Living Well with HIV

Ageing with HIV

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) means that many people living with HIV are staying healthy into old age. The evidence from the national data shows that the longest number of people living with HIV/AIDS cases in Bhutan is 27 years since diagnosis.

Globally many people living with diagnosed HIV are aged 50 and older. Many of them have been living with HIV for many years; others were diagnosed with HIV later in life.

In Bhutan majority of the total reported 773 HIV cases about 87% fall between the ages of 15-49 years and 10% above 50 years while 3.8% below 15 years.

People living with HIV may be more likely to develop certain age-related illnesses earlier than people who are HIV-negative. Some people experience side effects when taking treatment long-term.

Women going through menopause can face particular challenges as a result of living with HIV.

The scientific evidence shows that people living with HIV are more likely to face several age-related health condition challenges as listed below;

• Cardiovascular disease
• Kidney failure
• Liver failure
• Cancer
• Type 2 diabetes
• Memory problems

Taking care of your health

It’s important to have regular health check-ups and ask your healthcare professional to monitor your blood and urine tests for signs of any problems. If you think you’re experiencing any new symptoms or illnesses, or any side effects to your treatment regime, let your healthcare professional know so they can look into the causes.

You can also reduce your risk of developing these age-related illnesses by:

• Not smoking
• Being physically active
• Having a balanced diet
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Limiting your alcohol and drug intake
• Keep your brain active