HIV — Force Field Fact Sheet (Draft) · The Force for Health® Academy

What is HIV?Diagnosis

HIV attacks the immune system. Once fatal, HIV is now a well-managed chronic condition — people on ART have essentially normal life expectancy and cannot transmit HIV sexually when virally suppressed (U=U). About 1.2 million Americans living with HIV; ~13% unaware. Modern care: early diagnosis, immediate ART, PrEP for negative people at risk.

Testing — routine 4th-gen HIV Ag/Ab; everyone 13-64 should test once.
Modern ART — single-pill once-daily (Biktarvy, Triumeq, etc.); long-acting injectable cabotegravir + rilpivirine.
U=U — sustained viral suppression eliminates sexual transmission.
PrEP — Truvada/Descovy daily; cabotegravir injection q2 months.

U=U + PrEP — the modern HIV prevention storyKnow your plan

People on ART with sustained viral suppression cannot transmit HIV sexually. PrEP prevents ~99% of HIV acquisitions in HIV-negative people at risk.

U=U is medical fact.
PrEP options: oral daily, injectable q2 months.
Routine testing once for everyone 13-64.
Immediate ART on diagnosis.
HIV stigma + disclosure protections.

Your daily Force FieldLive It

Take ART daily on schedule.
Viral load + CD4 every 3-6 months early, then per protocol.
Annual labs + STIs + HCV + TB screen.
Vaccines: flu, COVID, pneumococcal, HBV, HAV, HPV, shingles, mpox if at risk.
CV + kidney + bone + cancer screening earlier than general population.
Mental health + substance use treatment.
Sexual health + PrEP for negative partners.
HIV care + primary care integration.
Community + peer support (Ryan White, ASOs).

Red flags — call nowAction

Call 911 immediately for: chest pain, pressure, tightness, or burning lasting more than a few minutes — especially if it spreads to the arm, jaw, neck, or back; severe shortness of breath at rest; sudden cold sweat with chest discomfort; nausea or lightheadedness with chest discomfort; sudden weakness on one side, slurred speech, or facial droop (these are stroke signs, often related). Do not drive yourself.

Call your clinic the same day for: new chest discomfort with exertion that goes away with rest (stable symptom worth evaluating); a missed dose of antiplatelet or maintenance therapy; medication side effects (muscle aches, bleeding, GI symptoms).
Bring up at next visit: any change in exercise tolerance, lipid follow-up timing, BP log review, smoking-cessation support, depression screening, sleep concerns.

Companion This infection assets

The full Prepared Patient program for This infection includes:

Engagement Screener 8-step Journey Disease Advocate Bingo Provider Hub Health Passport