HIV and Kidney Disease

Submitted by hiv-info-adm on

Key Points

  • The kidneys, two fist-sized organs positioned just below the ribcage on either side of the spine, filter waste and excess water from the blood.
  • Injury and disease, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and HIV can harm the kidneys and lead to kidney disease.

HIV and Heart Disease

Submitted by hiv-info-adm on

Key Points

  • Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease and the leading cause of death in the United States.
  • Coronary heart disease, a specific type of heart disease, is caused by the buildup of plaque inside the blood vessels that carry blood to the heart, known as the coronary arteries.
  • While risk factors for heart disease (such as hi

What is an Opportunistic Infection?

Submitted by hiv-info-adm on

Key Points

  • Opportunistic infections (OIs) are infections that occur more often or are more severe in people with weakened immune systems, such as people with HIV, than in people with healthy immune systems.
  • Since HIV medicines prevent HIV from damaging the immune system, the best protection against OIs for people with HIV is to take thei

HIV and Mental Health

Submitted by hiv-info-adm on

Key Points

  • Mental health refers to a person's overall emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

HIV and Nutrition and Food Safety

Submitted by hiv-info-adm on

Key Points

  • In people with HIV, good nutrition helps to maintain the immune system, maintain a healthy weight, aid in the absorption of HIV medicines, and support overall health and well-being.
  • Food and water can be contaminated with germs that cause illnesses (called foodborne illnesses), which can be more serious for people with HIV due to a weakened immune system.

How to Find HIV Treatment Services

Submitted by hiv-info-adm on

Key Points

  • Resources are available that can help people with HIV find a health care provider, pay for medicines, and get help with HIV-related mental health issues.
  • The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program is a federal program designed to help people with HIV get the medical care and other support services they need.
  • The 

HIV and Substance Use

Submitted by hiv-info-adm on

Key Points

  • Substance use refers to the use of drugs and alcohol and includes the misuse of prescription drugs or over-the-counter medicines.
  • Substance use can lead to less safe behaviors (such as condomless sex or sharing needles) that increase the likelihood of getting HIV or passing it on to others.
  • Substance use can harm the health of a person with HIV by weakening the immune system, damaging the liver, disrupting an

HIV and Gay and Bisexual Men

Submitted by hiv-info-adm on

*NOTE: Males who do not identify as gay or bisexual but engage in male-to-male sexual contact are included in this group.

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