 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has affected the lives of many, eventually becoming a health issue that brought an ongoing stigma against those infected. The revolutionary discovery of HIV in the United States paved the way for its awareness, diagnosis, and management, thereby helping those with the condition prevent complications and opportunistic infections that can harm their well-being. Understanding HIVHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a type of retrovirus that was first discovered in Africa from primates, where it was thought to be transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected animal blood. Its destructive nature comes from its abilities to directly attack your immune system, thereby causing damage to the cells that are supposed to protect your body from harm.1 Particularly, HIV affects your CD4+ helper T cells, which are a type of white blood cells that help regulate your immune response and activate other immune cells to successfully fight off infections.1 Did you know? Your helper T cells also undergo self-destruction to prevent the virus from replicating and causing further damage to the body. The effects of this sacrifice, although effective in reducing viral replication, is short-lived and eventually puts you at risk of infections due to an impaired immune protection. How is HIV transmitted?HIV is primarily transmitted through sexual activity, where breaks or trauma in the mucosa exposes cells underneath it to seminal or vaginal fluids that contain the virus. Other forms of transmission include sharing injectables (or straws, dollar bills, or other devices for intranasal drug use), transfusion with blood and blood products infected with HIV, and exposure to potentially infectious body fluids, such as breastmilk or amniotic fluid from a mother (who is not undergoing treatment and still considered infectious) to her fetus. It is important to remember that HIV cannot be transmitted through saliva, tears, sweat, or even discharges from your nose, unless these secretions are visibly bloody! This means that it is safe to interact with, hug, hold hands, comfort, and exchange other forms of non-sexual contact with a person who is HIV-positive. Allopathic OptionsHIV infection is primarily managed with antiretroviral drugs, such as zidovudine, with specific type and dose depending on your unique case. Although unable to completely clear the infection, antiretroviral therapy can effectively suppress viral activity by attacking different stages of the virus’ development and replication. This has paved the way for people with HIV to live longer and help prevent them from transmitting the disease to other people. Presently, anti-retroviral drugs also help prevent HIV infection when taken before or after sexual acts or exposure to blood and fluids infected with HIV.1 Presently, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP) is readily available to prevent HIV infection in people belonging to high-risk groups, such as various healthcare teams working with HIV-positive patients, community care workers, bisexuals, transgenders, gays, and people engaging in occupational intercourse (sex workers).5 In people with high risks of acquiring HIV due to sexual practices, including their partners in the treatment regimen is important. One of the most pressing concerns behind the use of antiretroviral drugs is non-compliance that may be attributed to the number of tablets that should be taken everyday, as well as the wide array of side effects and adverse reactions, such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, rash, fatigue, and even mouth sores or blisters, all of which can affect your daily activities. This is one vital part where naturopathic care can help! At Natural Path to Wellness, we will help you explore holistic, natural options that can effectively reduce unwanted side effects from medication use and nurture your quality of life throughout your treatment regimen at the same time. The Naturopathic ApproachNaturopathic care aims to nurture optimal well-being through helping you address and prevent chronic inflammation and immune activation. Our goal is to ultimately treat the whole person and not just focus on your current disease. Promoting Gut Health HIV infection can impair the abilities of your gut mucosa to protect the body against harm from food and environmental particles that enter the body through your gastrointestinal tract. This is because the infection primarily damages your CD4+ Helper T cells, which are heavily responsible in initiating your body’s protective mechanisms against foreign invaders. Chronic infection and inflammation can also cause damage to cells that regulate the normal composition of your gut microbiota, which eventually triggers and sustains a never-ending cycle of inflammation.2 To prevent this cycle from happening, probiotics and prebiotics can be incorporated into your daily regimen. Probiotic and prebiotic supplementation can help prevent inflammation and improve the composition of your gut microbiota, thereby preventing gut dysbiosis. Nutrient Supplementation HIV infection cannot only exhaust your body’s immune response, but also trigger a heavy amount of stress that can eventually deplete your body’s nutrients and cause potential deficiencies that can affect your overall healthy state. Additionally, problems with your gastrointestinal mucosa can lead to malabsorption of essential vitamins and minerals that eventually causes or exacerbates nutrient deficiencies. Antioxidants normally produced in the body to protect it from oxidative damage are also depleted during the course of HIV infection. Supplementing your diet with essential vitamins and minerals, such as zinc, magnesium, and selenium can help promote your overall health and nurture your body’s natural abilities to produce antioxidants. Botanical Medicine Herbal medications are effective natural remedies that can help support your immune system and improve the efficacy of your treatment regimen.
And many more! Nurturing Your Immune HealthThe health of your immune system is crucial for the overall health of your body, especially when you have HIV infection. Nurturing your immune system through supplementing your treatment regimen with essential vitamins and minerals, optimizing your gut health, and incorporating herbal medications that can help support your immune response are essential in achieving an undetectable viral load, preventing transmission to other people, and avoiding complications of an ineffective immune response, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). To learn more about how to begin your holistic health and wellness journey, talk to us today! Take note : it is best to consult with your healthcare provider first before exploring natural and alternative options for your optimal health to ensure that your treatment regimen is what is best and safe for you. Additionally, most herbs are contraindicated during pregnancy and in special populations, so talking with your healthcare provider can prevent you from experiencing unwanted effects associated with unregulated use. This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements.
Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information. REFERENCES:
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THE BLOG AT NATURAL PATH TO WELLNESSAuthorSNatural Path to Wellness values community education and welcomes contributions from writers with a background in Naturopathic Medicine, natural health and wellness, herbalism, homeopathy, Nature Cure, and more. Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.
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