NOTE: If you’re looking to these tips to protect you from contracting COVID-19, please note that no supplement, diet or change in lifestyle (aside from social distancing and regular handwashing) do that. These tips can only help to boost your immune defences, but they cannot protect you specifically against this coronavirus.

1. Get Plenty Of Sleep

Surprisingly, one of the easiest tricks to giving your immune system a boost is just getting in a good forty winks.

This is also why you tend to sleep more when sick – to allow your body to better fight off the illness. So, catch as much of those Z’s as possible.

Adults ought to try get in at least 7 hours of sleep every night. Meanwhile, teens should be sleeping between 8-10 hours, and younger children and infants about 14 hours.

2. Eat More Fibre In Whole Plant Foods

Next to your 40 winks, the most important factor in protecting your body’s defence system is whole plant foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. These are rich in nutrients and antioxidants to give you the upper hand against invading infections.

Antioxidants in foods help to reduce inflammation. Inflammation is linked to many health conditions, including heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and certain cancers. So, a high-fibre diet, built on a foundation of plant foods, can have far-reaching positive effects in any season of your life.

Another thing fibre is good for is feeding your gut biome, better known as the community of healthy bacteria maintaining your digestive tract. A varied gut biome can go a long way in building up your immune system. But we’ll give you more details on that in a bit.

3. Eat More (Healthy) Fats

Although we’re going into winter and hot, greasy foods suddenly take on a new allure (especially with hot food delivery back on the menu), you must resist the urge to order in.

What your body really needs right now in order to fight infections are the right kinds of fats. When we talk about “healthy fats”, we’re talking about monosaturated fats:

• Vegetable oils (including olive, canola, sunflower, and soy)
• Omega-3 fatty acids (i.e. fatty fish like salmon, trout, or mackerel)
• Avocados
• Nuts
• Seeds

4. Listen To Your Gut And Up Your

What your stomach (and your immune system) really needs right now is the right kind of bacteria: probiotics. These good bacteria live throughout your digestive tract and contribute a great deal to your overall health.

Eat more fermented foods or take a probiotic supplement to keep your gut bacteria varied and flourishing. This will help your body differentiate between normal, healthy cells and invading infections.

So, either find a probiotic supplement or consider incorporating the following fermented foods into your diet:

• Yogurt
• Sauerkraut
• Kefir (fermented milk)
• Natto (fermented soybeans)

5. Limit Your Sugar Intake

Increasing research suggests that added sugars and refined carbs can increase inflammation in the body. Curbing your sugar intake can go a long way in, not only keeping your immune system strong, but also reducing your risk of contracting chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

You should try to limit your sugar intake to less than 5% of your daily calories. In other words, avoid eating more than 2 tablespoons (or 25g) of sugar, if your regular diet consists of 2,000 calories overall.

Of course, as we go into winter, and colds and viruses become more prevalent, you should stick to the usual advice. Drink plenty of water, while keeping warm, relaxed and rested.

Please be aware that, if you are HIV-positive, these tips are also not a replacement for either your ARV treatment or the precautions outlined by the World Health Organisation. However, they can be useful in supporting the effectiveness of that medication, giving you more time to give your all to your family. And while you’re taking care to live life to the fullest, we’ll help you take care of your life cover. With Specialised Life Cover, you can find quotes that suit your budget in no time flat.

The post Boosting Your Immune System Naturally When You’re HIV+ appeared first on Specialised Life.

With COVID-19’s rate of infection quickly rising in South Africa, there has never been a more pressing time to update your life insurance policy. Your HIV-positive status shouldn’t have to prevent you from protecting your family’s future. Speak to us about quotes for specialised life cover for individuals living with HIV.

What Is Coronavirus?

COVID-19 or Coronavirus Disease 2019 is a respiratory illness. This is a zoonotic virus, which is a disease that passes from animals to humans. Now, it spreads easily from person to person. Thankfully, one can prevent infection with good hygiene, and young, healthy individuals are able to weather it like any bout of flu. However, this disease can prove dangerous to some vulnerable groups like the elderly and people living with HIV.

Coronavirus Symptoms

Coronavirus appears quite similar to a bout of cold or flu, and symptoms appear gradually. A typical incubation period lasts between 4-6 days, before noticeable symptoms become apparent. That’s why it’s a good idea to self-quarantine, call your doctor and arrange a test, if you have been in a high-risk area or have interacted with someone with COVID-19.

Be on the look-out for the following coronavirus symptoms:

• Fever (most common)
• Sore throat
• Dry cough or coughing up mucus
• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Muscle or joint pain
• Pneumonia (severe cases)

Older people and people with medical conditions (e.g. asthma, diabetes, heart disease, etc.) may be especially vulnerable to becoming severely ill from this disease.

Coronavirus Treatment

Although there is no cure yet, doctors have had some marked success in using antiretrovirals (ARVs) as part of their coronavirus treatment. After all, ARVs were intended to stop HIV from progressing to AIDS and keep viral loads in the body low. The ARVs’ abilities to keep a virus from reproducing is what is making it so effective in coronavirus treatment.

However, there is more to this treatment. Other parts of the treatment include antimalaria medication and an experimental Ebola drug. Again this is not a coronavirus cure, per se, but these medications can help keep the virus from progressing while your body’s immune system tries to combat the virus.

How Will Coronavirus Affect People Living With HIV?

While most of the population are getting through the pandemic relatively unscathed, people with compromised immunity are at a higher risk of developing the more serious coronavirus symptoms. This includes the elderly as well as people already infected with immunocompromising diseases like HIV. Even before COVID-19 reached South African shores, people living with HIV are already more vulnerable to infections and cardiovascular diseases.

As with any illness, experts say an HIV-positive individual’s chances of infection depend on their level of immune suppression. If you are on stable antiretroviral therapy and have a normal CD4 count, you may have as good a chance as an HIV-negative person. However, people with a weakened immune system may be unable to fight off the virus and are more likely to develop some of the more severe coronavirus symptoms.

Precautions Against COVID-19 For People With HIV

As it happens, you can prevent catching coronavirus with many of the same tricks you’d use to avoid the flu:

• Avoid close contact (i.e. within about 1.5 metres) with anyone who seems sick and keep away from large groups of people.
• Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Don’t share personal items like drinking glasses, utensils, toothbrushes and lip balm.
• Regularly wipe down high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, keyboards, and stair rails in your home with household cleaners or a diluted bleach solution.
• Frequently wash hands or use hand sanitiser after touching surfaces in public spaces like ATM buttons and shopping trolleys.
• Stay home and phone your doctor if you start having respiratory issues and suspect you are experience coronavirus symptoms.

Your HIV status shouldn’t be a death sentence, but that doesn’t mean you mustn’t take precautions. Since people with HIV are more susceptible to COVID-19 and other serious diseases, life insurance companies are reluctant to offer insurance to these individuals. Thankfully, some forward-thinking insurance companies are prepared to cover individuals currently weathering the combination of coronavirus and HIV. Apply for a quote today and protect your family’s tomorrow.

The post What Does COVID-19 Mean For HIV+ People? appeared first on Specialised Life.

As this article unpacks what HIV is, what symptoms to look out for, and how to prevent the further spread of the disease, it’s good to remember that a positive status is not a death sentence. While the is no HIV cure as of yet, your status should not prevent you from living a full life and helping to provide a lasting legacy for your family. Take the first step in protecting your family with life cover developed specifically for HIV-positive individuals.

What is HIV/AIDS?

HIV is the common name for the human immunodeficiency virus, which interferes with the body’s ability to fight infections. This virus attacks immune cells (aka CD4 cells) that would otherwise be fighting off infections in the body themselves. As the HIV in a person’s system kills more of their CD4 cells, the body becomes more vulnerable to various types of infections and cancers.

AIDS is recognised as the most advanced stage of HIV. While having HIV doesn’t necessarily mean you have AIDS, untreated HIV can progress to AIDS within ten years. You would be diagnosed with AIDS if your CD4 count drops below the 200 per cubic millimetre mark.

HIV/AIDS Symptoms

While some HIV symptoms differ between men and women, the most common symptoms present just like your average cold or flu. Within a few weeks of HIV infection, a person will begin to experience a fever, sore throat, and fatigue.

However, more often than not, HIV appears asymptomatic until the virus progresses to AIDS. AIDS symptoms include severe weight loss, fever, night sweats, fatigue, and recurrent and persistent infections.

Because HIV symptoms are often dismissed as a typical bout of flu, most people don’t think to check their status until more serious symptoms appear. Unfortunately, by that point, the HIV virus may have already progressed to AIDS. It is best to learn of your status sooner rather than later. This is best accomplished through regular HIV tests at your local doctor’s office, clinic or hospital.

How To Prevent HIV and AIDS

HIV is mainly transmitted through bodily fluids such as:

• Blood
• Semen
• Vaginal fluids
• Rectal fluids
• Breast milk

Some of the ways HIV is spread from person to person includes:

• Through vaginal or anal sex
• By sharing needles and syringes
• By sharing tattoo equipment without sterilising it between uses
• During pregnancy, labour, or delivery from a woman to her baby
• During breastfeeding
• Through “pre-mastication” or chewing up a baby’s food before feeding it to them
• Through exposure to the blood of an individual living with HIV. The virus is also transmitted through blood transfusion or organ transplants.

There are a number of ways to prevent being on the receiving end of this virus.

Safe Sex

The most common way, in which HIV is spread is through unprotected sex, i.e. sex without a condom. This risk cannot be entirely eliminated unless one abstains from sex completely. However, the risk can be lowered by taking the following precautions:

• Get tested for HIV
• Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Use condoms
• Limit the number of sexual partners
• Ensure the HIV-positive person is taking their medications as directed

Avoid sharing needles

Since HIV is spread through blood, it’s important to remember that it can be contracted by using contaminated materials. Even if you’re not a drug user, you could come into contact with a contaminated needle if your tattoo artist doesn’t sterilise theirs between clients.

Consider PrEP

If you live in an environment that has a high-risk of HIV infection or work in a high-risk environment, speak to your doctor about PrEP. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a combination of two drugs that can reduce the risk of contracting HIV, if taken consistently.

Treatments For HIV and AIDS

Unfortunately, there is no cure for HIV or AIDS at this point. However, you can slow the progression of the virus by going on antiretroviral medication (ARVs). By being consistent in taking this medication, you can lower the risk of spreading HIV to your sexual partners and extend your life in spite of the virus.

No matter what your status, your life matters. Your HIV-status shouldn’t restrict you from applying and getting an affordable life cover policy that can help to take care of your loved ones when you’re no longer around. Get quotes for life cover designed for HIV-positive individuals.

The post HIV And AIDS: Symptoms, Treatments, Prevention appeared first on Specialised Life.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, visit your doctor and ask for an HIV test. If you’re worried about being excluded from accessing life cover, speak to us about getting a quote for specialised health cover today!

Early Signs Of HIV In Women

These early symptoms are often dismissed as a simple cold or flu. These include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Lack of energy
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Rash

If you experience these symptoms after having unprotected sex, ask your doctor to conduct an HIV test. This is a quick blood test that can be done in minutes and can indicate whether or not you have contracted the virus.

However, even without noticeable symptoms, it’s important to note that an HIV-positive individual can still pass on the virus to others.

Vaginal Yeast Infections

HIV attacks the immune system, so don’t be surprised, if you suddenly find yourself more prone to infections. Oral or vaginal candidiasis (a.k.a. yeast infections) is one of the more common infections for HIV-positive women. If the virus is attacking your system, you might find your infections especially persistent and harder to treat.

In general, people with HIV are also more vulnerable to the following infections:

• Skin
• Eyes
• Lungs
• Kidneys
• Digestive tract
• Brain

Changes In Your Period

Women with HIV can experience changes in their menstrual cycle. You might find your periods are lighter or heavier than usual, or you might not get a period at all. HIV-positive women may also experience more severe pre-menstrual symptoms, like cramps and fatigue.

Skin Symptoms

The HIV rash is probably the most recognisable symptom. There are a number of skin conditions associated with the disease.

While a rash could be a symptom of HIV, it could also simply be the result of a recurring infection or condition. If you do find a rash, it’s a good idea to have a healthcare provider review you’re your medical history. This should tell them what diagnostic tests are needed.

Advanced Symptoms Of HIV

The sooner you start on antiretroviral medication, the less likely you are to suffer the more advanced symptoms of HIV. These include:

• Diarrhoea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weight loss
• Joint pain
• Muscle aches
• Shortness of breath
• Chronic cough
• Trouble swallowing

If these symptoms are also ignored, HIV in its later stages can lead to:

• Short-term memory loss
• Mental confusion
• Coma

HIV and AIDS

There’s a reason why HIV and AIDS are often mentioned in the same breath. The most advanced stage of HIV is acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). By this stage, the immune system is completely compromised, and the body has a tougher time fighting infection. Individuals with AIDS are also at high risk of certain cancers, including Kaposi sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and cervical cancer.

Don’t let your symptoms reach this stage! If you’re concerned that you might have HIV, speak to your doctor about an ARV prescription. And if you’re worried about finding life cover after an HIV-positive diagnosis: We make it our mission to find life insurance for HIV-positive individuals, so drop us a line!

The post What HIV Symptoms Women Should Look Out For appeared first on Specialised Life.

Know Your HIV Status

Knowing your HIV status before things get serious is a good place to start. Equipped with this knowledge, you’re in a better position to protect yourself and your partner. Five years ago, 40% of people living with HIV had no idea what their status was. While more people are becoming aware of their status these days, it’s not worth being careless, especially when you live in one of the countries with the highest HIV rates.

Come PrEPared

One of the main ways, in which HIV spreads from person to person, is through unprotected sex (whether oral, vaginal or anal). Anyone, who is sexually active in a high HIV prevalence population (and it’s estimated that about 7 million South Africans are HIV-positive), is at high risk of HIV-infection. Safe sex is about more than protecting yourself. And since Valentines Day is about love, that means protecting those we love. So, no matter how adventurous you’re looking to get, make sure you have plenty of protection on hand. Fun fact: the day before Valentines Day is World Condom Day, so take the opportunity to stock up.

On the off chance you don’t have a condom on hand, it’s a pretty good idea to be on PrEP, a daily pill that when taken consistently may prevent you from getting HIV. Alternatively, one study has shown that male medical circumcision can reduce the risk of contracting HIV by up to 60%.

Talk With Your Partner

If you’re living with HIV, it’s only right that this part of your life is something you discuss with your significant other regularly. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), partner notification and testing has been shown to increase mutual support for access to prevention, treatment, and care. This is especially important in sero-discordant couples, where one partner is HIV-positive and the other is HIV-negative. The more you let your partner in on this health issue, the more they are able to support you in your efforts to lead a healthy lifestyle – whether it’s making sure you’re taking your antiretroviral tablets or eating foods that support your immune system.

Your HIV status shouldn’t stand in the way of you living a full life or enjoying a little lovin’ – or a life insurance policy.

The post How Do You Keep The Romance Going When You’re HIV+ appeared first on Specialised Life.

Myth #1: You can cure HIV through diet and lifestyle changes alone

Many years ago, former health minister, Dr Tshabalala-Msimang, came under fire for insisting that one could cure HIV with a vegetable-rich diet. Medical professionals were quick to dismiss her claims that diet alone could provide an adequate cure for HIV. But that didn’t stop many HIV-positive South Africans from trying. While healthy lifestyle and diet habits can support an HIV treatment, these factors cannot get rid of HIV completely.

Myth #2: Having an “undetectable” viral load means you are cured

It is possible for an HIV-positive person to achieve undetectable levels after adhering to antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, this doesn’t mean that the virus has been entirely eradicated. Rather, an undetectable viral load only means that the HIV virus remains dormant in various places within the body. Should an HIV-positive person stop taking their ARV medication, the HIV will immediately begin to replicate, and your vial load will rise again.

Myth #3: HIV Is A Death Sentence

Despite all our efforts over the last 30 years, we’re still a ways off from a definitive HIV cure. However, ARV treatment is still the recommended course of action. It has proven effective for the most part in keeping HIV from spreading throughout the body. As the effectiveness of antiretrovirals has consistently improved over the years, more HIV-positive people are able to live long and full lives.

Unfortunately, no HIV treatment developed thus far can absolutely cure HIV. You can, however, reduce your viral load by starting on ARVs as soon as possible after you’ve been diagnosed and adopt healthy dietary and lifestyle habits. What HIV does make more difficult is being able to get life insurance. Thankfully, some insurance providers are moving with the times and offering life insurance for HIV positive individuals.

Ask us about quotes for life insurance for HIV positive people.

The post HIV “Cure”: Myths & Facts appeared first on Specialised Life.

How Do HIV Medicines Work?

HIV medication (ARV) works to prevent HIV from multiplying (making copies of itself), which over time reduces the amount of HIV (aka the viral load) in the body. Less HIV in the body, means the immune system has a chance to recover. By reducing the amount of HIV in the body, the ARV treatment also reduces the risk of transmission (still a good idea to take further precautions when engaging in sexual activity).

Short-Term Side Effects of ARV

When you first start on ART or change your ARV, you may experience some side-effects as your body adjusts to it. ARV side-effects might be a nuisance at first, but they often improve within a few weeks. In the meantime, there are plenty of things you can do to manage these side-effects with changes to your lifestyle and habits.

Fatigue. Try taking brief 20-30 minute naps. A balanced diet can also keep your body fuelled, and low-impact exercise can boost your energy.

Nausea. Many HIV medicines are meant to be taken with food. However, it is best to avoid foods that trigger upset stomachs. Eat some plain toast in the morning or Provitas in the morning. Keep to small meals and cold foods. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Avoid antacids or other over-the-counter (OTC) products without first consulting your doctor. Ginger, whether in ginger ale, ginger tea, or ginger biscuits, can go far in settling your stomach.

Diarrhoea. Make sure to drink enough fluids and stay hydrated. Speak to your doctor about any OTC medications you can take that won’t interfere with your ARVs.

Headaches. Most OTC painkillers work well enough for these headaches. Other than that, the only remedies are to rest, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid loud noises and bright light.

Rashes. Avoid extremely hot showers or baths as well as skin products that contain alcohol or harsh chemicals. Sun exposure can make a rash worse, so be sure to wear sunscreen and moisturising lotions for any dry, itchy areas.

Reactions to a syringe (if taking an injectable medicine). Check in with your doctor to find out if your injection technique is correct. Change your injection sites to give your skin and tissues a chance to heal. Finally, try to warm the medicine in your hands, before you inject it, and apply ice to the area afterwards.

Pain, tingling or numbness in hands or feet. Gently massage the affected part. Wear loose-fitting shoes or jewellery. For intense pain, consider OTC painkillers.

Dry mouth. You can summon up some spit by sucking on sugarless candies or lozenges, or chew sugarless gum. Obviously, you should avoid sugar, sticky foods, and caffeine. And, of course, drink a lot of water.

Long-Term Side Effects of ARV

Most side-effects of ARV end after a few weeks of starting on the medication. However, long-term use of ARVs has some side-effects of its own.

Fat redistribution. One long-term effect of ART is that it changes how your body makes, uses, and stores fat. You might lose fat in your face and legs, while gaining it in your belly. Speak to your doctor about what alternative medications you can use to keep these symptoms in check.

Higher cholesterol or triglyceride levels. High cholesterol and high triglyceride are typically associated with increased risk of heart disease. Diet and lifestyle changes should be your first course of action, but it’s always best to keep tabs on your cholesterol (with your doctor, of course).

Higher blood sugar levels. You can keep this side-effect under control through regular exercise, maintaining a health weight, and other related lifestyle changes. Again, be sure to keep your doctor in the loop, in case there is other medication you might need to manage this.

Loss of bone density. As one gets older, one’s bones become more brittle and one is more likely to get broken bones. This is especially true for people on an ARV. However, you can keep your bones strong by doing weight-bearing exercises like walking or lifting weights. Speak with your doctor about taking a calcium and vitamin D supplement or other medications to treat osteoporosis.

Weight loss. This may sound like a plus at first, but your ARV may be causing you to lose a dangerous amount of weight. Speak to your doctor about how to maintain a healthy weight as you live with taking your HIV medication.

Keep in mind that these side-effects may not necessarily be due to your HIV medicine. These symptoms could be signs of an underlying problem that has nothing to do with your HIV treatment. As you undergo ARV treatment, keep in touch with your doctor to make sure the symptoms you are experiencing are actually ARV side-effects and how to manage these to live your best life.

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