Top Exercises For People With HIV To Stay Fit

HIV life is a difficult, restricted and a tricky one, but with a good amount of exercise, and medications taken at dedicated times, life can be lived like other normal people. Before we get into the details as to what type of exercises one must do, let’s get to know the positives of exercise for an HIV registered person.

The good of exercise:

At HIVRNATestGuide, We always suggest HIV people to do some exercise to keep you fit. Well, exercise is getting to know your body, know the changes going on inside and taking actions to alter the metabolism and get quicker, faster and better. It reduces blood pressure, decreases the heart rate and uplifts the “good cholesterol”. Going more specific, exercise boosts the lung’s ability to absorb more and more oxygen which is necessary for an average human being but must for an HIV infected individual.

When not to exercise:

Before you get into the mode of doing hot and heavy exercise, you need to be able to distinguish in between regular dizziness and serious fatigue. In case you feel the following then it is not advised to exercise:

1. Feel feverish
2. Feel dizzy
3. Feel nauseous
4. Open sores in mouth or elsewhere
5. Diarrhea
6. Vomiting
7. Blood in your stools or urine

Start off slow:

It is better to get into a punctual and sluggish start rather than pushing yourself for an exhausting one. It is important to set goals that are more realistic, achievable, measurable and attainable. Pushing yourself harder would only lead to demotivation.

Top exercise to make you fit with HIV:

Flexibility training:

With age, flexibility sort of dies off and with HIV as an added parasite, the loss is more. You can warm up your body with few stretching exercises which focus more on arms, and legs, as it will help you maintain your muscle mass and muscle tone. Include static stretches like starting from very little movement and proceeding to full motion slowly.

Benefits:

1. Stress Management
2. Pain control

Balance Training:

The medication used in HIV affects an individual’s neuromuscular activities. Balance training is advised to do with a partner as it would challenge the balance positions of the body. This training can be as simple as standing on one leg as you stretch your arms alternately to add more activity to the exercise. This can be done in one single room with a partner to support you in case of disbalance.

Benefits:

1. Increased stamina
2. Improved focus
3. Muscle retention
4. Strong nerve balance

Yoga:

During the years, Yoga has proved to be miraculous. It has cured many diseases that medical science had lost answers for. Yoga improves the immune system and heals the spirit of the body. Many people have claimed to live longer than other HIV patients after inculcating YOGA in their lives. Ken Lowstetter lives more than 48 years with HIV as his other friends died in half of this time due to AIDS. Yoga helps in developing a hopeful attitude if combined with regular antiretroviral medications and patience.

Asanas recommended:

1. Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand)
2. Matsyasana (Fish Pose)
3. Pranayama or Yogic breathing

Benefits:

1. Improved immune system
2. Stronger will
3. Reduced Stress
4. Increased longevity
5. Discourages the release of stress hormones like norepinephrine
6. Production of T cells.
7. Release of feel-good chemicals like serotonin

Meditation:

Not necessarily an exercise, but Meditation seem to have done wonders in the past and continues to do so as well. A technique going by the name of Transcendental Meditation technique has received an overwhelming response from the whole HIV/AIDS community. Regular meditation shows significant improvement in the areas of pain levels, mental health and vitality.

Other Benefits:

1. Reduced Stress outcomes
2. Increase in metabolism
3. Improvement in concentration
4. Physically active
5. Socially active

General tips to be followed during exercise:

1. Consult your doctor: Before following any exercise ritual, it is important to consult your doctor for an approval.
2. Make your exercise a priority: Even in the ordinary life cycle, we tend to ignore exercise which invites physical alterations and shift in mental development well. It is necessary to inculcate the culture of exercise in your life.
3. Every single day: You have to push the stress out of your system, which means that you have to get on the field daily.
4. Find an exercise partner: Find your buddy in exercise as this combines the energy level of two levels further making it a happy hour.
5. Do it at your home: If going out in the open is bit icky now, then make your home your own playground. You can do stretching, aerobic exercises, and balancing as well.

Make your life positive, engaging and stress-free as all it takes is just an hour of a pain. Stay healthy!