Women & HIV/AIDS

Caring for Yourself and Others

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• Symptoms of HIV/AIDS
• Treatment Side Effects
• Nutrition
• Emotional Issues
• Substance Abuse
• General Health
• Additional Resources

If you have HIV/AIDS or you're caring for someone who does, there are many aspects of disease management to think about. Below are just some issues to consider:

Symptoms of HIV/AIDS

Many people have no symptoms when they first get HIV — some even have no symptoms for years. But, some people with HIV get symptoms such as being very tired, quick weight loss, frequent low-grade fevers, swollen lymph nodes, and night sweats. With a weakened immune system, people with HIV/AIDS can suffer from opportunistic infections (OIs). These are health problems that usually don't make a healthy person sick. Some other health problems common in people with AIDS include coughing and shortness of breath, lack of coordination, and fever.

Treatment Side Effects

There is no cure for HIV or AIDS, but treatment can slow down the disease. This way, it will take more time for HIV to progress into AIDS. Despite the benefits of treatment, side effects can be hard to live with. Some include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, dizziness, headache, and rash. Body fat changes, called lipodystrophy (lip-oh-DISS-truh-fee), is another common side effect. Project Inform offers more information about side effects.

Nutrition

Eating healthy foods and preparing them safely is especially important for someone with HIV/AIDS. A healthy diet can help you keep a healthy weight, help the treatment work better, keep your immune system strong, and help you get better faster after being sick. If you're having problems like a sore mouth, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting, or if treatment has affected your sense of taste or your appetite, eating right might be tough. Learn more about ways to have a healthy diet while living with HIV from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Emotional Issues

Women living with HIV/AIDS have to deal with many stressful decisions and challenges. Some of these include dealing with the stigma of HIV; finding support; unemployment; low income; low self-esteem; sexual assault; and depression. Caregivers of people living with HIV/AIDS also face a lot of stress. Caregiving involves a great commitment of time and energy, and can be an emotional roller coaster. It can be hard to focus on your own health and the needs of other family members.

Your emotional health is just as important as your physical health. A support network can help you deal with the stresses of having HIV or caring for someone who does. Talk to other people with HIV or other caregivers for ideas on how to deal with challenges. Listed below are some ways to find support.

• Contact a local AIDS organization. A local AIDS organization can offer emotional support, direct you to support groups, and connect you to providers, services, medicines, and information.
• Call the CDC National AIDS Hotline at 800-CDC-INFO (232-4636). They can connect you with resources in your area.
• Find out if your health plan, including Medicaid, would pay for counseling.
• Talk to a case manager. A case manager can help you with things like medical care, mental health treatment, job options, housing and transportation programs, food, domestic violence shelters, and child care. You can find a case manager through your health insurance organization or at an AIDS clinic or hospital.

You may face these and many other issues with HIV/AIDS. But resources and services are out there to help you prepare for these challenges and cope with those you face.

Substance Abuse

Alcohol and drug use is common among people infected with HIV. Using alcohol or drugs can impair judgment and lead to risky behaviors that put people in danger of getting or giving HIV. Even if you already have HIV, using drugs puts you at risk for being infected with other strains of HIV or diseases, such as hepatitis C and tuberculosis. Drug and alcohol use also can interfere with your treatment. Your treatment might not work as well or you might forget to take your medicine. Substance abuse also can lead to mental health problems or make mental health problems worse. Talk to your doctor if you can’t stop using drugs or alcohol. Your doctor can help you find a drug or alcohol treatment plan that will work with your HIV treatment.

General Health

If you are HIV-positive, you might be focused on your HIV treatment and think less about your overall health. But thanks to HIV treatment, many people with HIV are living longer. This also means that as people with HIV age, they will face health problems common in all older people, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, arthritis, and some cancers. Research is underway to learn whether HIV and/or its treatment affect the risk of other health problems. Researchers are also looking at how HIV/AIDS and treatments affect other health problems. But ask your doctor about what you can do to lower your personal risk of other health problems and what preventive screenings you might need. Not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, making healthy food choices, and engaging in physical activity are steps you can take to lower your risk for many diseases and to feel your best. Keep in mind that HIV is only one aspect of your overall health.

Additional Resources:

Publications

1.   Caring for Someone With AIDS at Home — This publication provides information on HIV/AIDS, what it is, pointers on taking care of people with AIDS, referral sources, providing support, and guarding against infections.

   http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/brochures/careathome/index.htm

2.   Food Safety for Persons With AIDS — This publication from the USDA outlines the special attention that people with AIDS should give to certain foods and food preparation because of their vulnerability to illnesses.

   http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Food_Safety_for_Persons_with_AIDS/index.asp

3.   Living With HIV/AIDS — This booklet is for people who are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. It can help you, as well as friends and family members, understand HIV and its effect on health and everyday life.

   http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/brochure/livingwithhiv.htm

4. Adherence: Keeping Up With Your Meds (Copyright © Project Inform) — This publication talks about the importance of following an HIV treatment plan and provides tips to make doing so easier.

   http://www.projectinform.org/info/adherence/index.shtml

5. HIV: Coping With the Diagnosis (Copyright © AAFP) — This fact sheet provides information on how to cope with an HIV diagnosis and ways to take care of yourself.

   http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/sexinfections/hiv/038.html

6. How Do I Start? (Copyright © AIDSinfonet.org) — This publication provides a starting point for people newly diagnosed with HIV. It includes information on what HIV is, the importance of HIV treatment, and where to go for help and support services.

   http://aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/201?lang=eng

7.   Lend a Caring Hand: Tips for Home Health Care (Copyright © UNINSTRAW) — This easy-to-read booklet offers tips on caring for yourself or others with HIV. It discusses how to limit HIV transmission, the symptoms of opportunistic infections, and offers nutritional advice.

   http://www.un-instraw.org/en/docs/publications/Lend_a%20Caring_Hand-INSTRAW.pdf

8. Nutrition (Copyright © AIDSInfoNet) — This fact sheet explains the importance of good nutrition and barriers to good nutrition faced by people with HIV/AIDS. It also lists nutrition guidelines for people with HIV/AIDS.

   http://aidsinfonet.org/fact_sheets/view/800?lang=eng

9. Strategies for Maintaining Your General Health: Different Ways to Help You Maintain Your Overall General Health (Copyright © Project Inform) — This publication offers a framework for thinking about a big picture of well-being, with an HIV diagnosis as only one component of overall health.

   http://www.projectinform.org/info/health/index.shtml

Organizations

1.   AIDSinfo
2.   Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention, CDC, HHS
3.   HIV/AIDS Bureau, HRSA, HHS
4. AIDS InfoNet
5. Family Caregiver Alliance
6. Hospice Foundation of America
7. National Family Caregivers Association
8. Project Inform

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated March 4, 2009.