There are sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs, that can be cured. You get them, feel the symptoms, go to a doctor, get a prescription, take some medicine, and you’re healed. STD no more! However, there are also diseases that you can get sexually that can’t be cured, although they can still be treated. This means that you’ll forever have them in your body, but your symptoms can be managed. But first, you need to establish whether or not you have one and if so, which one. This can be done by having your doctor run an STD panel test, or ordering an at home STD test panel. If the test is positive for one of the incurable STDs, then you’ll be able to discuss treatment options with the consulting doctor.
There are treatments and ways to help you fight off the signs of the diseases and lower the chances that you’ll pass on the disease to someone else. Now the question is… what are the things that you can do to stay healthy even if you have an STD?
Take Your Medications Religiously
Again, the treatment is not a cure, but it can help keep your disease under control and helps keep your body strong. Taking them religiously is essential, even if it’s hard to keep up with your medicine schedule. Your prescriptions are to support your immune system stay sound longer.
If you keep on missing your meds, the risk of your disease becoming drug-resistant increases. This is why you should never forego taking your meds.
If you have problems with the treatments that you’re taking, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about them.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Even a person who doesn’t have a disease needs to eat healthily. A healthy diet can help you:
- Remain healthy despite your infection
- Slow down the progression of your disease
- Prevent any health problems as a result of malnutrition
- Avoid excessive loss of weight
- Keep your immune system strong
You should have a diet composed of:
- Little amount of sugars and fat
- Dairy products such as cheese, milk, and yogurt
- Lean proteins such as fish, eggs, beans, and lean meat
- Starchy carbs such as potatoes, pasta, bread, and brown rice
- A lot of fruits and veggies
- Supplements
- Plenty of water
Stay Fit
Staying active is great for you in a lot of ways, as it can help you build muscles, burn fat, have a healthy heart, and keep your bones strong. There are people who experience loss of strength as soon as they’ve been diagnosed with an STD. Exercising can you help you avoid this. You can stay fit by:
- Going to the gym
- Dancing
- Playing in the park
- Taking part in a sport
- Aerobic or cardio exercises
- Flexibility training
Exercising regularly is essential in helping you decrease your chances of contracting more diseases.
Quit Your Negative Habits
If you have a sexually transmitted disease, smoking, illicit drug use, and regularly drinking alcohol can compromise your already weak immune system. It can also impair your judgment, which may result in dangerous behavior like forgetting to take your treatments and engaging in unsafe sex. Your harmful habits can also interfere with your meds.
Take Care of Your Dental Health
Having dental problems is common with people who have an STD such as HIV. If you have an STD, you’re prone to having:
- Oral warts
- Thrush
- Canker sores
- Fever blisters
- Dry mouth
These diseases may result in an increased risk of cavities, as well as having difficulties in chewing and swallowing. You can care for your oral health by:
- Brushing regularly
- Flossing
- Avoiding acidic food items
- Visiting your dentist regularly
Reduce Your Stress
Lowering your stress level is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle, as the stress of having a disease that’s been transmitted sexually is already a heavy burden on your well-being and overall health. Stress can affect your appetite as well as reduce your already weakened immune system. You can reduce your stress by:
- Listening to music
- Talking to your family and friends
- Telling yourself that you can get through it
- Laugh it off
- Doing yoga and meditation
To maximize your results, you should consult your doctor before working on how to lower your stress levels.
Sleep Better
The stress from learning you have an incurable disease can cause you to lose sleep. However, lack of sleep can weaken you even more and increase your stress. It’s a vicious cycle that you need to fight off. You can sleep better by:
- Turn off your devices such as your phone, tablet, or TV
- Take naps any time you can
- Clean your mattress regularly
- Lower your caffeine consumption
- Eat right before bedtime
Practice Safe Sex
Having a sexually transmitted disease does not mean that your sex life has ended. However, you should always use a new condom every time you engage in sex. Doing this can protect your partner from contracting your disease and protect you from contracting more disorders that may compromise your health further.
It would also be helpful if you get yourself checked regularly. You can click here to read more about available testing options for you. You should get tested to know if you’ve gotten more infections, and get treated if you have.
An STD can turn your whole world upside down. Just as you become alert to your symptoms, you’ll find yourself of having a routine of regular visits to the doctor and regularly take medications. Aside from that, you also have to choose to become healthy and start making healthy changes in your life. With the tips we’ve given above, you can improve your health and the quality of your life.
Angela Hall
Angie is a health enthusiast who specialises in spreading STD education across the country. She enjoys what she does and loves to travel to different areas. She loves to write for websites and is a family girl at heart.
