TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF WHEN LIVING WITH HIV

Having HIV doesn't have to stop you living a full and healthy life. with the right treatment and care, you can expect to live just as long as someone who doesn't have HIV.
there's a lot you can do to take care of yourself and feel fitter, healthier and happier. if you have any questions, talk to your health care professional about nutrition, exercise, mental health or any of the other issues covered here.
eating healthily
people living with HIV should aim to eat balanced diet, without too much fat, sugar or salt. for many people, eating well is a pleasure and learning how to cook and prepare food for yourself, your family.. if your underweight perhaps because HIV was already making you ill by the time you were diagnosed or overweight, or if you have any particular dietary problems or side-effects that make it hard to eat well, then you might benefit from talking to health care professional about your diet.
to make it easier to understand what a balanced diet is made up of, it can help to think about the type of food you eat. your diet should be made up of

• plenty of fruits and vegetables to provide fibre, vitamins and minerals
• plenty of starchy carbohydrates to give you energy-such as brown rice, potatoes, wholemeal pasta and bread
• some proteins such as lean meat, fish, eggs and beans.
• some dietary products such as milk, yoghurts and cheese
• small amount of fats and sugars

exercise and keeping fit
being active is good for you in lots of ways- it can help to build your muscles, keep your bones strong, burn fats and keep your heart healthy. some people who are living with HIV experiences a loss of muscle mass and strength, so exercise can help prevent this.
you might get your exercise by taking part in a sport, or going to the gym, but everyday activities like dancing, playing in the park with your children, walking to work and gardening can all help you moving. if you want to do more exercise, feel fitter have more stamina, more flexibility or lose weight, there are three types of exercise to think about these includes:

• cardio or aerobic exercise- this increases your heart rate to help blood flow right around your body, delivering oxygen to your heart and lungs healthy. try running, swimming dancing or cycling
• resistance training- this increases the strength of your muscles by lifting weight for a period of time and then repeating. even lifting a tin of beans will do.
• flexibility training- this stretches different parts of your body to strengthen your muscles and joints. try stretching before and after any exercise you do, or focus on flexibility with an activity like yoga.

particularly as we get older, regular exercise is important in reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes, which can be more common in people living with HIV. exercise is also great at reducing feelings of stress and symptoms of depression.

staying happy and fulfilling potential
taking care of yourself is not just about your physical health, but looking after your mental and emotional health too.
finding out that you have HIV can be shock and it may take some time to adjust. support from your friends and family, or other people living with HIV, can really help when you are finding things difficult.
once you begin coming to term with HIV, its a good idea to think about the rest of your life. what are your goals? what's important to you? maybe you want to study, have a family , travel, or change career - HIV shouldn't stop doing any of these things

what can I do to take care of my self?

many of the things we do look after ourselves are common sense. try to get plenty of rest and sleep. if you smoke, try to stop it isn't always easy but there is support available to help you. if your concerned about your alcohol or drug use, talk to healthcare professional for advice and support. its important to think about any other health conditions you have. particularly as we get older, we are more likely to experience other health problem

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About hermovement

Hortie Foundation is an online platform that provide educational learning content for students and teachers in primary schools and knowledge about HIV/AIDS. And protecting the interest and rights of orphans and vulnerable children .