How can I increase my CD4 count?

That's a good question and one I'm sure others have. We're not medical professionals so can't give you medical advice but we can definitely provide you with information. This is a little about ART drugs and how they work - https://h-i-v.net/art-therapy and they are the main way the viral load is treated. However, many people here have written about how they keep healthy in other ways while undergoing treatment. A few of those articles are linked below. Does anyone else have any thoughts or things that work for them? - Liz (Team Member)


Healthy Living by - https://h-i-v.net/living/healthy-lifestyle
How HIV Changed How I Eat by - https://h-i-v.net/living/eating-healthy
HIV and Aging by - https://h-i-v.net/living/age-related-conditions


I hope this can get you started and that others chime in. Keep us posted on how you're doing and reach out with any other questions - Liz (Team Member)

First, let me express how happy I am that you are reaching out to this community. After learning I was HIV+ 30 years ago, I discovered my t-cell count was 250. We were still a few years away from the changes to treatment that protease inhibitors would bring.


A good friend (who had been living for two years with a t-cell count of 4) was instrumental in sharing some thoughts and practices to support his immune system. I want to offer up a few of those to you.


* Get rest - your body needs time to heal. I still do deep relaxation meditations so that my body can focus on healing and repair. There are lots of them on YouTube and streaming music services you can use.


* Eat well - Give your body the fuel it needs. I avoid ultra-processed foods and try to make all my calories count. That being said, I don't neglect my need for comfort food. Sometimes it's just as important to satisfy your mental hunger with pizza or ice cream.

* Stay hydrated - I drink water and tea all day long.


* Move - Whether it's exercise or just walking around your room, this is essential to staying healthy.


* Take care of your mental space -Stress can burden your immune system. Be kind to yourself and leave your worries at the door. I always remind myself that fretting is not the solution to the issue.


Good luck to you. I'm not a doctor, but in my experience living with HIV, these little things all add up and can give your body the boost it needs.

, I average around 700. But I am careful to remember that each person's T-cell count will differ, so I never compare mine to someone else. And I know that it's a number that can fluctuate throughout the day.


Stress, exercise, poor nutrition, and good nutrition can all cause dips and spikes in your T-cells.


My process is continually working to arm my body to create the most robust possible defense, no matter the number.


I also focus on my viral load count. This is a better marker for overall therapy success. I hope this helps.

Alafia (Peace) I don't know about increasing our CD4 count faster but you have been given some good advice from others. I would only add, try to reduce your stress levels. When I final let go of what and who were the cause of my stress mt CD4 count increased by hundreds. Khafre (H-I-V.net Team Member)