What Does HIV do to Your Body?Effects of HIV on the Body

As HIV weakens your natural defenses, you might notice signs all over your body.

Heart ProblemsHIV and Heart Disease: What's the Link?

You’re more likely to have heart disease if you have the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS.

HIV and High Cholesterol

If you have HIV, your risk of high cholesterol goes up. We need more research to understand the link between the two.

HIV and High Blood Pressure

Without HIV, there’s about a 30% risk you’ll get hypertension sometime in life. If you’re HIV-positive, that goes up to 35%.

HIV and Diabetes

One study showed that diabetes was up to four times more common in people with HIV.

Lung ProblemsHIV/AIDS and the Common Cold

When you have AIDS, your body may find it hard to fight off colds. Make sure you do what you can to avoid catching one.

Is Coronavirus Riskier if You Have HIV?

If you have HIV, you may be concerned that condition raises your risk for a bad case of COVID-19.

Pain & Nerve ProblemsHow HIV Affects Your Bones

HIV may make your bones more likely to break. And some anti-HIV medications may raise your chances for bone loss.

Vision ProblemsHIV and Your Eyes

HIV affects many parts of your body, and your eyes are no exception.

HIV and Retinopathy

You might have heard that an HIV infection can affect your eyes. One way it does is a condition called retinopathy.

CMV (Cytomegalovirus) Retinitis

Cytomegalovirus retinitis is an eye infection. You're more likely to get it if you have a weak immune system from HIV or AIDS.