HIV sufferers get tired easily? learn the causes and how to solve them!

When a person is exposed to HIV, usually his immune system will slowly decrease. As a result, people with HIV get tired easily during their daily activities even when doing simple things. Why is that and how to solve it?

Why do people with HIV tire easily?

Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV is a disease that attacks the human immune system. When this defense system is attacked, the body has a hard time fighting back and getting rid of the incoming virus. When you are not aware that HIV is lodged in the body, this virus will multiply rapidly. This keeps the body's energy drained to fight it.

Not only that, HIV is also a virus that attacks and takes over lymphocytes or T cells. In fact, lymphocytes are cells that help the body fight infection and disease. The repeated attacks on the body's defense system make the body tired.

In addition, depression, insomnia, and drug side effects are other triggers that make the body experience severe fatigue. This feeling of fatigue due to HIV usually does not really go away even when the person is having or has rested. Plus this fatigue can also be caused by a lack of vitamin and mineral intake.

This fatigue is usually felt not only physically but also mentally. Physical fatigue makes you unable to be as active as usual, even to do simple tasks such as going up and down stairs. Meanwhile, psychological / mental fatigue makes it difficult for you to concentrate and lose the motivation to do something.

How to deal with fatigue caused by HIV

Don't let fatigue make you unproductive. You have to fight it and find an effective way to get rid of it. To overcome this, you need to find out first the source of the cause other than because the immune system is being attacked. Here are various things you can do to help deal with fatigue, such as:

Improve sleep patterns

It is not uncommon for people with HIV to tire easily because they experience insomnia. If this happens to you, you should improve your daily sleep patterns by:

Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.
Create a comfortable room atmosphere by turning off the lights before bed.
Keep room temperature cool.
Meditate or pray before bed.
Read a book at bedtime.
Don't drink alcohol or caffeine at night.

Try to consistently apply this habit every day so that your sleep quality improves.

Doing things that are fun

Depression and HIV seem inseparable. It is not new that someone with HIV must have had a time when he felt depressed and alone. If left unchecked, this condition is very draining physical and mental energy which can cause people with HIV to tire easily.

If you are experiencing this, try to do things that are pleasing to your heart. You can try to go to a favorite place with your loved ones, watch a movie, or just pamper yourself with a spa at home. In essence, try doing whatever you enjoy to help relieve depression.

You can also join a community living with HIV, for example, to share stories. This is highly recommended so that you feel that life hope is still there and you are not struggling alone. You can also do alternative therapies such as meditation or yoga to help ease the burden on the mind.

If all these methods don't work, go to the doctor and tell him that this depression is really bothering you. Sometimes, medication can be an option to help relieve depression that makes the body and mind very tired.

Look for other drug alternatives

Medicines for HIV, including drugs that have quite strong side effects. If you feel your body is actually getting tired after taking a new medicine that is prescribed, consult your doctor. If deemed necessary, the doctor will provide other drug alternatives that are commensurate with less side effects.

However, when you don't know where you feel tired, immediately consult a doctor. Quoted from Healthline, the use of stimulants such as methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine might be an alternative to overcome the severe fatigue you experience.