In a July 2008 study published in "Lancet," Robert Hogg and Johnathan Sterne proved that people with HIV are living longer than ever before. This is due to a number of factors. As more information is learned on how the virus works, scientists are able to produce better medications. Living with HIV is no longer the death sentence it was seen to be in the 1980s. However, there are some behaviors and situations that can cause an acceleration from HIV to full-blown AIDS.
Alcohol
The International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP) has shown that heavy drinking can decrease the body's immune system. A lowered immune system can prevent an HIV-positive patient's body from being able to fight the virus. This can leave the patient open to opportunistic infections such as thrush, Kaposi's sarcoma and pneumonia, which can accelerate the progression from HIV to AIDS. Alcohol can also lower inhibitions and prevent people from immediately seeking medical treatment which can prolong their life expectancy.
Illegal Drug Use
Avert.org states that an estimated 10 percent of HIV exposure comes from IV drug use. Drug use speeds the progression of AIDS for multiple reasons. While, like alcohol, it lowers the immune system which is vital for keeping patients as healthy as possible, IV drug users are at a greater risk for contracting hepatitis C. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) reports that hepatitis C is a virus that causes long-term liver damage. In healthy people, this will almost always progress to liver disease. In people who already have a compromised immune system, this can greatly accelerate their HIV progression.
Stress, Depression and Lack of Support
A 1999 study published in "Psychosomatic Journal" by Jane Lesserman, Ph.D. et al., found that excessive stress, depression and a decreased support system can cause an almost 5.5 percent acceleration in the progression of AIDS. Stress has been shown to cause a decrease in immunity, and with an already deficient immune system, the body again lacks the ability to fight off opportunistic infections. A lack of support during an illness--as well as the illness itself--can cause depression and increase daily stress levels. Depression can prevent people from seeking help, can increase risky behaviors that expose them to opportunistic infections and can cause them to become non-compliant with drug treatment regimens.
References
- International Center for Alcohol Policies: HIV/AIDS Risks and Drinking Patterns
- Science Based Medicine: HIV Treatment Extends Life Expectancy
- Avert.org: Injecting Drugs, Drug Users, HIV and AIDS
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC): Chronic Hepatitis C Current Management
- "Psychomatic Medicine": Progression to AIDS: The Effects of Stress, Depressive Symptoms, and Social Support
