Adults with HIV smoke at higher rates than adults without HIV. Smoking can make your HIV disease worse.
People with HIV who smoke develop lung diseases, respiratory problems, heart disease, and cancer, just like HIV-negative smokers. HIV+ smokers are more likely than HIV-negative smokers to have:
AIDS-related illness
- Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia
- Tuberculosis
- Oral candidiasis
Non-AIDS related illness
- Collapsed lung
- Pneumonia
- Lung cancer
- Cardiovascular conditions
- Pulmonary conditions
- Non-AIDS cancers
Quitting smoking can reduce the risk of heart disease in HIV+ individuals. The risk of heart attack and stroke decreases the longer you have stopped smoking. Also, HIV-related signs decrease the longer you have stopped smoking.
Ask your VA health care provider today for help quitting smoking.
