HIV
What should you know about HIV?
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Whether you were recently diagnosed, have been living with HIV for years, or love someone who is, HIV should never be a reason to take away your humanity.
The facts about HIV
What do we know about HIV?
- HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that affects the cells in your body that help fight off infection. Over time, this can make it harder for your body to protect itself from other illnesses
- If untreated, HIV can impact the immune system’s ability to prevent other conditions, but by taking HIV medicines as prescribed to keep the virus undetectable, it can be managed
- HIV is passed from person to person through certain bodily fluids. Most often, that happens during sex without a condom when the virus is not suppressed by HIV treatment or prevented by medication
- As of 2022, about 1.2 million people in the U.S. were living with HIV
- Thanks to progress in HIV care, more than half of people with diagnosed HIV in the U.S. are aged 50 and older
- As people are living longer with HIV, other health conditions, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, are becoming a bigger part of the picture alongside HIV care
Things you can do to help
- Sticking to your care plan as prescribed is the best way to keep your HIV viral load (the amount of HIV in your blood) undetectable—meaning so low that a standard lab test cannot measure it
- But remember, your health is more than just HIV viral load—emotional wellness, good nutrition, regular exercise, and healthy habits all matter, too
We’ve covered the basics. Need a little more information?
Explore tips about taking your HIV medications as prescribed and more at HIV.gov.
Images may include models used for illustrative purposes only. They are not individuals with HIV unless explicitly stated.