Studies have shown that chronic stress, traumatic events, and depression can all lead to an increased viral load and decreased CD4 counts, and therefore, accelerate HIV disease progression.

How long does viral load decrease?

For almost everyone who starts taking their HIV medication daily as prescribed, viral load will drop to an undetectable level in six months or less. Continuing to take HIV medications as directed is imperative to stay undetectable.

Does stress affect CD4 count?

Further, findings related to the link between stress and clinical outcomes are mixed; however, stress was shown to be related to lower CD4 cell counts, higher viral load, and disease progression. Several studies also showed a link between stress and poorer treatment adherence.

What is a high viral load?

Viral load refers to the amount of virus that can be detected in an infected person. High viral loads are concerning because they can mean the person is more infectious.

How is viral load calculated?

Viral load and how it is measured There are three main tests used to measure viral load. These are reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests, branched DNA (bDNA) tests, and nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) tests.

Is a CD4 count of 500 good?

The CD4 cell count of a person who does not have HIV can be anything between 500 and 1500. People living with HIV who have a CD4 count over 500 are usually in pretty good health. People living with HIV who have a CD4 cell count below 200 are at high risk of developing serious illnesses.

What should I do if my CD4 count is low?

A low CD4 count means that HIV has weakened your immune system and may be making you ill. HIV treatment will strengthen your immune system and extend your life. While your CD4 count is low, you may also need to take antibiotics to prevent infections.

What does it mean when your viral load is 0?

Having an undetectable viral load does mean that there is not enough HIV in your body fluids to pass HIV on during sex. In other words, you are not infectious. For as long as your viral load stays undetectable, your chance of passing on HIV to a sexual partner is zero.

Does the viral load matter?

Viral load can also impact the severity of a COVID-19 illness. For example, some studies reported a higher viral load in people who were admitted to the hospital with severe pneumonia. These studies also reported that the viral loads remain higher for more days in patients with more severe disease.

What determines viral load?

Your viral load is simply how much virus you have in your body – in medical terms it refers to how much virus is measured in a standard volume of fluid, usually blood or plasma.