An HIV diagnosis comes with a whole slew of changes for patients. Not only are there symptoms to manage, but there’s doctor appointments and medications that will change their everyday routine. People diagnosed with HIV need to note that in order to live a healthy life, there are certain steps they need to take. This includes making healthy lifestyle changes to maintain your health.

Below are the don’ts of living with HIV:

1. Do not smoke
Smoking tobacco or any other kind of substance increases the amount of toxins in the body.

According to health study conducted by Kaiser Permanente in 2016, smoking decreased the life expectancy of an HIV positive person by an average of 8 years than the life expectancy of a non-smoking person with HIV infection. HIV Infection accelerates aging and smoking also does the same. HIV positive smokers have reported repeated coughing, and nausea.

2. Do not indulge in substance abuse
Like smoking, consuming drugs accelerates aging, decreases the immunity, increases anxiety, depression and damages the overall health of any individual. With HIV infection,one needs to completely avoid the consumption of any illegal substances.

3. Do not drink alcohol
Doctors recommend not to consume alcohol while on antiretroviral therapy. This therapy is a combination of many drugs that have to be taken regularly and throughout life. Alcohol literally acts like a barrier to this treatment procedure.

4. Do not indulge in negativity (thoughts and actions)
According to a study at the University of Wisconsin, negative emotions lead to a lower immune response against diseases. People who experienced intense happiness or joy were proven to be more resilient against diseases while people who were angry or fearful, or sad took a longer time to recover. Positivity is always the way forward no matter how bad one’s life is.

5. Do not indulge in intimacy without a condom
For HIV positive people, enjoying sex with a partner is possible. But only with a fresh and new latex condom.

Condoms provide protection for both partners who commit to the act.

6. Do not sleep erratically
Sleep affects all activities during the day. A good restful sleep boosts immunity, focus, energy levels and keeps you active all day. A regular sleeping and waking pattern enhances overall health. Whereas, restless sleep and erratic sleep increases anxiety, distractedness, laziness, clouded mind and decreases immunity.

7. Do not stay inactive
These days it is easy to stay couched and wait for the whole world to pass by. With an infection such as HIV, people tend to treat it more like an ailment. Attitude decides the way the condition is treated. Staying active all day boost the overall mood, immunity and metabolism of the person. With Antiretroviral therapy, there is more reason to stay active and do things on a daily basis. Exercising socialising and moving around benefits the HIV infected to stay happy and healthy. Exercise (of any sort) helps in secreting happy hormones such as endorphins and serotonin. Exercise also promotes good and restful sleep which can prepare you for the next day.

8. Do not binge on snacks and sugary drinks
Eating a healthy well- balanced meal regularly is a compulsory factor for the HIV infected individual. While on antiretroviral therapy, the drugs need support from the foods that are eaten. Malnutrition is one of the major factors for decreased immunity in the body. Packaged snacks and drinks contain chemicals, salts and sugars which really do not supplement the body with the right nutrition. Excessive salt and sugar dehydrates the body and accumulates the from both the packaged food and drugs. Make sure you also hydrate yourself well throughout the day.

If you follow the above mentioned lifestyle tips for the HIV/AIDs, then you can manage the symptoms of the condition. You can also consult your doctor for lifestyle tips as this condition cannot be cured.