease. Disease can have a cure. However there has never been a cure for a virus ever. (ie: colds, flues, etc.) and AIDS / HIV is a virus. But it is possible to find a vaccine to prevent it. You can check the facts with the CDC.
You can live a long life with the meds. But no cure.
Hi Sefinat,
Yes you can get married, there’s no reason why your status should be an issue.
I’m HIV positive can I still get married
Hi Jane,
Please can you talk to the clinic about testing for HIV. It’s important for you and your baby to test. After that you’ll know whether you need to start HIV treatment.
Please make an appointment soon.
I Know This Is For People Whos Status Are Confirmed But Just Found Out My Partner Is HIV + , He Didnt Disclose This To Me At No Point In Our Relationship I Havent Tested My I Know I Might & Just Found Out Im Pregnant , He’s Prescribed prezista & trivicay But I Never See Him Take It & We Been Living Together 3Months His Last Refill Was Sept 2018 We Became Actively Unprotected Since Dec 2018 So He Was Aware Of His Status Im Just Lookinh For Some Input & Advice Im Buying A Home Test Tomorrow But can he get in trouble for knowingly giving me HIV
Hi Leseka,
Do you mean your HIV status?
However, we no longer answer questions about transmission and testing. This information service is for people who are HIV positive and about HIV treatment.
Most questions about transmission and testing have been answered here:
https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing