How To Find Out If You Have Hepatitis

Treatments For Hepatitis B

Treatment for hepatitis B depends on how long you have been infected for.

If you have been exposed to the virus in the past few days, emergency treatment can help stop you becoming infected.

If you have only had the infection for a few weeks or months , you may only need treatment to relieve your symptoms while your body fights off the infection.

If you have had the infection for more than 6 months , you may be offered treatment with medicines that can keep the virus under control and reduce the risk of liver damage.

Chronic hepatitis B often requires long-term or lifelong treatment and regular monitoring to check for any further liver problems.

How Do Doctors Treat The Complications Of Hepatitis B

If chronic hepatitis B leads to cirrhosis, you should see a doctor who specializes in liver diseases. Doctors can treat the health problems related to cirrhosis with medicines, minor medical procedures, and surgery. If you have cirrhosis, you have an increased chance of liver cancer. Your doctor may order blood tests and an ultrasound or another type of imaging test to check for liver cancer.

If chronic hepatitis B leads to liver failure or liver cancer, you may need a liver transplant.

/6suffering From Hypothyroidism Follow These Dietary Tips

When our thyroid gland fails to function properly, or there are imbalanced levels of T3, T4 or the TSH hormones, we put ourselves at the risk of developing a thyroid disorder. Thyroid disorder, particularly hypothyroidism, where the body fails to produce enough thyroid hormones is a common yet quite a serious health issue which can impact everyday functioning and metabolism.

While early diagnosis of the condition is quite crucial, managing and treating the disease, in an holistic manner is just as important. Therefore, apart from the medications, concentrating on what you eat, when you do have thyroid, is often taken to be an important key to manage one’s thyroid condition. Since our thyroid gland and the necessary hormones play a very important role in regulating fatigue levels, weight changes, mood disorders and keeping the skin healthy too, it’s imperative you have foods which boost energy levels, elevate hormone levels and sustain functioning.

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What Do I Do If I Find Out I Have Viral Hepatitis

After learning from your doctor that you have hepatitis, your first step will be to learn more about the virus. Read government resources, like the websites listed below, to find current, scientific information. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is important to prevent the virus from becoming serious. Dont drink or misuse drugs because they are hard on your liver. Get plenty of rest, eat healthy foods, and exercise. Work to protect others by not donating blood or participating in risky behaviors, including sharing needles when using drugs or having unprotected sex.

Why It Is Done

Hepatitis virus testing is done to:

• Identify the type of hepatitis virus causing the infection.
• Screen people who have a higher chance of getting or spreading hepatitis A. This includes doctors, dentists, and nurses.
• Screen blood donors and donor organs. This is done to help prevent the spread of hepatitis A.
• Find out if a person has antibodies after getting a hepatitis A vaccination. Having antibodies means the vaccine worked.
• Find out if hepatitis A is the cause of abnormal liver function tests.

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What Are Hepatitis B And Hepatitis C

Although hep A is a short-term illness that goes away completely, hepatitis B and hepatitis C can turn into serious long-term illnesses for some people. Teens and young adults are most at risk for getting these two viruses.

Hep B and C get passed from person to person the same ways that HIV does through direct contact with infected body fluids. Hepatitis B and C are even more easily passed in fluids and needles than HIV. This can happen through sexual contact and by sharing needles that have been contaminated with infected blood. Even when infected people don’t have any symptoms, they can still pass the disease on to others.

Sometimes mothers with hep B or C pass the virus along to their babies when they’re born. Hep B and C also can get passed in ways you might not expect such as getting a manicure or pedicure with unsterilized nail clippers or other dirty instruments. Getting a tattoo, if dirty needles are used, is another way someone can get hep B or C.

What Are The Types Of Hepatitis B

There are two types of hepatitis B infection: acute and chronic.

Acute

An acute infection happens at the beginning, when you first get infected with hepatitis B. Many people are able to clear it from their bodies and recover. In fact, this is true of about 4 in 5 adults who are infected.

Chronic

If you are not able to clear the infection within six months or longer, you have chronic hepatitis B. It is chronic hepatitis B that leads to inflammation and the serious, and possibly fatal, illnesses of cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. Treatment can slow disease progress, reduce the chance of liver cancer and increase your chances of surviving.

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Tests Used To Help Diagnose Hepatitis C

Diagnosing hepatitis C doesnt involve a single test. Instead, your doctor will likely conduct multiple tests to confirm or rule out an infection.

Before beginning testing, your doctor may ask about your medical history and any symptoms youre experiencing. Most people get a trivial illness that they dont even notice, but occasionally, people develop classic clinical hepatitis with muscle aches, fatigue, and jaundice, says Glenn Englander, MD, a board-certified internal medicine doctor and gastroenterologist practicing in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Other symptoms of hepatitis C can include:

• Fever
• Nausea
• Clay-colored stools

Your doctor may ask questions about your lifestyle to assess your risk, too. This includes whether youve ever had a blood transfusion or organ transplant, injected drugs, shared personal care items such as razors or toothbrushes, or had unprotected sex. They may even ask whether your mother has been diagnosed hepatitis C.

How Likely Am I To Become Infected With Hepatitis C From A Family Member Living In The Same House

Household transmission of hepatitis C is extremely rare. Fewer than 1 in 1,000 family members or close acquaintances becomes infected each year through common, nonsexual contact with hepatitis C-infected persons.

There are many possible ways by which hepatitis C could be passed from one person to another. Because the virus is carried in the blood, it could be transmitted between household members if a mucous membrane were to come in contact with blood or body fluids containing hepatitis C. Family members sometimes share razors, toothbrushes, or toothpicks, perhaps unknowingly. If an item were contaminated with hepatitis C-infected blood from one person, the virus could be passed to a second person if it were to tear the lining of the mouth or break through the skin.

Although these sorts of possibilities are often discussed as potential ways for hepatitis C to infect family members, such events occur very rarely.

If you aren’t sure of your hepatitis C status, get tested. If you test negative and have lived in a household with an infected family member or close acquaintance, you shouldn’t worry that any more contact will put you at risk.

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How Can I Cover Medication Costs

New therapies called direct-acting antivirals are effective and can achieve cures of over 90%. Because these new therapies are very new, they remain very expensive. As such, drug coverage from both government and private companies may require that your liver disease has progressed to a certain stage before they are willing to cover the cost of these drugs.

Talk with your healthcare provider about financial support that may be available.

Below are useful resources when looking for financial assistance:Private health insurance or drug plansIf you have private health insurance or a drug plan at work, you may be able to have the medication paid through your plan. Please consult your private health insurance or drug plan provider to see if your drug is covered.

Publicly funded plansEach provincial and territorial government offers a drug benefit plan for eligible groups. Some are income-based universal programs. Most have specific programs for population groups that may require more enhanced coverage for high drug costs. These groups include seniors, recipients of social assistance, and individuals with diseases or conditions that are associated with high drug costs. For more details, please contact your provincial or territorial health care ministry, or click on the appropriate link below.

Yukon

Available Patient Assistance Programs for Hepatitis C treatment Holkira Pak Maviret

MerckCare Hepatitis C Program 1 872-5773 Zepatier

Subdue Your Sweet Tooth

Taylor says the average American eats around 350 extra calories a day of added sugars: Thats about 35 pounds of added body weight each year.

Sugar is here, there and everywhere especially in your drink.So start there:

• Avoidsugar-sweetened beverages, such as soda and juice.
• Read food labels to expose undercover sugars in cereal, granola bars, yogurts and even oatmeal. People are horrified to see how much sugar has been pumped into their foods, Taylor says.
• Reduce your sugar, shooting for less than 25 grams of added sugar per day if youre a woman and less than 36 grams if youre a man.

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What Do I Ask The Doctor

When you visit the doctor, it helps to have questions written down ahead of time. You can also ask a family member or friend to go with you to take notes. Print this list of questions and take it to your next appointment.

• Do I need to get tested for hepatitis C?
• What puts me at risk for hepatitis C?
• How will you test me for hepatitis C?
• How long will it take to get my test results?
• How will I find out my test results?
• If I have hepatitis C, what will happen next?
• Can you give me some information about hepatitis C to take home with me?

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Symptoms Of Hepatitis B

Many people with hepatitis B will not experience any symptoms and may fight off the virus without realising they had it.

If symptoms do develop, they tend to happen 2 or 3 months after exposure to the hepatitis B virus.

Symptoms of hepatitis B include:

• flu-like symptoms, including tiredness, a fever, and general aches and pains
• loss of appetite
• tummy pain
• yellowing of the skin and eyes

These symptoms will usually pass within 1 to 3 months , although occasionally the infection can last for 6 months or more .

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If I Have Hepatitis C Infection Does This Mean I Am Going To Have Other Health Problems

Hepatitis C can cause scarring of the liver leading to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Other conditions have also been linked to hepatitis C and are known as extra-hepatic manifestations of hepatitis C. They include diabetes mellitus, arthritis, hypothyroid, and aplastic anemia among other conditions. Talk to your provider for more information.

How Is Hepatitis C Diagnosed

Since it can be difficult to tell, based on symptoms, whether you have contracted hepatitis C, you can be tested for it. A simple blood test can confirm whether you have the condition.

After your doctor gets the results of your blood test, they may recommend that you undergo a biopsy of your liver to determine if you have liver damage from chronic hepatitis C.

You can book an appointment with a primary care doctor in your area using our Healthline FindCare tool.

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Should I Be Screened For Hepatitis B

Screening is testing for a disease in people who have no symptoms. Doctors use blood tests to screen for hepatitis B. Many people who have hepatitis B dont have symptoms and dont know they are infected with hepatitis B. Screening tests can help doctors diagnose and treat hepatitis B, which can lower your chances of developing serious health problems.

Your doctor may recommend screening for hepatitis B if you9,14

• are pregnant
• were born in an area of the world where 2 percent or more of the population has hepatitis B infection, which includes Africa, Asia, and parts of the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and South America
• didnt receive the hepatitis B vaccine as an infant and have parents who were born in an area where 8 percent or more of the population had hepatitis B infection, which includes sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia
• are HIV-positive
• are a man who has sex with men
• have lived with or had sex with a person who has hepatitis B
• have an increased chance of infection due to other factors

How Can You Tell If You Have Chronic Hepatitis C

While most people dont feel unwell even with chronic hepatitis C, this isnt true for everyone. Some potential signs and symptoms of chronic hepatitis C that has led to liver damage include:

• Fatigue
• Swelling of the legs or ankles
• Accumulating fluid in the abdomen
• The appearance of spidery blood vessels on the skin
• Drowsiness, confusion, and slurred speech

Without treatment, a hepatitis C infection can cause severe liver damage and, potentially, liver failure, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Within 20 years of becoming infected, 5 to 20 percent of people with hepatitis C develop cirrhosis of the liver, says the CDC.

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What Else Can I Do To Take Care Of My Health

You can take care of your health by being kind to yourself.

Try some of the activities in the list to help protect your liver and keep yourself as healthy as you can.

Some of these activities can be hard to do so be patient with yourself. Do what you can.

Small changes can make a difference!

• Drink 4 to 8 glasses of water every day.
• Eat as well as you can. Try to eat lots of fruit and vegetables. Eat fewer processed foods, such as prepared foods that come in a box. Eat less sugar and salt.
• Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep.
• Try to do some exercise every day, such as gentle stretching, walking or swimming.
• Try activities that relax you, such as meditation or deep breathing.
• Spend time with your friends and family.
• Try to drink less alcohol or no alcohol. Alcohol can damage your liver.
• Try to smoke less or quit smoking. You may want to ask your doctor or nurse for advice about quitting smoking.
• If you use street drugs, use new equipment every time so you do not get other infections.

I Have Hepatitis C And I’m Thinking About Having Children What Should I Know

Hepatitis C does not prevent a man or woman from having children.

The hepatitis C virus infection does not cause infertility in either sex–it does not affect a woman’s ovarian or uterine function, or a man’s sperm production or sperm characteristics.

If you are a woman with hepatitis C, talk to your provider about treatment before pregnancy. Treatment before pregnancy can help reduce the risk of hepatitis C transmission to your baby. If you are already pregnant, treatment will usually take place after pregnancy and you may need to be tested for hepatitis C again prior to starting treatment.

If you are a man with hepatitis C, talk to your provider about being treated prior to conceiving. Although the risk of transmission during sex is low, it is still important to treat hepatitis C for your personal health.

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What Causes Autoimmune Hepatitis

Experts dont know what causes autoimmune hepatitis, but it is more likely to show up in people with other autoimmune conditions, including:

• Thyroiditis

• Fluid buildup in the belly
• Confusion
• Rectal bleeding or vomiting blood

The symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis may look like other health problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

/6what Are The Foods You Should Have More Of With Hypothyroidism

Despite what many think, there are plenty of nourishing foods which help sustain a healthy thyroid function. If you have hypothyroidism, it’s very helpful to include more plant-based foods, green leafy veggies, seafood, nuts and seeds, and legumes. While a lot of these are commonly-used foods in our Indian diet, what we forget is that they are mighty rich in trace minerals. Nuts and seeds for example, and some legumes are good sources of zinc, B-vitamins, amino acids like tyrosine and proteins.

Seafood like tuna and certain types of fish can also be an excellent antioxidant-rich source of selenium, which has been proven to enhance the production of thyroid hormones , and additionally protect the gland from free radical damage.

It’s also helpful to have loads of veggies and fibre-rich fruits in your diet. Certain foods, such as sweet potatoes, pumpkin, apples, spinach are not just excellent in nutrient values, they also wonderfully help tame blood sugar levels, manage weight gain and give a kick to the metabolic levels.

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How It Is Done

The health professional taking a sample of your blood will:

• Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to stop the flow of blood. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is easier to put a needle into the vein.
• Clean the needle site with alcohol.
• Put the needle into the vein. More than one needle stick may be needed.
• Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with blood.
• Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is collected.
• Put a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as the needle is removed.
• Put pressure on the site and then put on a bandage.