Opting for alternative therapies instead of standard HIV treatments should not be done, as they have not been extensively tested like your current medications and some may interact negatively.
Studies have revealed that various herbal remedies commonly consumed in Africa and the Caribbean may interact with HAART medications and reduce adherence (6;9).
Vitamins
There are numerous dietary supplements on the market that claim to boost immune systems, but people undergoing HIV treatment must be extra wary when considering any claims involving high doses of fat-soluble vitamins such as A and iron, as these could potentially be toxic or cause liver damage. Many doctors prefer that people undergoing HIV therapy get most of their nutrients through healthy food rather than supplements; however if this is not possible then certain vitamins could provide additional support according to Margaret Hoffman-Terry MD from Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown Pennsylvania.
Research suggests that certain dietary supplements may help alleviate HIV symptoms or slow its progression, but before taking a supplement it’s wise to consult a registered dietitian as some could interact with anti-HIV medicines such as those from the Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor (INSTI) class which could make it harder for your body to absorb minerals such as calcium and iron.
Every person with HIV should take antiretroviral therapy (ART), also known as anti-HIV medicine. Most take a combination of medicines from several classes designed to stop the virus from multiplying; these medicines provide the most effective way of keeping HIV under control; such as integrase inhibitors that stop HIV from inserting its genetic material into CD4 T cells; non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors which disable proteins necessary for reproduction and protease inhibitors which render enzymes used by HIV inactive; protease inhibitors also play important roles.
Herbs
Herbs are plants used to add flavor and colour to food, and may even provide health-promoting properties. Their leaves (chives, sage, thyme, basil, parsley and rosemary), stems, barks (cinnamon and ginger), stem barks (orange zest rinds), seeds (cumin) flowers (chamomile turmeric) as well as stigmas of flowers (saffron) are among their many uses.
People living with HIV often face multiple health challenges that may make treatment harder to manage, such as medications commonly taken to treat heart, bone or metabolic conditions that do not mix well with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Therefore, it’s essential that any healthcare professionals treating you know about any other health concerns as well as herbs, vitamins or supplements you are taking.
Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of acupuncture, yoga and meditation practices for alleviating stress and fatigue related to HIV infection; however it must be remembered that such practices have not been as thoroughly explored as antiretroviral therapies (ART) and other medical therapies.
Studies indicate that most complementary and alternative medicine use among PLWHA is for symptom management, with most preferring vitamins, herbs and supplements, followed by prayer meditation and spiritual approaches as treatments of choice. It’s important to be aware that some forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) can have severe side effects or interactions with antiretrovirals therapy (ART), and may not work for everyone.
Herbal remedies and dietary supplements have not been subjected to rigorous tests like those undertaken with standard medicines, so they could interfere with or cause side effects from HIV medicines, or have side effects of their own. St. John’s wort can reduce how effectively antiretrovirals work while garlic supplements may lower blood levels of certain HIV medicines. Furthermore, some complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products could exacerbate conditions like kidney or liver disease.
Supplements
People living with HIV often seek alternative therapies such as dietary supplements or other complementary remedies to boost immunity or alleviate side effects from antiretroviral medicines, however there have been no conclusive studies proving these claims and in many cases may conflict with HIV medications – so always consult a healthcare professional first before beginning anything new.
For people living with HIV, staying healthy requires following their treatment plan and receiving regular medical checkups from health professionals. Your CD4 cell count and viral load will be checked by them to evaluate how well the medications are working for you.
Each person living with HIV should take antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART can reduce your viral load so it cannot be detected in blood and reduce the chance of passing the virus on. Furthermore, taking ART helps prevent or treat infections caused by Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis and other illnesses related to HIV infection.
Most antiretroviral therapy medicines should be taken once daily. Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), such as efavirenz, rilpivirine and doravirine, block the protein required for HIV replication; examples include lamivudine, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Viread), emtricitabine and zidovudine are examples of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors; entry or fusion inhibitors block HIV’s ability to enter CD4 T cells; examples include enfuvir (Fuzeon) and maraviroc (Selzentry).
Conditions that occur with age, like heart disease and bone problems, can become more challenging to manage when living with HIV. Therefore, if you suffer from one or more chronic health conditions that you take medications for, make sure your healthcare professional knows about this as it may interact with HIV medications in potentially harmful ways. It’s also essential that any medications used to treat other illnesses do not interact negatively with each other as this may make you sicker than expected.
Exercise
Exercise can be an essential element of an effective HIV treatment program and is recommended as part of both aerobic and strength training exercises for ART side effects reduction. Physical activity also improves mood and quality of life while decreasing chances of cardiovascular disease, diabetes or cancer comorbidities. For optimal treatment outcomes those living with HIV should implement an aerobic/strength training exercise regimen into their lives.
Exercise can have many positive health benefits for people regardless of HIV status, including strengthening both immune system function and cardiovascular fitness. Studies show that regular moderate-intensity aerobic or progressive resistance exercises (PRE), or both forms, can have profoundly positive impacts on lipid metabolism (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides levels), cardiovascular fitness, bone density density, body composition and quality of life outcomes – including improved lipid management by increasing HDL-cholesterol and decreasing total cholesterol. Exercise also enhances immune system health benefits as well.
These results support the use of AE and PRE in people living with HIV; however, significant gaps exist in terms of frequency, intensity, and duration of exercise regimens.
To address this problem, a recent study was conducted to analyze the influence of different exercise programs on frequency and intensity of exercise among PLWH receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Participants included 53 HIV+ African women undergoing ART. They were split into three groups: formal exercisers; playful exercisers; and control participants who did neither form of physical activity. Two out of the three exercise groups regularly performing either formal or playful activity demonstrated significantly increased exercise frequency and intensity compared with control group members while both exhibited increases in muscle mass mass growth while body fat reduction among these two exercised regularly participating groups compared with control group;
Meditation
Meditation is an ancient practice with deep roots in several philosophies and world religions, practiced worldwide since antiquity. Through various techniques, it helps reduce stress and anxiety while teaching the mind to focus. Studies suggest it may even increase brain size and gray matter density while improving memory and intelligence as well as increasing immune system function. Furthermore, meditation has also been shown to lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and reduce plaque buildup within coronary arteries.
UCLA researchers recently conducted a groundbreaking research study showing that mindfulness meditation could slow the decline of CD4 T cells, an indicator for HIV infection progression. Their scientists discovered that 8-week mindfulness meditation training buffered CD4 T lymphocyte counts regardless of antiretroviral medication use among a diverse community sample of HIV-1 infected adults regardless of medication usage or class attendance rates; results largely explained by how engaged participants were in mindfulness classes.
Women diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) often feel ashamed for having contracted the illness, leading to feelings of diminished self-worth, emotional distress and depression. As a result, they may not notify family and friends or seek mental health treatment services.
Transcendental Meditation (TM) is renowned for reducing stress-related disorders such as anxiety, depression and high blood pressure as well as improving overall health, resiliency and brain functioning. Numerous peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated its efficacy in helping reduce stigma related to HIV/AIDS while helping individuals cope with its symptoms like depression, anxiety fatigue and physical issues more easily – as well as providing comfort and encouragement through its practice.
