HIV and smoking. What is all the fuss about?

Smoking accelerates progression of HIV infection to AIDS. If you have HIV, you're more likely than an HIV-negative person to be a smoker. Yet cigarettes are especially dangerous for PHA’s, who already face a higher risk of heart problems than HIV-negative people. Smoking causes lung cancer and increases the risk of stroke and heart attack especially for PHA’s. Smoking also causes respiratory tract infections, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc. These, in turn, can send your HIV viral load up and worsen your HIV disease. PHA’s are at much greater risk of negative health outcomes related to smoking than those without the virus. A recent study showed that up to 66 percent of people with HIV are lighting up. Even if you’ve been smoking for most of your life, you can still quit and reverse much of the damage that smoking has caused to your body. What are your feelings about smoking and being HIV+? Is it a concern to you? Tell us your thoughts.