{"id":13947,"date":"2025-09-30T02:47:49","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T02:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laboratorioechavarria.com\/?p=13947"},"modified":"2025-09-30T02:54:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T02:54:12","slug":"conozcamos-mas-sobre-el-vih","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laboratorioechavarria.com\/en\/conozcamos-mas-sobre-el-vih\/","title":{"rendered":"Let's learn more about HIV"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Living with HIV today is not the same as it was years ago. Thanks to medical advances, the implementation of advanced diagnostic techniques, preventive measures, and developments in medication, many people can lead long and healthy lives. But did you know that, in addition to regular treatment, laboratory tests are essential for maintaining good health?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These tests not only indicate how the virus is acting in your body, but also allow you to make decisions about your treatment, prevent complications, and take care of your long-term well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>To begin with: how do I know if I have HIV?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In most cases, HIV does not show visible symptoms for a long time, so someone could live with the virus without knowing it. Therefore, if you have had unprotected sex, contact with blood, shared needles, or multiple sexual partners, it is important to get tested for HIV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The test can be quick (using a saliva or finger prick blood sample) or done in a laboratory. It detects the presence of the virus or whether your body has already developed antibodies against it. If the result is positive, you are not alone: there are effective treatments, medical support, and tools that enable a good quality of life. The most important thing is to act in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Why is it essential to know your viral load?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After diagnosis, one of the main tests performed is the viral load test, which measures how many copies of HIV are in your blood. This figure gives the doctor an idea of how effective the treatment is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">If your viral load is high, it means that the virus is replicating rapidly and your immune system is at greater risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">If it is low or undetectable, it indicates that the treatment is working well.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By achieving an undetectable viral load\u2014which is possible with good adherence to treatment\u2014you not only protect yourself, but you also cannot transmit the virus sexually. This is known as \"undetectable = untransmittable\" (U=U), an important achievement in the fight against HIV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, an undetectable viral load does not mean that HIV has disappeared, but rather that it cannot be measured using conventional tests. That is why it is essential not to stop treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CD4 cell count: how to know if your immune system is strong?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another basic and essential test is the CD4 cell count. These cells are part of the body's defense system and are the main target of HIV. The more CD4 cells you have, the better your body can fight off infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">In healthy adults, the count is usually between 500 and 1,200 cells\/mm\u00b3.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">If it falls below 200 cells\/mm\u00b3, there is a higher risk of serious infections, indicating that HIV has progressed to a more complex stage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although treatment is currently recommended for all people with HIV, regardless of CD4 level, this number remains an important guide for monitoring your immune health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Other tests that help you take care of your overall health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to monitoring the virus, your doctor may order other tests:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Biochemical analyses<strong>:<\/strong> to evaluate the functioning of organs such as the kidneys, liver, and heart, as well as to detect side effects of treatment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Complete blood count: measures red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">CD4 percentage: indicates what proportion of white blood cells are CD4 cells, useful for observing stable changes over time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Drug resistance tests: These indicate whether the virus has become resistant to certain drugs, helping to determine a new treatment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Glucose and lipid tests: Some treatments can affect sugar or cholesterol levels, increasing cardiovascular risks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Tests for hepatitis A, B, and C: important because many people with HIV also have hepatitis. Detection allows for timely treatment or vaccination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Cervical or anal cytology: particularly important for people with HIV, these tests detect cellular changes that could lead to cancer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Pregnancy test: essential if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, as there are specific treatments to prevent transmission to the baby.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Detection of other sexually transmitted infections: such as syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia, which may be asymptomatic and complicate the clinical picture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How often should I have these tests done?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not all tests are performed at every medical appointment. Some are done at the beginning of treatment and then periodically, depending on your health status, duration of treatment, and previous results. Talk to your doctor to clarify any questions; he or she will tell you what tests you need and when to have them done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Remember! You don't need to wait for symptoms to appear to have regular checkups. Ideally, you should have them at least once a year.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Taking care of yourself with HIV isn't just about taking medication: it's about teaming up with your body and your doctor. Lab tests are powerful tools for keeping you healthy, full of energy, and able to make long-term plans. Ask questions, get informed, and take an active role in your treatment.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vivir con VIH hoy en d\u00eda no es lo mismo que hace a\u00f1os atr\u00e1s. Gracias a los avances m\u00e9dicos, la implementaci\u00f3n de t\u00e9cnicas avanzadas de diagn\u00f3stico, las medidas de prevenci\u00f3n y la evoluci\u00f3n en los medicamentos, muchas personas pueden llevar una vida larga y saludable. Pero \u00bfsab\u00edas que, adem\u00e1s del tratamiento regular, las pruebas de [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13950,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[82,83],"tags":[76,80],"class_list":["post-13947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bienestar","category-prevencion","tag-prevencion","tag-stis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/laboratorioechavarria.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/laboratorioechavarria.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/laboratorioechavarria.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laboratorioechavarria.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laboratorioechavarria.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13947"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/laboratorioechavarria.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13947\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13951,"href":"https:\/\/laboratorioechavarria.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13947\/revisions\/13951"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laboratorioechavarria.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/laboratorioechavarria.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laboratorioechavarria.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laboratorioechavarria.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}