LIFESTYLE NEWS - With effective treatment and early diagnosis, more people with HIV are living to an older age than ever before. 

A pharmacist at South Africa’s original national courier pharmacy breaks down why each of us should want to know our HIV status, and why diagnosis today does not have to limit a person’s life expectancy.

“You can and will live a healthy and normal life with HIV for as long as you stick to your treatment. The life expectancy of someone living with HIV who is taking antiretroviral treatment [ART] has increased substantially over the past 25 years and is now predicted to be similar to the average life expectancy of someone who is HIV negative,” says pharmacist Vukona Baloyi of Medipost Pharmacy, which dispenses and delivers chronic medications to support better treatment adherence nationwide.

She points out that testing regularly is key to early detection, which allows people living with HIV to start ART immediately, which can significantly reduce the virus multiplication in their body to undetectable levels and help prevent transmission.

“If you do test positive, the first thing to remember is that you have the right to your privacy, and no one else will know of your condition unless you decide to share this information. Secondly, we understand HIV so much better, and the medication available has improved to such a degree that if you are diagnosed early, adhere to your treatment and have your regular checkups, HIV is a highly manageable chronic condition,” she says.

“If a person does not know that they are living with HIV, the virus keeps growing in their body. Without treatment, over time, HIV infection progresses to AIDS, and from there on, the average survival is tragically only about three years. Early diagnosis and treatment are therefore essential for preserving life and increasing life expectancy.”

Living longer with HIV 

• Accessing HIV treatment starts with testing: If you test positive for HIV, effective ARV therapy and quality medical care are crucial for improving life expectancy. Medipost Pharmacy dispenses and delivers chronic medication nationwide for greater accessibility.
• Medication adherence: Taking your ARVs as prescribed is vital for supporting life expectancy, to make sure you get the best benefits from your medication, and reduce the risks of non-adherence. Convenient, confidential delivery of chronic medication parcels helps make it easier to stick to your treatment plan.
• Monitoring your condition: Regular check-ups with your doctor or clinic are effective for monitoring how your body is coping with the virus and updating your medication if needed. A high CD4 count and undetectable viral load significantly increase life expectancy. “Remember, maintaining these levels is more clinically important than your past counts or viral loads,” Baloyi says.
• Seek treatment early for any new symptoms: Illnesses or infections that develop either before or after your HIV diagnosis could become serious if your immune system is weakened. Consult your healthcare practitioner for treatment early if you notice anything unusual, such as swelling or skin rashes.
• Don’t forget to screen for other health conditions: Manage your risk and test for other diseases like heart disease, liver disease, and cancers, as these are often more likely to affect life expectancy than HIV itself.
• Lifestyle choices: Although certain factors influencing life expectancy are beyond a person’s control, modifiable factors such as not smoking, managing stress levels, eating a healthy diet, and staying physically fit are essential for anyone’s wellbeing and healthy longevity.

“We understand that no one chooses to get HIV, and as South Africa’s first national courier pharmacy, we strive to support ART adherence to help make it easier to manage and get the best out of treatment,” Baloyi says.

“Disrupted ARV treatment can lead to a drop in the person’s CD4 count, leaving them more vulnerable to opportunistic infections and a higher risk of falling seriously ill. Another serious risk of non-adherence is that it can lead to drug resistance, where the virus adapts itself so that the treatment is no longer effective. 

"Then the person’s ART regimen would need to change to include more pills. This, in turn, can sometimes make it even harder for people to stick to their treatment, but pharmacists are here to help,” she says.

Telephone pharmacy support is available in all official languages for patients who receive their medication through Medipost Pharmacy. For any questions about medication or if you find you are not coping, Baloyi urges patients to speak to their pharmacist and, if necessary, consult their doctor to find a solution.

“When starting first-line ART, some people initially experience side-effects such as weird dreams, nausea or headache; however, the good news is that these often resolve within a few months. It is important to report severe skin reactions, as there could be an underlying allergy or adverse reaction that might need to be medically managed,” Baloyi advises.

“Even though HIV management has progressed greatly, preventing HIV must remain a priority for all. This includes knowing your status, practising safe sex using condoms, and remaining faithful to one partner. For people who may be at higher risk, talk to your medical practitioner about the options for preventing HIV transmission, such as prescription pre-exposure prophylaxis, more commonly known as PrEP.”

“There are millions of people living with HIV who live completely normal lives. We are fortunate to live in a time and a country where HIV treatment is readily available. We all have an interest in knowing our status and looking after our health, and a responsibility to reduce the spread of HIV,” Baloyi concludes.

Easily manage your medication with Medipost Pharmacy by sending a WhatsApp message to 012 426 4655 to register as a patient. This allows you to request medication dispensing, arrange free courier delivery, and even redirect deliveries to your holiday destination if needed.

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