Hepatitis C, Piercings, and Tattoos

Expressing oneself can be a valid part of the maturation process. Not only do teens need to find ways to let the world know who and what they are, but as an adult searching for ways to show how you feel is important as well. There are numerous ways to do this self-expression, some write or draw.

Others feel tattoos and body piercing are a viable method of self-expression. Piercing has certainly changed in the last twenty years, a time when it was only common for a woman to have her ears pierced. Nowadays piercing just about any place on your body, once or many times, is not uncommon, and instead of having a woman's ears pierced with one hole in each ear, women, and men, may have multiple piercings on a single ear.

In the not so distant past, tattoos were something only the rough crowd had. Ex-cons showed off their prison tattoos with pride. But now anyone you pass on the street could have a tattoo. From a simple tiny rose on a spot always hidden beneath a woman's clothing, to armbands, full sleeves or on some people, most of their bodies, you will see it all.

Whether you're talking about tattoos or body piercings, there is one thing they have in common other than self-expression. That is that they put you at higher risk of contracting the Hepatitis C virus. It is how they are done that really makes the difference between risk levels. For example, it's not a good idea to do them on your own or have a friend do them.

Prisons are probably one of the worst situations in which a tattoo or piercing can be done. That is because the Hepatitis C virus is spread by the passing of blood to blood and if the needles used for piercing or tattooing have been used before, and remain unsterile, they can pass this very infectious disease. In fact, the incidence of Hepatitis C virus infection in prisons in general is higher than the general population.

If you want a tattoo or body piercing, pick a reputable shop that looks clean, and check them out before you get the work done. Make certain that they use sterile needles from an unopened package.

You will also want the tattoo artist or piercer to wear gloves while they are working on you. This is just added protection for fear that they have open cuts that could spread any disease. When getting a tattoo you will also want clean inkpots to be used. Anything that can be done to protect you from the risk of the Hepatitis C infection is more than worth your while.

Hepatitis A, B, C

Hepatitis is a state or condition where in hepatic cells at the liver, are inflamed or has been infected. "Hepa" is derived from hepatic or liver and "itis" means inflammation or swelling. However, there are 3 common classifications/types of hepatitis. They vary in causes, routes/ method of acquisition, as well as treatments.

The three common types of hepatitis are; Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Let us start with their common feature. First is that they are all infection of the liver and requires prompt medical attention. Also, they are all viral in nature. It means that all the causative agents are hepa viruses with different strains and features.

Hepatitis A is the most common of all hepatitis. It is acquired via oral-fecal route and is a common problem in countries or remote places where hygiene, water sanitation, and sewage system is generally poor. Hepatitis can also be acquired through sexual intercourse and can be considered as an STD.

Hepatitis B can be acquired through blood and other body fluids. It is highly prevalent in cases of unprotected sex and health worker exposures. This type is potentially lethal when symptoms are left untreated. Some may even be carriers through a lifetime.

Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood to blood. It is a possible prerequisite to chronic infection once the symptoms already started to occur. Live cirrhosis is one of its common complications.

General symptoms of hepatitis are nausea, vomiting, and more importantly jaundice of the skin and the sclera. Jaundice is a state where pigments of skin or the white of the eyes become yellow. There are other 7 known types of hepatitis and it is essential that one seeks medical attention right away because of possible liver cirrhosis. Effective prevention of hepatitis is hygiene and antiviral medications are available to market as treatments.

Healing Hepatitis And Liver Diseases Naturally - Alternative Treatments

Hepatitis and liver disease-Alternative treatments

"Modern medicine does not allow for the healing potential inherent in each individual. A program for liver health includes a diet designed to alleviate liver stress or disease, plus an effective herbal formula and other dietary supplements such as antioxidants and essential fatty acids. Such program will cause liver enzymes to return to normal range as well as decreased or low viral load. The liver will get better and a long and a healthy life can be anticipated." Herbalist Christopher Hobbs

About30 million American have liver disease. Liver disease is the fourth leading cause of death in America. Over 550,000 people worldwide die from liver cancer each year -a preventable complication of liver disease. One in one hundred thousand Americans have a truly functional liver. About 25,000 Americans die each year from liver cancer. Liver cirrhosis is the seventh leading cause of death in America.

Often overlooked is the pain associated with orthodox management of infective and degenerative liver diseases and the promise alternative remedies have to offer. The question often asked is which herbs and nutrients are crucial to my healing? How much should I take? What about the latest infomercial? And who can we believe with so many choices out there?A comprehensive nutrition program that combines the right herbal formula and attitudinal healing holds the key to making the right choices is found in the ground breaking book 'Healing hepatitis And liver Disease Naturally'

Hepatitis as the name implies, is primarily an inflammation and not an infection. Itis caused by a wide variety of factors that includes viral attacks, inappropriate immune responses to chemical toxins (autoimmune hepatitis), environmental toxins, drugs, and alcohol (alcoholic hepatitis). Hepatitis is either viral or non-viral. Viral hepatitis is caused by contagious viruses that have special affinities for the liver cells of humans. It is also referred to as infectious hepatitis. Non-viral hepatitis or non-contagious hepatitis is also referred to as toxic hepatitis. There are five form of contagious viral hepatitis which are classified alphabetically:hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. The hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses cause acute hepatitis while the B, C, and D viruses can lead to chronic infections. Chronic hepatitis is a hepatitis infection lasting more than six months. Another type of hepatitis is called fluminant hepatitis, a severe and potentially fatal form of acute hepatitis.

The conventional emphasis on viral loads in the management of infective hepatitis is like blaming the policemen for the prisoners in the jail house. The viral loads that conventional medicine uses as its therapeutic yardstick are an effect and not the cause of hepatitis. It is like putting the horse before the boggy. Just like a weed that flourishes in a favorable soil environment and no matter how much we control its growth, unless we change the soil environment the weeds will always flourish. So, too, with viruses, diseases, and cancer cells. When the internal environment is fertile, viruses multiply. As we change our internal environment we reduce our loads, cirrhotic progression, and cancer propensity.

The treatment of infectious hepatitis as an infection to justify expensive orthodox therapy is a medical disgrace. Hepatitis inflammation does not require steroids either, but dietary factors that reverse cellular inflammation as explained in Dr. Floyd H. Chilton's book The War Within. Viruses are lifeless entities that cannot exist on their own without a favorable internal host environment. The internal environment that favors viral replication is constitutional acidity and fermentation which in simple English is inflammation and low immune resistance. The emphasis on the viral component and the use of anti-virals in the management of infective hepatitis is like pouring gasoline on fire or salt on a wound. These anti-viral drugs increase extracellular matrix toxicity-the launching pad for viral replication. As anti-viral remedies engage the viruses, the host's body is caught in the ensuring crossfire which manifests as the side effects associated with anti-viral use. These adverse reactions are often worse than the disease.

The adverse reactions associated with drug use are due to their exacerbation of liver inflammation. In Dr. Strand's book Death by Prescription, he points out to the fact that "while the Centers for Disease Control estimate that office-based physicians prescribe approximately 100 million courses of antibiotics yearly, viruses do not respond to antibiotics. One's own immune system will normally get rid of them with time." Ironically, the common cold and stomach viruses that do not respond to any anti-viral or antibiotic remedy always depend on the immune system for resolution. Interferon, Baraclude, Hepsera, Epivir, and Viread that are used to treat infective hepatitis cost above $600 for a 30-day supply.

Interferon was originally used to treat hairy-cell leukemia in 1986. The FDA approved its use for the management of HCV in 1991 i.e. to prevent the replication of HCV by empowering the immune system, reducing viral loads, slowing inflammation, addressing liver damage, and normalizing liver enzymes.Interferon is in immune system cells that make infected cells self-destruct or commit suicide to prevent further infection. Ironically, synthetic interferon does not have any resemblance to our innate interferon; hence its use is like using a delivery van to break into your front door to deliver your groceries. Since they don't fit the body's chemistry, they do not have the wherewithal to launch the immunological response needed for viral clearance. We need to redirect our emphasis away from attacking the virus to managing the viral environment. Since viruses are lifeless creatures that become alive only in an inflammatory environment, by addressing inflammation with herbs, detoxification, diets, lifestyle changes, and nutrition, we cut off the supply lines for viral multiplication and consequently reverse liver disease. By clearing the extracellular space and lymphatic system of cellular debris and metabolic wastes, we strengthen the immune system. By reversing liver inflammation, we optimize immune function which ultimately eradicates the viruses as explained by Doctors Strand and Chilton.

Developing complimentary alternative remedies

The liver-repairing, immune-stimulating, and bile-moving herbs unlock the cell walls via the extracellular matrix (ECM). Thus, the healing and anti-viral substances can penetrate deep into the nucleus. This creates an opening for botanical antiviral herbs to move in and mop up the viruses. Detoxification with cleansing herbs guarantee that the dead pathogenic viral agents are eliminatedthe natural way. Regenerating herbs stimulate and rebuild the extracellular matrix and cells to produce a natural healthy body. Throughout the body, the extracellular matrix is the space between cells. This space is responsible for most basic functions that include nutrition, waste removal, acid-alkaline balance, cell communication, inflammatory, and immune response. The basic understanding of this often-ignored space along with its proper regulation is pivotal to successfully treating chronic degenerative diseases. In this modern world, it is easy to become over-burdened with toxins-and it is not your fault. Every year, over 1,000 new chemicals are released on the market, many not fully tested for their effects on the human body.

Through the actions of herbs we're able to turn the tables in our favor and make viruses play by our rules. The liver herbs change our internal environment to one of natural health, literally unlocking our health from the inside out. What's more, not only do these herbs make us feel amazing, they create an environment so repulsive and uninhabitable for the viruses within us that they wave the white flag. This uninhabitable environment forces the viruses into retreating. We have now essentially changed the rules.

The blood tonic cleans the blood of toxins and metabolic wastes that feed viral multiplication or perpetuates cirrhotic damage. By eliminating wastes there is more oxygen-carrying capacity for the hemoglobin. Viruses cannot replicate in oxygen-rich blood. As we cleanse the blood, we increase its alkalinity and change cellular metabolism from fermentation to oxidation. Hepatic herbs in the book 'Healing Hepatitis And Liver Disease Naturally' hold the key to eradicating the hepatitis viruses from the body.

Lymphatic massage, physical exercise, deep breathing, colonic irrigation, far-infrared saunas, and foot de-tox all work collaboratively to reduce the toxic load of the liver and eliminate sluggishness that predisposes the liver to viral infection, viral multiplication, and progression of liver disease through cirrhosis to its terminal point of cancer.

What Exactly Is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is just one of the diseases covered by many medical facilities that do STD tests. This is because it can be transmitted through sexual contact with an infected person without using a condom. However, transmission is more common through sharing syringes with infected people. Hepatitis C is an infection caused by the hepatitis C virus. The virus is responsible for the inflammation of the liver.

Only 25% of people who have just been infected with the virus actually exhibit any symptoms. In its early stages, symptoms of a hepatitis C infection include weakness, loss of appetite, rashes on the palms, weight loss and breast enlargement in men. Due to the general difficulty in detecting this infection through physical symptoms, it would be advisable to have a number of STD tests done as a precaution. The continued presence of the hepatitis C virus in the system will cause scarring of the liver. When the infection becomes serious, the liver may begin to fail and the patient will need a transplant to survive. This is why early detection is so important.

Some STD tests that show higher than usual levels of liver enzymes in the blood indicate that an individual may have hepatitis C. The EIA (Enzyme immune-assays) test provides a clearer picture. It screens for antibodies that will be present if HCV is in the body. These antibodies can be detected as early as six weeks after infection. A liver biopsy is also done to determine the extent of damage to the liver.

Once the results of all of the medical examinations have occurred and have been reviewed and a hepatitis C infection been confirmed, treatment must be discussed. It is not necessary to get treatment, especially if the chances of developing liver problems are low. In case treatment is necessary, the first course of treatment will be antivirals. If the medication does not work and the liver becomes severely damaged, the only other option is surgery. The damaged liver is replaced with a healthy one. A transplant is not a cure, therefore, the patient will have to continue taking antiviral drugs.

Hepatitis C is an infection that causes inflammation of the liver. If left untreated, the virus can cause serious health issues and even death. These tests will show that the level of liver enzymes is elevated indicates that further tests are needed. The virus can be treated but if it becomes chronic, this is something that you will have to live with for life.

Another Type of Hepatitis: The Hepatitis C

This particular type of hepatitis is one of the most spread diseases in the world when hepatitis is concerned. Almost 200 million people all over the world suffer from hepatitis C. In countries that are not yet fully developed, hepatitis C can be spread during some medical procedures, through the contamination of the blood. However, most people develop hepatitis C because of drug use, intravenously. Another frightening thing about hepatitis C is that is the most common cause of the final stage in liver disease. This type of hepatitis is expected to affect many more people in the years to come, although there has been noticed a decrease in both mortality and developing of hepatitis C.

The most common way to get hepatitis C is through the exposure to contaminated blood or any blood products. In some countries, more than half of all hepatitis C cases come from the use of intravenous drugs. On the other hand, when cases of hepatitis C are talked about on a worldwide level, the primary cause of infection with hepatitis are medical procedures. Either is a blood transfusion with contaminated blood or a vaccine with contaminated needle, they all are causes of hepatitis C. Far more worse than this is that in some contries, the contamination with hepatitis C has been made through a national program which was actually trying to help people. There was a vaccination campaign against schistomiasis, where the needels were reused, thus infecting many people with hepatitis C. A controversial case in either sex or prenatal transmission of hepatitis C are risk factors in the case of hepatitis. Studies have shown that the transmission of hepatitis C in these cases is not that big, but if hepatitis C is accompanied by another disease that is transmitted sexually, the risk of developing hepatitis is much greater.

Like all hepatitis cases, hepatitis C type has also an incubation period of about two months, after the person has been exposed to the hepatitis virus. Also, more than half of the hepatitis C infected persons will not develop any symptoms of hepatitis. However, if hepatitis symptoms do occur is some persons, they are very mild and non specific. Because of this, doctors can not diagnose hepatitis C in its acute state, and more than 90 percent of all hepatitis C acute patients will come to develop chronic infection.

Treatment For Hepatitis C - Can Hepatitis C Be Treated?

Hepatitis C is a type of hepatitis that causes liver infection and is often referred to as 'asymptomatic' by medical doctors as it seldom shows any symptoms at all. This disease is caused due to transmission of Hepatitis C virus. Although if initially treated Hepatitis C patients can get cured, but this virus if left untreated can turn the disease chronic which can cause fibrosis and cirrhosis, two harmful conditions which can result in scarring of livers of the patient over a few years, if a treatment for hepatitis C is not applied. Fortunately, today we have a new option to deal with this type of hepatitis, and it will soon be a thing of the past.

Hepatitis C was first discovered back in 1970s and was officially confirmed by medical experts in 1981. It is estimated that nearly 300 million people around the globe have HCV infection. Medical surveys have revealed that on average more than 36,000 American citizens annually get infected with Hepatitis C virus. The fact that Hepatitis C can only infect humans has made it hard for experts to conduct researches on Hepatitis C. There are two major classes of hepatitis C:

Acute Hepatitis C - Experts have formulated the term 'acute' to refer to the initial six months after a person gets infected with Hepatitis C virus. As mentioned before hepatitis patients often fail to show any symptoms of the infection, and the same trend has been found with almost 70 percent of patients suffering from acute hepatitis C. Those who show some suggestive signs generally experience lack of desire to eat, fatigue, severe itching, jaundice, pain in abdomen and overall disposition as if the patient has influenza.

Chronic Hepatitis C - When the hepatitis virus infection persists for more than six months in a particular patient he is said to have chronic Hepatitis C. That usually happens if the treatment for hepatitis c is not applied. As chronic Hepatitis C has generally been found to be asymptomatic, in a number of cases, the presence of HCV in a patient's body is detected completely by accident.

So far data collected has suggested that while many patients remain immune to displaying any signs of the infection until the phase comes when harmful scars start appearing on the liver, others however show many medical conditions that are enough to raise the suspicion that he or she is infected with HCV. Chronic Hepatitis C patients can exhibit conditions such as influenza, exhaustion, loss of sleep and appetite, itching and vomiting and mental depression.

Is there a new treatment for hepatitis c?Yes, in 2009 a new herbal treatment was developed, which was proven to quickly eliminate the Hepatitis C infection in a person's body. It simply supplies your body with the proper tools that it needs in order to fight off the disease. Since it is herbal, anyone can apply it at home. The new treatment is yet to be developed further by the medical companies, and they will probably start manufacturing it in a pill form in 2013.

Hepatitis C - Frequently Asked Questions

What is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infection of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It causes serious harm to the liver and has long-lasting health consequences.

What causes hepatitis C infection?

Hepatitis C virus causes hepatitis C infection. This virus is present in the blood of affected persons. This virus attacks your liver first and thereafter causes serious harm to all body functions.

What are the first symptoms of HCV infection?

There are very few first symptoms of HCV infection. Some people could have HCV in their blood for many years without exhibiting any major symptoms. Fatigue, lack of appetite, and overall weakness are among the first symptoms. In some cases, symptoms might not come to the fore but HCV could be harming your liver extensively.

How can people get infected with HCV?

Hepatitis C infection is possible through:

- Sharing of needles for intravenous drugs or through use of intranasal drugs - Contracting of infected blood through sharing of sharp instruments like scissors and razors - Through blood transfusion as needed during organ transplantation or other major operations - Through accidental transfer of infected blood on equipment used during dialysis - Having frequent occupational contact with infected blood or people with HCV as in the case of health workers

What are the main symptoms of hepatitis C?

The most common symptom of hepatitis C is extreme and constant tiredness. However, this symptom is common among many ailments. Further signs of hepatitis C include stomach pain, nausea, yellowing of eyes and skin as in jaundice. Later, blood tests can confirm hepatitis C through abnormalities in blood tests.

What medical complications can Hepatitis C cause?

Hepatitis C does not cause the same complications for all patients. It hardly affects some people while it causes serious complications for others. Some cases could require specialized medical treatment while some cases heal to some degree by themselves without any serious medical treatment.

Medical complications that could arise due to hepatitis C infection are liver diseases, liver cirrhosis and liver failure. These complications do not develop immediately; they may take many years, even decades to surface after HCV infection.

Who can get hepatitis C infection?

Hepatitis C infection does not have any age or gender bar. Normally, the incidence is higher in males between thirty and forty-nine years old.

Is there any vaccination for Hepatitis C?

No, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C infection.

What are the treatment options for hepatitis C?

There is no single and universal treatment option for hepatitis C, that can be proven to be beneficial for all. Antiviral drugs used in specific combination could bring effective results.

However, doctors consider many factors like existing medical conditions, age, gender, extent of infection, and allergy to drugs before prescribing suitable medication.

What are preventive measures for hepatitis C infection?

Simple preventive techniques for hepatitis C infection include:

- Abstinence from alcohol consumption - Refraining from sharing of needles for drugs - Do not use same needles on different people for tattooing, piercing, or acupuncture - Be careful to avoid any contact with infected blood through sharing of personal care equipment like razors, scissors etc. - Practice safe sex through use of different contraceptive techniques - Eat nutritious food

Can an HCV-infected mother pass on virus at childbirth?

Yes, it is possible for an HCV-infected mother to pass HCV at childbirth, although the cases are very few. It may be more likely if the mother is also HIV-positive. Even if the mother passes on HCV at childbirth, it is not necessarily certain that the baby will develop the infection. The virus might go away from baby's blood after twelve to fifteen months. Therefore, HCV-infected mother can have babies without HCV infection.

Can hepatitis C spread through sexual contact?

Yes, hepatitis C can spread through sexual contact but it is rare. Having multiple heterosexual partners is an HCV risk. Further, if you are exposed to open wounds or other cuts during sexual relations with an infected partner, it is possible to develop HCV infection.

Can an HCV-infected person donate blood?

No, an HCV-infected person should not donate blood. Doctors conduct blood tests before collecting blood from donors. Most often, a person gets to know of the HCV infection through such routine blood test.

Different levels of enzymes and red blood cells in blood indicate infection which, on further detailed culture, could yield the exact cause and type of blood infection.

First Discoveries on Viral Hepatitis

Viral hepatitis is a very common infectious disease responsible for causing more than 1.5 million annual deaths among afflicted patients. Despite the fact that extensive data reports on viral hepatitis have been first established at the beginning of the 20th century, the causes of the disease remained unknown until the 1940s, when the implication of a new virus in triggering the disease was first revealed. Performing additional research on hepatitis, virologists have later discovered two major distinctive types of hepatitis: hepatitis type A and hepatitis type B. Concerned by the increasing numbers of hepatitis cases due to blood transfusions, medical scientists have conducted a series of more elaborate medical investigations in order to identify conclusive facts regarding the occurrence and progression of hepatitis.

Intrigued by the fact that increasingly larger numbers of persons who received blood transfusions experienced symptoms such as high fever, chills and skin rashes, doctors decided to carefully analyze a series of immune reactions to foreign proteins in blood samples taken from such persons in order to reveal the exact sources of their symptoms. After comparing the immune reactions of the persons who had been administered blood transfusions with those of people in good health, medical scientists were able to reveal a type of protein that rarely reacted with antibodies produced by the immune system.

Due to the fact that the analyzed immune reaction was extremely rare, medical scientists concluded that it wasn't caused by genetic particularities in the human blood, but by a certain type of infectious agent. The discovered infectious agent later received the name of antigen Aa. After continuing their research on blood proteins, doctors discovered a correlation between antigen Aa and hepatitis. Researchers later concluded that antigen Aa was actually a component part of the virus identified to cause hepatitis B.

The findings determined medical scientists to take additional measures in preventing the occurrence of hepatitis among the population. By testing blood transfusions for the presence of the causative virus, scientists hoped to reduce the risks of transmitting hepatitis from one individual to another. The method used to detect the presence of the virus in the blood was given the name of radioimmunoassay. In present, this technique is still used to test the integrity and safety of blood transfusions and other blood products. Appreciated for its efficiency and reliability, radioimmunoassay is the predecessor of today's modern techniques used in blood screening.

Another breakthrough consisted in finding an effective vaccine against hepatitis. For the first time in history, the main curative agent used in creating the vaccine was actually a modified strain of the causative virus. By altering the virus in the laboratory and introducing it in a vaccine, virologists were able to stimulate an immune reaction to that particular virus in the human body. A few years later, the ongoing research conducted on hepatitis led to another crucial discovery: the HCV - hepatitis C virus. Short after, medical scientists came up with efficient vaccines for all existing hepatitis virus types: A, B and C.

Over a period of only a few decades, doctors discovered valuable facts on hepatitis, as well as efficient methods of preventing its transmission. Thanks to the remarkable findings of several pioneer virologists and biologists, medical science was revolutionized and the mystery around many different viral infectious diseases was finally unveiled.

What Is Alcohol-Induced Hepatitis?

Alcohol-induced hepatitis occurs when the liver becomes inflamed due to alcohol consumption. Alcohol-induced hepatitis, which may also be called alcoholic hepatitis, should not be confused with cirrhosis of the liver because they're not exactly the same thing. But alcoholic hepatitis is considered to be an early stage of alcoholic liver disease.

Not all heavy drinkers get alcohol-induced hepatitis. On the other hand, sometimes people who drink moderately are afflicted.

It's possible to recover from alcoholic hepatitis if you stop drinking. But once you have it, continued use of alcohol greatly increases your risk for cirrhosis and then liver failure. Once your liver fails, your only chance for survival is a liver transplant.

Researchers haven't been able to determine exactly why alcohol consumption can lead to hepatitis, but they've isolated some possibilities. They know that when you drink alcohol, certain toxic substances are produced in your liver. These substances trigger irritation, which results in inflammation. This irritation destroys liver cells, causing healthy tissue to replaced by scar tissue. This scarring process is the very definition of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is the last stage of alcoholic liver disease.

It's also still a mystery why some heavy alcohol users never develop alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis, while some moderate drinkers do. This fact leads researchers to theorize that other factors besides the use of alcohol may influence who gets the disease.

Heredity could play a role too. Mutations affecting metabolism could be one of the reasons for the selective nature of the disorder.

If you already have liver trouble, and you drink, it appears you have a higher risk of developing alcoholic hepatitis. This is especially true if you have hemochromotosis, a disease in which too much iron accumulates in the body.

Malnutrition may be another factor that influences who gets alcohol-induced hepatitis. Heavy drinkers often have poor dietary and nutritional habits, and may even substitute alcohol for food sometimes. Toxic byproducts in alcohol limit the digestive processes. Once again, this could result in damage to liver cells.

As with many other liver problems, there are no symptoms in the early stages of alcohol-induced hepatitis. But as the disease gets worse, symptoms become more prominent. Symptoms vary but often include:

• abdominal pain and tenderness


• abnormal thirst and a dry mouth


• ascites, or fluid accumulation in the abdominal area


• lapses of memory and cognitive problems mixed with confusion


• occasional fevers and vomiting, sometimes with blood


• unusual fatigue, weakness and dizziness


• weight gain despite a lack of appetite


• paleness or yellowish skin and eyes that could be indicate jaundice

Symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis are likely to get worse if you consume a lot of alcohol in a short time, or indulge in binge drinking.

Anyone who experiences these symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible because alcohol-induced hepatitis may lead to a variety of dangerous medical conditions, including gastrointestinal bleeding.

10 Helpful Tips - Reducing Dry Mouth for Hepatitis C

Among the many symptoms people with Hepatitis C deal with on a daily basis, you might not realize the connection between the virus and oral health. However, researchers and doctors have discovered a link between severe liver disease and a condition called xerostomia. Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is when the mouth simply is not producing the amount of saliva necessary for normal, daily oral functioning, such as speaking, chewing and swallowing. While xerostomia may not be a painful condition, it certainly can cause a great deal of discomfort.

You may be wondering, just how does this dry mouth condition affect people with liver disease? What is the connection? Dry mouth is a common side effect of certain medications, especially those used to treat depression. And, since many people who suffer from Hepatitis C experience bouts of depression, this condition is likely a result of the medications they are taking.

Chronic dry mouth is not just an uncomfortable nuisance; it can also lead to further oral complications, including bad breath, cavities, gum and tongue irritation, and oral infections. People with Hepatitis C need to be diligent about their oral health, especially if they are awaiting a liver transplant. Poor dental health is a common reason why many people are denied a liver transplant, due to the increased risk of oral infection during the operation.

If you have Hepatitis C and are suffering with chronic dry mouth, there are some things you can do to increase the amount of saliva your mouth produces, and to keep your mouth and teeth in the best health possible. Try to avoid spicy and salty foods, and limit your intake of sugary substances. And, of course, remember to brush your teeth at least twice per day.

Learn more tips to help reduce the symptoms of the uncomfortable oral condition known as xerostomia.

Hepatitis C - What You Should Know About This Virus!

Most people across the globe are not well informed about Hepatitis C. No wonder, why they are attacked by this infectious virus, once in their life time. Hepatitis C can also be referred to as the type of Hepatitis that shows symptoms similar to the flu.

This is the reason that people are not aware of the fact that they have been infected with the virus of Hepatitis C. The virus is only detected when the person visits a health care practitioner for a medical examination.

It is a serious issue and one needs to keep oneself fully informed about this virus in order to save health and getting affected from the serious side effects.

What is Hepatitis C?

As already mentioned Hepatitis C is an infectious virus. This virus is transmitted in to the blood; it travels across and then destroys the liver. It is sad but true that about 240,000 Canadians are infected by this virus and only a fraction of this population is aware of the infection. Young people are more prone to this virus attack.

How to know about the attack?

It is very important to know about the attack and its symptoms. Once the person is attacked by this virus, there are 100 per cent chances that the patients suffer from jaundice, dark urine, loss of appetite, and nausea or abdominal pain. A combination of these symptoms may also be experienced by the patient.

This is a disease of the liver caused by Hepatitis C virus. The condition is thereafter transmitted as soon as the blood from an infected individual enters the body of another person who is not infected.

The disease can spread in the following ways:

- Sharing needles

- From an infected mother to the unborn child

- Blood transfer from an infected donor

- Sharing personal items such as razors

- Tattooing and Body piercing

Unfortunately, Hepatitis C has no vaccine. However, there are certain blood tests available to check this disease. You need to contact a health care practitioner for a blood test soon if you have recently received blood from an infected donor. The same applies to a situation where you have injected illegal drugs.

You should also consider speaking to your medical practitioner if you have been on long-term kidney dialysis or if you have been defected having a liver disease.

All the blood tests conducted would be anti- Hepatitis C.

Prevention is the best thing to practice as there is no vaccination for Hepatitis C. You need to keep tabs on the symptoms of this disease constantly in order to detect it at early stages and start the treatment as early as possible.

Here are some of the signs and symptoms to look for in order to detect the presence of infectious virus Hepatitis-C:

- Fatigue; Loss of appetite

- Nausea

- Diarrhea; Vomiting

- Headache

- Yellowing of the skin; Yellowing of whites of the eye

- Clay colored stools; Dark, coffee-colored urine

- Muscle aches, Mild fever

It is likely that some people show no signs or symptoms mentioned above. Getting a check up at the slightest doubt is the best preventative measures to be taken in this regard.

Dog Hepatitis - Owner's Guide to Hepatitis in Dogs

Hepatitis in dogs is a highly contagious viral disease. It mainly affects the liver. However, it can also affect various other organs.

Transmission

As you just learned, this disease is caused by a virus. This virus is known as canine adenovirus type 1, or CAV-1 for short. Most dogs get infected when they come into direct contact with an infected dog. Infected body fluids can also be a method of transmission. The virus can also be passed by parasites such as fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks.

Symptoms

Dog hepatitis can be either severe or acute. Dogs with the acute form will experience vomiting, fever, and diarrhea. The disease can also cause swollen lymph nodes, pale gums, and yellowish eyes. If your dog's liver also swells up, he may stop eating.

Dogs with the acute form of this disease usually recover after a week or so. On the other hand, the severe form is usually fatal. Common symptoms include bloody vomit and diarrhea, bloody nose, and bloody gums. Since severe damage is done to the liver, it can also result in a coma or seizures.

Treatment

Mild cases of hepatitis in dogs usually requires that your dog be hospitalized. Treatment involves giving intravenous fluids to combat dehydration that can be brought on by the diarrhea or vomiting. Additional supportive care may also be necessary.

Prognosis

There is no specific treatment for hepatitis in dogs. As mentioned, the severe form of this disease is often fatal, usually within a week. Sometimes, an infected dog can die within mere hours of showing symptoms. Dogs may be able to recover from the acute form.

Prevention

The vaccine to guard against dog hepatitis is usually given to puppies. However, it can also be given to adult dogs that have yet to be vaccinated. The vaccine can contain either adenovirus type 1 or 2. Although type 1 is responsible for this disease, a vaccine containing type 2 will also help prevent it.

Hepatitis A - Hepatitis B - Hepatitis C - The Simple Facts and the Cures

What is Hepatitis A - Hepatitis B - Hepatitis C:

Hepatitis A - An inflammatory viral disease of the liver with a short incubation period. Hepatitis A may be transmitted by eating contaminated food, by fecal-oral contact, and/or through household contact. Hepatitis A may be mild to severe; symptoms include fever, nausea, and jaundice.

Hepatitis B - Formerly called serum hepatitis, it is caused by the hepatitis B virus. About 12% of cases progress to chronic hepatitis. It is spread through shared needles, through sexual contact with infected individuals, through exposure to infected body fluids, and from mother to child. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, fatigue, fever, jaundice, and elevated liver enzymes.

Hepatitis C - is a life-threatening, disease of the liver, which is transmitted by exposure to blood. A particularly dangerous form of viral hepatitis, it is caused by an RNA virus. Hepatitis C can lead to serious, permanent liver damage, and in many cases, death. More than 82 percent of those who are infected will progress to chronic liver disease. It is suspected that there are, at present, more than 4.5 million people in the United States that are infected with hepatitis C, and more than 200 million around the world.

What causes Hepatitis A - Hepatitis B - Hepatitis C:

Hepatitis A - is caused by a virus. The virus that causes hepatitis A is called the hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A is spread by close personal contact with someone else who has the infection. You can also get hepatitis A by: Eating food that has been prepared by someone with hepatitis A, or by drinking water that has been contaminated by hepatitis A.

Hepatitis B - is easily spread by direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person. For example, hepatitis B can be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby at birth, through unprotected sex with an infected person, by sharing needles for injecting street drugs, and by occupational contact with blood in a health-care setting. Hepatitis B is not spread through food or water or by casual contact. People can have hepatitis B and spread the disease without knowing it. Sometimes, people who are infected with hepatitis B virus never recover fully from the infection. They carry the virus and can infect others for the rest of their lives.

Hepatitis C - is one of the viruses that causes hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver. It is spread predominantly by contact with infected blood and much less from other body fluids. Risk factors for having Hepatitis C include those who have used shared needles, and those that have received a blood transfusion prior to 1991, and those who have been tattooed.

Hepatitis A - Hepatitis B - Hepatitis C - Symptoms:

Hepatitis A - A lot of people with Hepatitis A show no symptoms at all, or they go unnoticed because the symptoms are so mild. Older people are more likely to have symptoms than children. People who do not have symptoms can still spread the Hepatitis A virus. Symptoms of hepatitis A usually develop between 2 and 7 weeks after infection. The most common symptoms to appear are the following: Nausea or vomiting, Diarrhea, Fever, Rash, Fatigue, Jaundice, Dark Urine.

Hepatitis B - Like Hepatitis A, some people show no symptoms when they are infected with hepatitis B, or the symptoms may be very mild and flu-like. Any symptoms that can appear may include: Jaundice, Fever and tiredness, Diarrhea, Stomach pains, nausea and vomiting.

Hepatitis C - Again like with Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, folks with Hepatitis C may show no symptoms either, but when they do, they will probably include any of the following: Mild fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Later symptoms may include dark coffee-colored rather than dark yellow urine, clay-colored stools, abdominal pain, and jaundice.

Hepatitis A - Hepatitis B - Hepatitis C - Treatment:

Hepatitis A - There is no specific treatment for Hepatitis A. Rest is recommended during the worse phase of the disease when the symptoms are most severe. People with acute hepatitis should avoid alcohol and any substances that are toxic to the liver, including acetominophen. Fatty foods may cause vomiting because secretions from the liver are needed to digest fats. Fatty foods are best avoided during the acute phase.

Hepatitis B - Acute hepatitis B usually goes away by itself and does not require medical treatment. If very severe, symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea may require treatment to restore fluids and electrolytes. There are no medications that can prevent acute hepatitis B from becoming chronic.

Hepatitis C - Initial treatment of Hepatitis C will depend on whether the infection is in an early stage or whether it has progressed. Treatment of short-term (acute) hepatitis: Acute Hepatitis C may not be treated because symptoms are usually mild or absent, and hepatitis C is therefore often not diagnosed. By the time Hepatitis C is detected in most people, it has already progressed to long-term infection. However, when acute hepatitis C is identified and treated with medications, the development of progressive or chronic infection may be prevented.

Hepatitis A - Hepatitis B - Hepatitis C - Prevention:

Hepatitis A - Transmission of the virus can be reduced by avoiding unclean food and water, thorough hand washing after using the restroom, and thorough cleansing if there is any contact with an affected person's blood, feces, or any other bodily fluid. Daycare facilities and other institutions involving close contact with people may be more susceptible to rapid transmission of Hepatitis A. Thorough hand washing and good hygenic practices before and after each diaper change, before serving food, and after using the restroom can help prevent institutional outbreaks.

Hepatitis B - Screening of all donated blood has reduced the likelihood of contracting hepatitis B from a blood transfusion. As an initial screen, blood donors are now required to fill out a questionnaire about their sexual and drug use activities. The blood of those who are in high-risk groups is not used. Also, serologic tests are used to screen collected blood for the hepatitis B virus. Mandatory reporting of the disease allows state health care workers to track people who have been exposed and to immunize contacts that have not yet developed the disease. Formerly, hepatitis B vaccine was made from human blood products, so it was not received well by the public. Sexual contact with a person who has acute or chronic hepatitis B should be avoided.

Hepatitis C - Is spread primarily by direct contact with human blood. Transmission through blood transfusions that are not screened for HCV infection, through the reuse of inadequately sterilized needles, syringes or other medical equipment, or through needle-sharing among drug-users, is well documented. Sexual and perinatal transmission may also occur, although less frequently. Other modes of transmission such as social, cultural, and behavioural practices such as body piercing and tattooing, can occur if inadequately sterilized equipment is used. High risk groups include injecting drug users, recipients of unscreened blood, haemophiliacs, dialysis patients and persons with multiple sex partners.

There is a website that provides cures, facts and great information on Hepatitis A - Hepatitis B - Hepatitis C and numerous other medical conditions, the website is called: All About Health, and can be found at this url:

http://www.rb59.com/medical-health-info

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2007

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

Fatigue and Hepatitis C

Nearly three out of four patients infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) suffer from chronic fatigue. Of all of the infectious disease's symptoms, including fever, flu-like symptoms, itching, and nausea, excessive tiredness is one of the most common. While researchers have yet to identify the specific reason causing the fatigue experienced by individuals with HCV, there are many contributing factors as well as a number of very likely causes.

Deficient sleep, stress, poor dietary habits, and lack of exercise can all negatively impact one's level of energy, especially someone with HCV. Adjusting one's lifestyle to incorporate healthier choices, such as exercising regularly or consuming more water, is important for people who want to manage their fatigue.

In addition to some of the above factors, there are more closely linked reasons related to fatigue and Hepatitis C. Some HCV drug treatments, including Interferon and Ribavirin (which can cause anemia), can result in substantial fatigue. An unhealthy liver marked by advanced disease, offers little help in preventing fatigue. The difficulty for a compromised liver to produce and store the body's source for energy, glucose, is a primary reason for diminished energy.

Patients with HCV can also adjust their daily activities to better deal with fatigue. Regularly taking breaks, eating several small meals as opposed to three large ones, and prioritizing your day are all small steps that can cumulatively influence and manage fatigue. Another viable option to reduce excessive tiredness is nutritional supplements, such as Fatigue Relief Plus(TM), a natural energy enhancer. However, incorporating nutritional supplements into your fight against fatigue should first be discussed with a physician.

The majority of people who have HCV are fatigued. To learn more about factors that contribute to fatigue, as well as helpful tips on managing this common Hepatitis C symptom, click here to read this article in its entirety.

Cervical Cancer And Hepatitis

SIGNS OF CERVICAL CANCER:

There are no signs of early cervical cancer. It is therefore necessary for every woman to have regular pap test. A woman with cervical cancer sometimes have example Unusual vagina bleeding including vaginal bleeding after menopause, spotting or discharge, pains during sex.

WHO IS AT RISK OF CERVICAL CANCER?

Men do not have cervical cancer, only Women are at risk of having cervical cancer. Women child bearing age and beyond.

PREVENTION OPPORTUNITY;

Regular screening for early detection using the pap test. Women should have regular pap smears from the age of 21 years or three years after the onset of sexual intercourse. Regular pap smears detect abnormalities of the lining of the cervix years before it progresses to cervical cancer many of this abnormalities can be tested if detected early. Correct and consistent use of condom may provide some protection against HPV.

Avoid risky sexual behaviors.

Human Papillona Virus[HPV] is a sexually transmitted virus and a major cause of cervical cancer. HPV comes by having multiple sex partners, having partners who have multiple sex partners, having sex at an early age. HPV VACCINE before a woman becomes sexually active. The vaccine is routinely given to females of age between 11, 12, 13, and 18 to catch up missed vaccine or complete the vaccination.

HEALTHY DIET

Healthy diet including eating fruits and vegetables and avoiding smoking also reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer.

Hepatitis is a disease condition of the liver in which the liver becomes sore, swollen and red as a result of the infection by a virus. This inflation [swelling] of the liver continues to increase because of the environment pollution of alcohol use, drug abuse and poor diet. Also, over use of paracetamol has been discovered to be highly responsible for increasing incidence of Hepatitis, HEPATITIS A and B are the most common.

THE SIGNS OF HEPATITIS INCLUDE:

vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, yellowness of the eyes, muscle and joint aces and pains, more on the right side of the body.

CAUSES OF HEPATITIS A AND B;

Hepatitis A is caused by infected food and common where there is poor hygiene, It spreads trough contaminated water. Hepatitis B is common in Nigeria and is caused by infected blood, It is spread through unprotected sex, sharing injection needles, blood contact or transfusion. It can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her baby during labor and delivery.

Mother to child transmission of Hepatitis B can be prevented by immunizing children with Hepatitis vaccine.

TREATMENT;

Cancer is a very deadly and expensive disease but if treated early,can be effectively managed at very good health facilities. Cervical cancer is often treated with a combination of surgery radiation and chemotherapy.

Other ways of include CRYOTHERAPY and ELECTROCOAGULATION.

Hepatitis C Testing - Why It Is Important to Get a Full Hepatitis Test

Hepatitis C testing is important. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that more than 3 million people in the U.S. have this infection. The appearance of symptoms is not common and most people do not know they have it. In the chronic form, it usually leads to liver cancer or liver failure. That is why it is so important to get a full hepatitis test. This is the only way to find out if a person has been infected.

WHAT IS HEPATITIS?

It is a virus. There are three different versions. They are referred to as "A", "B", and "C". Each one has the ability to cause serious damage to the human liver. Acute infections only last a few weeks to a few months. Many times "A" and "B" are acute. They can be overcome and a person's body can get rid of them on their own. Chronic infections last a lifetime and can lead to liver cancer and liver failure. Many times the "C" version is a chronic infection. There are several ways to contract each form of the virus, but overall it is considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD). This article discusses the "C" version. (Visit my other articles for more about "A" and "B".)

HEPATITIS C:

This version of the disease is the one that most people are unaware that they have. It is spread by coming in contact with infected blood and can cause liver cancer and liver failure. The most common ways that people come in contact with Hepatitis C are through medical needles, tattoo needles, piercing needles, and blood transfusions (if the blood has not been tested). Sexual intercourse where blood is present may also spread the disease. Many health professionals consider it an STD.

Since it is considered an STD, anyone who engages in sexual activities where blood is present is at risk. Experts say hepatitis C is not transmitted through other bodily secretions such as saliva, vaginal secretions, or semen. Using condoms during sex reduces the risk of contraction. The only way to avoid hepatitis in this way is with abstinence. This means not having sex or engaging in sexual contact with others. Practicing abstinence is the key to avoiding all STD's

Most people who are infected do not know it because they do not experience symptoms and have not had a full hepatitis test. Many doctors say that when someone finds out they have it they find out by accident because they had to have a blood screening for something else. For example, some folks find out because they want to donate blood and their donation is screened and this is when the virus is detected.

However, sometimes symptoms do arise. People say they feel tired, have joint pain, have pains in their abdomen, experience sore muscles, have itchy skin, or dark urine. Some say that they experience a yellowing of their eyes and/or skin as well. If this happens, it is generally only after the other symptoms have gone away. No matter if there are symptoms or not, Hepatitis C can be spread by an infected person.

Hepatitis C is usually a chronic infection. This means the body is unable to get rid of it on its own. Whoever has it will live with it forever. When people are unaware that they are infected, they can sometimes go for decades before they find out.

There is no cure but doctors need to monitor liver function to ensure that a person can live a full and healthy life although they carry the virus. Many people with the virus live full and active lives.

A doctor cannot give the proper care to someone who is unaware that they have this disease. That is why it is important to get a full hepatitis test. Since people who are sexually active are at risk, there is an STD test that screens for all versions, including A, B, and C.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is one of the many viral infections with the tendency to affect the liver. In approximately 75% of cases, the infection will become chronic, meaning that it does not go away. After about 20 years of a chronic Hepatitis C infection, approximately 20% of these people will develop cirrhosis (or hardening) of the liver. Liver failure is also a very common complication, although Hepatitis C infection may also result in a number of blood cell disorders which manifest most typically in the skin as itching, bruises and other odd discolorations as well as intestinal bleeds manifesting as vomiting blood or passing stools that are black, indicating the presence of digested blood. There is also an increased tendency to develop a type of cancer known as Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Depending on your general state of health and the type of Hepatitis C infection that you have, you may not be treated for the infection. This is because of the high costs associated with treatment, as well as the associated side effects and the fact that a small number of persons will recover without treatment and furthermore, only about 60% of persons will actually be cured by the current medical standards. The goals of treating Hepatitis C infections are to eliminate the virus as well as to prevent the development of liver cirrhosis and liver failure, thereby reducing the likelihood that a liver transplant will be required. How long you are treated for will depend on the type of Hepatitis C virus with which you have been infected, whether you have an acute (short-term) or chronic (long term) infection and your response to the treatment being given.

Most persons with an acute infection will not be treated, simply because they do not know they have it. If, however, it is known that a person is infected with Hepatitis C, prompt treatment may help prevent the progression to chronic Hepatitis though the actual guidelines for treatment in this case are still being debated. It is common for persons not to discover Hepatitis C infection until it has already become chronic. When this happens, treatment becomes necessary only in the presence of liver damage and a combination of medicines (such as interferon and ribavirin) may be required to fight the infection.

You will also need to be followed up by your doctor with routine blood tests to determine your level of liver function in response to treatment and any possible adverse reactions which might occur. Also, if you choose not to take your medicine then you will need to have a liver biopsy done every 5 years to assess the level of liver damage.

Note, that antiviral therapy for Hepatitis C is not recommended for persons who use IV drugs or drink alcohol, have advanced cirrhosis, are pregnant or may become pregnant, suffer from major depression or other mental disorder, have an autoimmune disease (e.g. psoriasis, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis), or have other medical conditions such as seizures, heart disease or severe diabetes.

Alternatively, there are certain alternative and complimentary treatments for Hepatitis C which include plant extracts like ginseng, licorice root and milk thistle. Other therapies that may be used include relaxation techniques, chiropractic care and massage; none of which are curative, but they have been credited with relieving the pain associated with Hepatitis C. These natural therapies are used to boost the immune system, reduce liver inflammation and improve gastrointestinal function and they have been reported as being successful by as much as 40% of Hepatitis C patients who were not cured by traditional medicine.

Hepatitis C?

You may be worried that you have hepatitis C. Chances are if you received a blood transfusion prior to 1992, if you ever used intravenous (IV) drugs, or if you have a tattoo or body piercing, you may be at risk for hepatitis C.

Hepatitis is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. Your liver is the largest organ in your body. It acts as a filter to remove harmful substances, called toxins, and waste form your blood. Hepatitis C may cause serious health issues, even in people who have no symptoms at all. Hepatitis C currently affects about 4 million people at this time. Symptoms may not present for a matter of 20 years.

How Hepatitis C is contracted? You can get the disease by coming in contact with the blood of an infected person. Many people at risk for hepatitis C have done something in their past that they didn't know was putting them at risk. You should receive testing if you have ever shared a needle, snorted drugs(due to infected blood on shared straw), had a blood transfusion before 1992, underwent kidney transplant, just to name a few. There are currently two types of tests that can show whether you have hepatitis C. They are blood test, which looks for a virus in you blood. The second is a liver biopsy, which is more invasive. This is a surgical procedure, but is the best way to check for hepatitis C.

Some common symptoms of Hepatitis C are flu-like symptoms, loss of appetite, blood sugar disorders, indigestion, diarrhea, and depression. Some people have no symptoms at all. There are medications available for hepatitis C that may help reduce the amount of hepatitis C virus in the blood and prevent further damage to the liver caused by the virus. Depending on the type of hepatitis C a person has, treatment usually lasts from 24 to 48 weeks.

Hepatitis Part V - Symptoms of Hepatitis

As we mentioned in previous articles, hepatitis is characterized by the destruction of a number of liver cells and the presence of inflammatory cells in the liver tissue caused by excessive alcohol drinking, disorders of the gall bladder or pancreas, medication side effects, and infections. Here are the symptoms of hepatitis:

1. Jaundices

Jaundices caused by the excession of a chemical called bilirubin accumulated in the body's tissues. When the liver is damaged by hepatitis virus, it's unable to do its normal job and this chemical accumulates in the blood and starts to leak out into body tissue resulting in a yellow color in the skin, and especially around the whites of the eyes.

2. Loss of appetite

Loss of appetite is also called anorexia, is often the first symptom of acute hepatitis. Sometimes this symptom lasts for a very short time before being replaced by nausea and vomiting.

3. Fatigue

Fatigue is a debilitating tiredness and is a big source of frustration for people with liver disease. When the liver is damaged, feelings of extreme weakness is common.

4. Pain in the muscles and joints

Pain in the muscles and joints can last from days to weeks and are very common in acute hepatitis infection.

5. Low blood sugar

Infection by Hepatitis A virus may cause low blood sugar. Therefore regular monitoring of blood glucose level with constant glucose infusion is essential, because dangerously low blood sugar is a constant threat.

6. Insomnia

Insomnia is caused by liver inflammation of hepatitis virus C leading to trouble of sleeping, and waking up often during the night. Some people also experience unusually vivid, intense and frightening dreams.

7. Pruritus

People with hepatitis C sometimes have pruritus, itching to the palms of the hand and the soles of the feet.

8. Lymphadenopathy

Hepatitis may also cause inflammation of lymph nodes. They usually appear in the armpits, groin and neck.

9. Weakness

Hepatitis C also causes a sense of weakness. This symptom can vary from mild to severe and tends to come and go.

If you have any of the above symptoms, please consult with your doctor immediately.

I hope this information will help. If you need more information please visit my home page at:

Hepatitis - Causes, Symptoms, Types, Prevention and Treatment

Hepatitis is characterized by the destruction of a number of liver cells and the presence of inflammatory cells in the liver tissue caused by excessive alcohol drinking, disorders of the gall bladder or pancreas, including medication side effects, and infections.In this article, we will discuss causes, symptoms, types, prevention and treatment of hepatitis.

I. Causes of hepatitis

A person can develop hepatitis if they contract one of the viruses that can cause liver inflammation, or as a result of exposure to substances that can cause hepatitis. There are two ways that can lead to hepatitis: it can either occur as a result of infections or from autoimmune processes.

Hepatitis can be divided into two subgroups:

1. Acute hepatitis

Acute hepatitis caused by the below in result of inflammation that causes damaging to the liver's normal function and lasting less than six months. People having a weakened immune system and weaken liver, making them more susceptible to be infected by hepatitis.

a) Infectious viral hepatitis such as hepatitis A, B, C, D, E.

b) Inflammation of liver caused by Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus.

c) Inflammation of liver caused by other bacteria.

d) Medication overdose causing damage to liver tissues and cells such as tranquilizers, chemotherapeutic agents, antibiotics and anesthetics.

e) Excessive alcohol drinking.

2. Chronic hepatitis:

Chronic hepatitis means active, ongoing inflammation of the liver persisting for more than six months. Chronic hepatitis, although much less common than acute hepatitis, can persist for years, even decades. In most people, it is quite mild and does not cause significant liver damage. It may be caused by hepatitis B and C viruses, drugs and excessive alcohol drinking. It can also result in cirrhosis, with an enlarged spleen and fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity. In some people, continued inflammation slowly damages the liver, eventually resulting in severe scarring of the liver, liver failure and sometimes liver cancer.

II. Symptoms

1. Jaundices

Jaundices caused by the excession of a chemical called bilirubin accumulated in the body's tissues. When the liver is damaged by hepatitis virus, it's unable to do its normal job and this chemical accumulates in the blood and starts to leak out into body tissue resulting in a yellow color in the skin, and especially around the whites of the eyes.

2. Loss of appetite

Loss of appetite is also called anorexia, is often the first symptom of acute hepatitis. Sometimes this symptom lasts for a very short time before being replaced by nausea and vomiting.

3. Fatigue

Fatigue is a debilitating tiredness and is a big source of frustration for people with liver disease. When the liver is damaged, feelings of extreme weakness is common.

4. Pain in the muscles and joints

Pain in the muscles and joints can last from days to weeks and are very common in acute hepatitis infection.

5. Low blood sugar

Infection by Hepatitis A virus may cause low blood sugar. Therefore regular monitoring of blood glucose level with constant glucose infusion is essential, because dangerously low blood sugar is a constant threat.

6. Insomnia

Insomnia is caused by liver inflammation of hepatitis virus C leading to trouble of sleeping, and waking up often during the night. Some people also experience unusually vivid, intense and frightening dreams.

7. Pruritus

People with hepatitis C sometimes have pruritus, itching to the palms of the hand and the soles of the feet.

8. Lymphadenopathy

Hepatitis may also cause inflammation of lymph nodes. They usually appear in the armpits, groin and neck.

9. Weakness

Hepatitis C also causes a sense of weakness. This symptom can vary from mild to severe and tends to come and go.

If you have any of the above symptoms, please consult with your doctor immediately.

III. Types of Hepatitis

1. Hepatitis A (HAV)

Hepatitis A causes swelling and inflammation in the liver and is very common in underdeveloped countries, resulting in drinking water or eating food that is infected by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It can also be transmitted through sexual intercourse. This type of hepatitis usually has slow onset and most people fully recover. Hepatitis A can be discovered by blood testing.

2. Hepatitis B (HBV)

Hepatitis B virus is most often contracted via blood contact such as blood, semen, body fluids, IV drug abusers sharing needles or someone using tainted needles. It can also be transmitted through sexual contact and from mother to baby during childbirth. Hepatitis B causes inflammation of the liver leading to a serious infection that can cause liver damage, which may result in cancer.

3. Hepatitis C (HCV)

Hepatitis C, like hepatitis B is spread via blood and body-fluid contact such as blood, semen, body fluid, IV drug abusers sharing needles or someone using tainted needles. Hepatitis C used to be the most common type of hepatitis acquired through blood transfusions until a test for it became available in the 1980s. Hepatitis C causes inflammation of the liver resulting in liver damage that can lead to cancer. It also commonly leads to chronic liver inflammation and slowly damagesthe liver over a long period of time before leading to cirrhosis of the liver, that means scar tissue replacing normal, healthy tissue in result of blocking the flow of blood through the liver and preventing it from from working as it should.

4. Hepatitis D (HDV)

Hepatitis D is caused by the virus HDV. You can only get hepatitis D if you are already infected with hepatitis B. Hepatitis D also causes inflammation of liver and is transmitted through infected blood, needles and sexual contact with with a person infected with HDV.

5. Hepatitis E (HEV)

Similar to hepatitis A, hepatitis E is also caused by drinking water or eating food that os infected by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It can also be transmitted through sexual intercourse causing temporary swelling of the liver and no long term damage to it.

IV. Prevention and Treatment

A. With Foods

1. Fresh water algae

Fresh water algae contains high amounts of antioxidant-chlorophyll that has the power in strengthening the immune system to fight any bacteria and virus infection. It also helps in cleansing liver toxins as well as fat build-up in liver.

2. Whole grain products

Whole grain product stimulates the liver to rid the body of toxins, supports the heart and is rich in protein, B vitamins, and fiber. It also helps lower blood cholesterol, reduce tumors, strengthens the immune and treats hepatitis.

3. Green vegetable juices

The fresh raw vegetable juices are vitally important in the nutritional treatment of hepatitis. Green Vegetable juice contains high amounts of vitamin C, bioflavonoids, carotenoids, living plant enzymes to aid digestion & vitamin K resulting in cleansing of liver toxins as well as strengthening the immune system, helping to fight against hepatitis infection.

4. Legumes

Legumes contain the nutrients and good sources of water-soluble fibers that your body needs to produce and activate the dozens of enzymes involved in the various phases of detoxification.

5. Cold water fish

Cold water fish contain high amounts of essential fatty acids that helps to support the detoxification pathways in the liver, break down toxic chemicals and toxins from the blood stream. A healthy liver filter will keep your blood stream clean and free of dangerous toxins and microorganisms. The regular use of a liver tonic such as essential fatty acids support the repair of liver cells.

6. Limit daily intake of alcohol

Alcohol is a potent toxin to the liver. Excessive alcohol drinking can lead to cirrhosis and its complications, including liver cancer.

7. Stop smoking

Cigarette fumes contain high amounts of cadmium, a toxic chemical that causes not only blood clots but also weakens the immune system functioning by fighting against harmful viruses and detoxifying the liver.

B. With Chinese Herbs

Here are some Chinese herbs that have been used to prevent and treat hepatitis with proven results.

1. Natural schisandra

Schisandradra contains essential oils, acids and lignans that help to regenerate liver tissue caused by excessive drinking of alcohol and hepatitis virus.

2. Milk thistle

consists of three components silybin, silydianin, and silychristin that help to reverse liver damage from alcohol, liver injure in result of chronic hepatitis and sloe the advance of cirrhosis.

3. Dan shen Danshen

is frequently used for these problems in combination with other herbs in treating liver diseases such as cirrhosis, fibrosis, and chronic hepatitis B.

4. Lycii

Lycii contains high amount of beta-carotene that helps to nourish and tonify liver and kidney.

5. Chinese licorice

Licorice contains a compound called glycyrrhizin and has a long history of medicinal use in both Eastern and Western systems of medicine in treating infections caused by viruses, such as hepatitis.

6. Astragalus

Astragalus is used conbination with other Chinese herbs are thought to possess properties in treating cancer, viral infection and immune system disorder. Astragalus is an ingredient in

7. Baikal scullcap

Baikal scullcap contains a chemical of baikalin that helps liver to detoxification and fight against liver infection.

8. Gynostemma pentaphylla

This herb has been used over thousand years in Chinese history in treating a variety of diseases such as high blood fat, heart disease, strengthen immune system as well as hepatitis.

9. American ginseng

American ginseng contain the ginsenosides ingredient that is effective in preventing GalN-induced liver cell damage and is a useful agent for chemoprevention of cancer or inflammatory diseases such as liver infection by hepatitis virus.

C. With Nutrition

1. Cranberry juice

Study shows that cranberry juice can be used as alternative antibody in helping our immune system fight off the hepatitis virus before it can do damage to the liver.

2. Lemon juice

Lemon juice contains high amounts of vitamin C that helps to fight against free radical build up in our body as well as detoxifying liver cells damaged by hepatitis viruses to regenerate, forming new liver cells.

3. Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar contains malic acid and acetic acid and it is effective against most viral diseases including Hepatitis virus.

4. Olive leaf

Olive leaf helps to improve immune system and contains achemical oleuropein which converts to elenolic acid in the body. The oleuropein targets viruses and bad bacteria before they can cause any damage to the body including liver, while relaxing blood vessels.

5. Peppermint

Peppermint is a stimulant that helps to relieve digestive disturbances caused by chronic hepatitis by stimulating the release of bile.

6. Honey

Honey provides the energy needed by the body for blood formation and blood cleansing. It also increases the liver's glycogen through the increase of blood glucose, helping the liver to function properly and fight against hepatitis virus.

7. Royal jelly

Royal jelly contains protein, vitamins B, C, E, niacin and pantothenic acid that helps to strengthen our immune system, protecting our body against any viruses including the hepatitis virus as well as cleansing toxic deposits in the body.

8. Green tea

Green tea contains the highest concentration of powerful antioxidants called polyphenols that scavenge free radicals. It also seems to protect the liver from the damaging effects of toxic substances such as alcohol.

D. With Supplements

1. Vitamin C

It is found only in fruits and vegetables and is highest in fresh, uncooked foods. Vitamin C is an antioxidant vitamin. It helps prevent oxidation of water-soluble molecules that could otherwise create free radicals. Vitamin C not only stimulates the immune system but also improves the prevention and treatment of infections and other diseases.

2. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin with antioxidant properties and is used for prevention or treatment of numerous health conditions such as liver detoxification. Vitamin E levels have been shown to be low in people with hepatitis as well as in those who later develop liver cancer from long-standing hepatitis therefore increasing the amount of intake of vitamin E may protect the liver from damage in people with hepatitis C.

3. B vitamins

B vitamins support metabolic functions, including energy production, nerve cell immune system functions and as well as antioxidant activity.

4. Selenium

Selenium is an essential trace mineral that helps in cleansing liver toxins. Selenium is proven to have a protective role against hepatitis B. The right dose of selenium will help to ware off liver cancer.

5. Flax seed

Flax seed is an excellent vegetarian source of essential fatty acids that helps to reduce inflammation of liver and restore damaged liver cell membranes. It will also support the filter inside the liver, which removes microorganisms, dead cells and toxins from the blood stream.

6. L-Glutamine

L-Glutamine contains high amounts of amino acid and natural growth hormones that help to combat the effect of alcohol addiction, benefiting the liver and strengthening the immune system.

Click here for more information

7. S-adenosymethionine (SAMe)

Study shows that S-adenosymethionine (SAMe) has ananti-oxidant effects in chronic liver disease and in the treatment of viral hepatitis C. It also helps to restore abnormalities and cellular dysfunctions in human liver disease. Oral SAMe is also helpful in treating patients with chronic liver disease.

E. With Herbs

1. Red clover

Rich in micro-nutrients it possesses activity against several bacteria. A good dietary supplement of vitamin A and Iron, it also contains B- complex, vitamins C,F, and P, some selenium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, sodium and is particularly rich in magnesium, calcium and copper.

2. Oregon grape root

The herb stimulates the action on the liver and is one of the best blood cleansers. Mild stimulant to the thyroid functions and aids in the assimilation of nutrients.

3. Echinacea

Echinacea is an immuno stimulant. Enhancing the body's resistance against both bacterial and viral infections it is probably the best detoxifying agent in Western Herbalism. It cleanses the blood and lymph systems, helps arrest pus formation and tissue putrefaction

4. Sarsaparilla

Sarsaparilla purifies the urino-genital tract, dispelling all infection and inflammation. It's purifying action extends to the nervous system and is therefore useful in many nervous disorders. Sarsaparilla's diaphoretic and blood cleansing action is useful for rheumatic inflammation.

5. Licorice root

Licorice root is a natural anti-inflammatory agent. It helps to increase the secretion of digestive enzymes and bile and is widely regarded as the supreme liver tonic.

6. Burdock

It clears congestion, reduces swelling and dispels toxins via the skin, kidneys and bowel. It is a nutritive and rejuvenatory tonic . Historically it has been used to support the action of the kidneys in urinary tract infections.

7. Dandelion

Dandelion cleanses the liver, kidneys, lymph and bowel and is ideal for toxic blood conditions. It increases the secretion of digestive enzymes and bile and is widely regarded as the supreme liver tonic.

F. With Common Sense Approaches

1. Reduce intake of saturated and trans fats

Uncontrolled diet that is high in saturated and trans fats not only cause cholesterol build up in your arteries but also increase high blood pressure and also damaging the immune system. It also is the main contributor to gallstone formation, fat liver that reduce the normal function of liver and making it vulnerable for virus infections.

2. Avoid intake of processed foods

Processed food contain high amounts of salt and artificial food additives that causes free radicals to build up in the body and high blood pressure. They are also toxic to the liver causing the kidney and liver to work harder in cleansing the extra toxins in the bloodstream. If this lasts for a prolonged period, they may damage the kidney and liver causing liver inflammation if infected by the hepatitis virus.

3. Limit alcohol drinking

Drinking a maximum of 250 ml for women and 500 ml for men will help the circulation of blood, nourish the body's cells, and strengthen the immune system and liver. Excessive drinking not only causes liver inflammation, but will also lead to cirrhosis.

4. Drink a lot of green and yellow juices

Green and yellow juices contain high amounts of vitamins C, E and B that help to detoxify the body's toxins and reduce burden of the liver. Green and yellow juices also help to protect our body from free radical build up, normalizing the liver function.

5. Quit smoking

Cigarettes contain toxic cadmium causing high blood pressure, increases the risk of calcium clotting up the arterial wall and reduces the amount of antioxidants in the body in result of weakening the immune system and liver causing the liver to be easier to be infected by hepatitis virus.

6. Limit intake of sugar

High amount of sugar promotes liver inflammation and free radical damage.

7. Do not overdose your medication

Overdosing medications is toxic to the body causing extra burden for liver function.

8. Do not share things with others such as clippers, scissors, toothbrushes or anything that may have come into contact with blood or body fluids.

9. Casual sexual activity must be taken with extra care.

IV. Other Treatment

1. Liver Detoxification

Strengthens the immune system with vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbs that we have been discussed lengthily in other articles.

2. Ozone therapy

Ozone oxidizes the cells of the body systemically. It stimulates enzymes and phagocytes of the white blood cells which chew up the viruses and the bacteria in the blood. It also activates alpha interferon, gamma interferon, interleukin II and tumor necrosis factor. It is effective in treating hepatitis B patients with high successful rate.

3. Lamivudine therapy

Combining vaccine therapy with lamivudine has improved therapeutic potential for chronic hepatitis B. It helps to strengthen the immune system fighting against the hepatitis B virus specially with patients with chronic HBV infection and active viral replication.

4. Interferon-alpha therapy

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious health problem because of its worldwide distribution. There are over 350 million people in the world infected with chronic HBV, 75% of whom live in the Asia-Pacific region. Interferon-alfa and direct antiviral agents such as lamivudine and adefovir are effective in the therapy of chronic HBV infection but only with some success, particularly in perinatally infected patients, patients with lower ALT levels and those with negative chronic hepatitis B.

5. Pegylated interferon

Pegylated interferon may be considered the best choice of treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. This therapy has been shown to be superior to both conventional interferon as well as lamivudine in the treatment of both hepatitis B positive and negative chronic hepatitis B with successful rates of 35-45%.

I hope that this information will help. If you need more information of the above subject, please visit my home page at:

Hepatitis C Treatments

Hepatitis C is a condition that causes an inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C is a type of hepatitis that has symptoms that closely resemble the flu. For this reason, most people are not aware that they have hepatitis C until they visit a doctor and have a physical exam. This disease can be transmitted through needle sharing, drug sharing, unprotected sex, body piercing, tattooing, and blood transfusion in which the donor was later tested to be hepatitis C positive. Spreading this disease is as simple as blood-to-blood contact.

Unlike the other types of hepatitis, hepatitis C has no specific treatments for its symptoms. But your doctor can recommend you to have bed rest drink plenty of fluids. Not only that, a healthy diet and avoidance of alcoholic beverages will also be best for you. If you are experiencing only mild hepatitis C, after following the advice of your doctor, you will begin to feel better in two to three weeks and may completely recover from the symptoms within four to eight weeks. But, if you have chronic hepatitis C, your doctor will use synthetic forms of the protein interferon. This treatment can improve liver function and diminish symptoms. However, this may cause side effects such as fever and headache and may not be applicable to some patients. This is only effective in 10 to 40% of hepatitis C patients.

A hepatitis C patient may remain symptom free and develop only a mild condition or may develop the most serious complications of viral hepatitis like cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. That is why if you are experiencing only mild symptoms indicative of hepatitis C, you should consult a physician right away to determine your condition. The sooner you learn about the disease, the better. This way you will be able to undergo the best treatment for you as early as possible.

Hepatitis Symptoms

Hepatitis is derived from the Greek word "hepat" meaning liver and the Greek suffix "-itis" meaning inflammation. It is characterized by the destruction of liver cells and the presence of inflammatory cells in the liver tissues. It can either be acute or self-limiting where it heals on its own or it can be chronic which is longer or more persistent. There are many causes including:

• Toxins such as alcohol.


• Infections.


• Autoimmune processes which is an immune response against your own cells or tissues.

Often people do not have any symptoms or only develop them further on in the disease so it can be difficult to detect and can be quite advanced before it is actually picked up.

Hepatitis B:

Hepatitis B is inflammation of the liver caused by a DNA virus causing viral hepatitis. At the moment in Western countries only 2% of the population are infected with chronic hepatitis. It is a blood-borne infection which can be transmitted by:

• Re-use of contaminated needles.


• Unprotected sexual contact.


• Blood transfusions


• During childbirth from the mother to the child if the mother is infected.

There are several vaccinations for Hepatitis B: it can either be made from recombinant DNA technology or obtained from the plasma of patients with long-standing Hepatitis B virus infections. Recombinant DNA technology involves adding the relevant bits of DNA into a bacterium plasmid which is put back into the bacteria which then replicates itself including the new piece of DNA. This can then be used as a vaccine so that people develop their own antibodies against the virus. The vaccine is targeted at people who are most at risk including:

• Family members of people with Chronic Hepatitis B


• Sexual partners of people with Hepatitis B


• Newborn babies of mother with Hepatitis B


• Drug Users


• Homosexual men


• Hospital staff who frequently come into contact with blood.

Symptoms of Acute Hepatitis B:

• General ill-health


• Loss of appetite


• Nausea


• Vomiting


• Body aches


• Mild fever


• Dark urine


• Development of jaundice.
  This is a yellowing of the sclera (white parts of the eye) the skin and the mucous membrane. It is caused when bilirubin (a yellow break down product of haem which is an iron containing group) levels in the blood increase. This is an insoluble substance which travels to the liver bound to serum albumin. It is joined with glucuronic acid forming bilirubin diglucuroonide which is more soluble and is excreted from the liver as bile. Unnatural cell death (necrosis) reduces the liver's ability to make and excrete bilirubin leading to a build up of blood in the liver.

 

Acute Hepatitis B lasts a few weeks and in most people it gradually improves and doesn't usually require treatment. The incubation period for Hepatitis B is usually 2-6months and 1 in 20 patients develops chronic Hepatitis B while 1 in 5 develops cirrhosis.

Symptoms of Chronic Hepatitis B:

· It can be asymptomatic.

· Chronic inflammation of the liver

· Develop fibrosis which is liver scarring

· Develop cirrhosis which is advanced liver scarring. The symptoms of cirrhosis are:

· Bruising

· Bleeding

· Bone pain

· Enlarged veins (varicose veins) around the abdomen

· Fatty stools

· Jaundice

· Increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer.

Chronic Hepatitis B can be diagnosed by using blood or serum tests that detect the presence of the viral antigens which are proteins produced by the virus, or they detect the presence of antibodies which are produced by the host as an immune response. The hepatitis surface antigen is most frequently tested for as it is the first detectable viral antigen.

There are 7 medications that can be used to treat Hepatitis B;

5 antiviral drugs:

• Lamivudine


• Adefovir


• Telbivudine


• Entecavir


• Tenofovir

2 immune system modulators:

• Interferon alpha-2a


• Pegylated interferon alpha-2a.

95% of infected adults and older children will stage a full recovery and develop protective immunity to the virus.

Hepatitis C:

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infection caused by the Hepatitis C virus which affects the liver. It is spread by blood to blood contact and at the moment there is no vaccination to protect against it. Acute Hepatitis C is the first six months of the infection. 60-70% of infected people are asymptomatic during this phase but they can suffer:

• General ill health including:


• Marked weight loss


• Fatigue


• Flu-like symptoms


• Muscle and joint pain


• Nausea


• Depression


• Sleep disturbances


• Head aches


• Loss of appetite


• Abdominal pain


• Development of Jaundice.


• Itching


• Flu-like symptoms

Since the acute phase is often asymptomatic it is difficult to pick up early and treat so many people have developed more serious problems before they are aware they are infected making it more difficult to treat.

It can be tested for as the virus is detectable in the blood 1-3weeks after being infected and the antibodies which are produced as an immune response can be detected 3-12weeks after being infected but as mentioned above many people do not seek medical help because they don't have any symptoms. 15-40% of people are able to clear the infection in the acute phase but 60-85% of people develop chronic hepatitis C which is where the infection has lasted more than 6 months. The incubation period is usually 1-6months and 8 in 10 patients develop chronic Hepatitis C while 1 in 3 develops cirrhosis.

Symptoms of Chronic Hepatitis C:

• Often asymptomatic.


• Inflammation of the liver


• Leads to fibrosis which is liver scarring


• Two thirds progress to cirrhosis (which is advanced liver scarring) within 20-30 years.

The rate of progression is increased by:

• Increasing age


• Gender: In males the progression is usually faster


• Alcohol consumption


• HIV co-infection


• Fatty liver

Liver biopsy tests are used as they are best for detecting the amount of scarring and inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C can also be diagnosed using blood serum tests or serology, which detects the presence of antibodies against the Hepatitis C virus. In 80% of people the antibodies can be detected after 15weeks and in 90% they are detected after 20 weeks. You can also test for the presence of the virus using molecular nucleic acid testing methods which measure the amount of virus present.

In Western countries 90% of the people infected with Hepatitis C were infected through transmission of unscreened blood to blood contact for example:

· Body piercing and tattoos

· Injection drug use

· Nasal inhalation

· Blood products from blood transfusions or organ transplants

· From un-sterilized equipment

· Unprotected sexual contact

· Sharing personal items such as razors, tooth brushes and scissors

Hepatitis C can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her child during childbirth.

At the moment a combination of pegylated interferon alpha and an anti-viral drug called ribavirin are used for 24-48weeks to treat the disease. However, this is physically demanding and in some cases can cause temporary disability.

Smoking and alcohol consumption increases the progress of Hepatitis C virus associated fibrosis, cirrhosis and increases the risk of developing liver cancer. Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome can worsen the prognosis of hepatitis.

It can be prevented by:

• Not sharing needles (or other drug paraphernalia)


• Avoiding unsanitary tattoo methods


• Avoiding unsanitary body piercing methods


• Avoiding unsanitary acupuncture methods


• Not sharing personal items


• Not having unprotected sex.

Hepatitis C Symptoms And Signs

Hepatitis C symptoms appear in approximately 1 of every 5 individuals who have been infected with the hepatitis C virus. That means 80 percent of those who have hepatitis C are probably unaware of it. When hepatitis C symptoms do appear, they range in severity. They may be mild and barely noticeable, or they may be severe and debilitating.

Fatigue is the most frequently cited symptom of hepatitis C. But there are certainly others, which often appear in combinations.

* pain in the abdomen

* you'll notice that bowel movements look different, usually lighter or clay colored

* urine is likely to become darker, looking more like a coffee color

* generalized itching

* unusually frequent headaches are likely to occur

* jaundice, a liver problem that makes the skin and eyes turn a shade of yellow

* many people who have hepatitis C experience a loss of appetite

* aching muscles are typical

* nausea

* hepatitis C often causes vomiting in those who have been infected.

The hepatitis C virus is the cause of hepatitis C. This virus is also commonly known by the abbreviation HCV. Most of the time, an exchange of blood is needed to transmit the virus from one person to another. It is not usually transmitted through sexual contact. The most common means of transmitting the hepatitis C virus in the United States is through the exchange of unclean hypodermic needles by intravenous drug users.

Chronic hepatitis C, which is a serious liver disease, develops in 2 of every 3 people who have an acute hepatitis C infection.

According to recent studies, as many as one person in every thirty worldwide has been infected with the hepatitis C virus. That amounts to approximately 170 million individuals. There's evidence that 15 percent of the population in some parts of Asia and Africa are infected with hepatitis C. Egypt is believed to have the highest infection rate in the world, exceeding 15 percent.

If you want to make sure you don't get hepatitis C, all you need to do is follow some common sense guidelines. Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus, so hepatitis C prevention means avoiding contact with human blood. If you inject illegal drugs, never share a needle with another addict. Do not share toothbrushes, razors or other items that might have blood from a person infected with hepatitis C on them.

If you decide to have any type of body piercing done, make sure all instruments being used are sterilized. The same goes for tattoos. The person performing these procedures should also wear latex gloves and take pains to keep the area disinfected and sanitized.

If you have acupuncture done, make sure the needles are properly sterilized.

Speaking in general terms, anyone who travels abroad usually needn't worry about hepatitis C. The major danger occurs if you are injured or hospitalized and need a blood transfusion, since blood screening standards in some countries may not meet minimum standards. It bears repeating that anyone traveling overseas who wishes to get a tattoo (as is often done by military personnel) or have body parts pierced, should do so with the greatest regard for sterile practices.

No vaccine currently exists that can prevent a hepatitis C infection once the virus has been transmitted to you. Many people have heard that there's a hepatitis vaccine, and in fact immune globulin will help protect you against a hepatitis A infection. But it is not effective for hepatitis C.

Every year in the United States, more liver transplants take place because of chronic hepatitis C than for any other cause.

You can have hepatitis C testing done if you think you may have been exposed to the virus. Hepatitis C testing is a good idea even if no hepatitis C symptoms have appeared.