1) Eat a balanced, varied diet based of nutrient-dense foods. Take care of
your body’s need for protein and calories. Take a high potency
multivitamin/mineral supplement. Learn about possible deficiencies in your
diet. Consult a dietician.
2) Exercise regularly. Join a health club. Enroll in an aerobics program.
Explore the hike-&-bike trails. Use the stairs. You will support overall
health and guard against muscle loss. Get proper rest.
3) Smoking, alcohol, recreational drugs, and injection drug use are harmful to
your health. Reduce your usage. Seek treatment. Enroll in a self-help or other
program to quit.
4) Care for your emotional and psychological self. Join a support group.
Counseling can help you address problems and find direction. Seek the spiritual
you. Play!
5) Be aware of stress in your life. Learn how to resolve the issue or cope
with the situation. Enroll in a stress management course or support group.
Exercise. Get a massage. Learn meditation.
6) Always practice safe sex! You’ll protect your partner. You’ll protect
yourself from reinfection and other sexually transmitted diseases.
7) Take an active role in your health management whether you have a private
doctor or receive care at a clinic. Maintain a personal health management
record. Ask questions. Write answers. Receive regular monitoring for immune and
general health. Consider acupuncture, chiropractic care, and herbal therapy.
8) Take a lesson from long-term survivors. Reports show that one thing they
have in common is building and nurturing a solid support network among family,
partners, friends, and each other.
9) Become informed about services available to you. Call 458-AIDS.
10) Become informed about HIV disease and interventions available for disease
management and healthy living. Pick up a copy of the locally published
Positive Threads, and better yet, subscribe. Contact the Wellness
Education Program at 406-6162 for resources and information.
11) Discover your power. Learn how to ask questions of your health care
team.
12) Value your time. Seek fulfilling activities. Set goals. Contribute time to
a cause you hold dear.
Remember — doing nothing is not life-supporting.
Sylvia J. Lopez, M.S.
Wellness Program Coordinator
This article appears in March 28 • 1997 and March 28 • 1997 (Cover).