Smokers who are HIV positive are much more likely to develop many of the conditions linked to smoking than those that are HIV negative, with most of these conditions rarely occurring among non-smokers. Men who smoke are also more likely to have erection problems.
People with HIV are at significantly increased risk of heart disease, with HIV infection and treatments for HIV already contributing to this increased risk. HIV-Positive smokers are also at increased risk of different kinds of cancer.
Smoking can also weaken your overall immune system placing people with HIV who smoke at greater likelihood of getting some opportunistic infections and AIDS-defining illnesses.
For more information about these and other specific effects of smoking on people living with HIV, contact your doctor or AIDS council or PLHIV organisation.
Your doctor can also speak to you about the options that are available to help you give up smoking. There are also organisations that provide information and services to help you quit, click here for some of them.
You may find the fact sheet ‘The importance of giving up smoking for people with HIV’ helpful. It are available from your AIDS council or PLHIV organisation or download it here.
