The basics

 

  • HIV and the immune system

    The immune system is the body’s natural defence system. It’s a network of cells, tissues and organs inside the body.The immune system recognises and fights

    Information level Level 1

  • Seven ways to look after your health

    There’s a lot you can do to take care of your health. It’s not just about popping pills.Just as for anybody else, changes to your

    Information level Level 1

  • CD4 and viral load

    It’s important for all people with HIV to take regular blood tests. The two most important blood tests are for CD4 and viral load.A CD4

    Information level Level 1

  • An HIV treatment journey

    This illustrated leaflet shows the journey a lot of people go on with HIV treatment. It involves the decision to start treatment, problems with side

    Information level Level 1

  • When should I start treatment?

    You may not need to take HIV treatment straight away. It depends on the effect HIV has had on your immune system. British medical guidelines

    Information level Level 1

  • How treatment works

    HIV treatment helps you stay well by reducing the amount of HIV in your body. All anti-HIV drugs try to prevent HIV infecting new cells,

    Information level Level 1

  • Undetectable viral load

    If your viral load result is undetectable, there is only a little HIV in the body. The aim of HIV treatment is to have an

    Information level Level 1

  • Taking drugs on time

    For HIV treatment to work well, you need to always take your pills at the right time, without missing any doses.Taking anti-HIV drugs regularly will

    Information level Level 1

  • Side effects

    The most common side effects are the result of your body getting used to a new drug. After a few weeks, these side effects usually

    Information level Level 1

  • Having a baby

    Lots of people with HIV have had babies without passing on the infection. To do so, you need some help from your doctor.If you are

    Information level Level 1

  • A healthy weight

    There are usually two reasons why people put on too much weight - eating too much food and not doing enough physical activity.A balanced diet

    Information level Level 1

  • Better off knowing

    The sooner you know you have HIV, the sooner you can get the right medical care. If you know you have HIV, you can take

    Information level Level 1

  • Drug resistance

    It's important to always take your HIV treatment at the right times and in the right amounts. If you don't, HIV may become drug resistant.When

    Information level Level 1

  • Health checks

    Staff at your HIV clinic use various tests to keep an eye on your HIV. Many of these tests are done on samples of your

    Information level Level 1

  • TB and HIV

    If HIV has weakened your immune system, you are more vulnerable to infection with tuberculosis (TB). TB is an infection caused by bacteria. It is

    Information level Level 1

  • How TB is passed on

    The bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB) can sometimes pass from one person to another through the air. When someone who is ill with TB in

    Information level Level 1

  • Testing

    HIV testing in the UK is free, voluntary and confidential. You can be tested at an NHS sexual health clinic, a GP surgery or a

    Information level Level 1

  • Transmission and the law

    Some people have gone to prison because they have pased HIV on to another person. They were found guilty of recklessly transmitting HIV.In England and

    Information level Level 1

  • Transmission and viral load

    There is less risk of passing on HIV if your viral load is undetectable because you are taking anti-HIV drugs. Not all scientists agree on

    Information level Level 1

  • Transmission facts

    HIV can only be passed on when one person's body fluids get inside another person. HIV can be passed on during sex without a condom,

    Information level Level 1

  • Treatment for TB and HIV

    If tuberculosis (TB) is making you ill and you also have HIV, then you usually need to take treatment for both TB and HIV.You can

    Information level Level 1

  • Myths and facts

    There's a lot of misunderstanding and HIV and AIDS. Not everything you hear about HIV and AIDS is true.Some of the myths are about how

    Information level Level 1
 

Our information levels explained

  • Short and simple introductions to key HIV topics, sometimes illustrated with pictures.
  • Expands on the previous level, but also written in easy-to-understand plain language.
  • More detailed information, likely to include medical and scientific language.
  • Detailed, comprehensive information, using medical and specialised language.

The basics - new titles

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This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.