The dangers of smoking for health and life expectancy of PLHAs

Overview of HIV

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks a person's immune system. This makes people living with HIV / AIDS (PLWHA) more susceptible to disease. If left untreated, HIV will lead to AIDS. HIV can be treated with antiretroviral drug therapy (ART), this is consumed throughout the patient's life because until now there is no drug that can cure HIV.

These drugs prevent viruses from damaging lymphocytes. If the drug is not taken regularly, the patient will be resistant to the drug, which means that the drug does not work or will not affect the body. Apart from treatment, HIV patients are also warned not to smoke and to stay away from secondhand smoke. Because this will endanger his health.

The dangers of smoking in HIV patients

Reporting from Healthline, a study in Denmark revealed that HIV patients who smoke have a lower life expectancy than HIV patients who don't smoke. A man named Brian who was 43 years old was diagnosed with HIV. Doctors immediately administered medication and care to control the disease. Over time, his body recovered and was able to return to activities. However, the smoking habit made Brian have a stroke and nearly lost his life.

Reporting from Medscape, Dr. John T. Brooks, leader of the HIV Epidemiology Research Team at the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that smoking harms HIV patients for two reasons.

First, smoking inhibits CD4 T lymphocyte function. These lymphocytes are leukocytes that play a role in maintaining the immune system. In HIV patients, the leukocytes in their bodies are damaged. With the addition of cigarettes that block lymphocytes, the body will easily develop certain infections, such as:

Yeast infection of the mouth, namely oral candidiasis
Leukoplakia (tongue with white plaque)
Bacterial pneumonia (lung infection)
Pneumocystis pneumonia (a dangerous lung infection)

Second, the compounds contained in cigarettes cause chronic inflammation in the body and reduce mineral density in bones. This leads to heart disease, stroke, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

After knowing the dangers of smoking, many PLWHA want to quit smoking

The survey shows that two thirds of PLWHA who smoke want to quit smoking. Unfortunately, smoking is difficult to break. This may require a strong determination, the help of a therapist or doctor, and the patient's closest person to support him to quit smoking. Talk to your doctor for advice or health services that help patients quit smoking. Keep patients away from cigarette smoke, even though PLWHA does not smoke, being around smokers the effects are still dangerous.

Quitting smoking supports the stability of the health of PLWHA and does not waste treatment. This certainly improves the patient's quality of life and avoids the patient from several chronic diseases associated with secondhand smoke. Actually, even without HIV, cigarette smoke can endanger health. For that, stop smoking and switch to a healthy lifestyle to avoid the risk of chronic disease.