Staying Healthy
The importance of staying healthy
When you’re living with HIV, it’s more important than ever to protect your immune system to maintain overall health. By keeping your body as healthy as possible, it’s much better equipped to fight off viruses and other types of infections. Incorporating healthy habits, both physical and mental, will have a vast improvement on your quality of life.
Live a healthy lifestyle. Connect with others and nurture your friendships. Fuel your body with a healthy, nutritious, and balanced diet, and allow it to recharge each night with enough quality sleep. Ask for help and accept it when it’s offered. Keep your alcohol and smoking in check. Keep active, even a walk in the park does everyone wonders. Be gentle with yourself, and remember to breathe. Try to treat your mind and body well and you’ll be more than ready to live your best life.
We recommend you check out the PozQoL Assessment Tool as a great way to self assess your overall quality of life. You can also bring this information to your doctor when you visit them.
QPP has a series of booklets including information on how to stay healthy, accessing the health system in Australia (with or without Medicare) and more. A printed set can picked up from our Brisbane office or RAPID clinic in Fortitude Valley, or can be ordered from us for free through our QPP Shop. It can also be read and downloaded to print at home from our The Facts page. These booklets have been translated into a variety of languages.
Sexual Health
Regular STI testing is the best way to identify if you have contracted an STI, and is particularly important if you are sexually active.
Smoking, Alcohol & Other Drugs
Smoking, alcohol and drug overuse can contribute to feelings of depression, and have negative impacts to your body, but help is available.
Oral Health
Poor oral health can affect both physical and emotional well-being, and can also be a contributing factor to a number of secondary health conditions.
Mental Health
It is not uncommon for people to experience unhappiness, distress, anxiety or depression at some point, but there are a lot of other things you can do to look after your mental health and wellbeing.
Information for Women
Women make up more than 10 percent of the positive community in Australia. While HIV affects everyone differently, women often face particular challenges.
Social Connection
Spending time with friends and family, and spending time in group and community activities improves mental and general health. QPP even has social groups that you can join and meet new people.
Our trained team is here to help you should you have any questions or need support. You can call for free from a Queensland land-line on 1800 636 241 or call (07) 3013 5555 (national). You can also email us or use the contact form or the chat function in the corner of our website.
