The autonomic nervous system (ANS or visceral nervous system) is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system functioning largely below the level of consciousness, and controls visceral functions.
ART significantly extends the likelihood of surviving for several decades, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. If untreated, HIV-positive persons typically live in clinical latency for around 10 years. Individuals on ART are not likely to have their HIV infection reach the AIDS stage. If the viral infection progresses to that stage, survival is estimated at around three years.
Once someone is infected with HIV, the number of their CD4 cells continues to decrease. HIV is actively copying itself and killing CD4 cells from the time the infection starts. Eventually, the number of CD4 cells drops below the threshold level needed to defend the body against infections, and the person develops AIDS. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 35 million people worldwide are living with HIV.