Live Well

Being aware of your overall health beyond HIV can help you manage your HIV and improve your well-being. In addition to staying in care and on treatment, there are many things you can do to stay healthy and live well.

• Mental Health - Good mental health will help you live your life to the fullest and is essential to successfully treating HIV. To help manage your mental health, it is important to know when, how, and where to get help.
• Substance Use - Substance use refers to using legal drugs (like prescription pain medicines or alcohol) and/or illegal drugs (like cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamines). Substance abuse means that a person is using drugs or alcohol in a way that is harmful to his or her health and well-being.
• Smoking - Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in the United States, causing nearly one out of five deaths in the United States each year.
• Healthy Diet - No matter your HIV status, healthy eating is good for your overall health. If you are living with HIV, following a healthy diet offers several benefits.
• Physical Activity - Exercise offers benefits that can help you maintain good physical and mental health. Exercise can increase your strength, endurance, and fitness, and help your immune system work better to fight infections.
• Family Planning - There are several options for people living with HIV who want to be parents. Discuss your hopes and plans for having children during your regular medical visits with your health care provider.
• Living with HIV: Travel Abroad - Each year, millions of Americans travel abroad. Even though travel outside the United States can be risky for anyone, it may require special precautions for individuals living with HIV infection.