What is Hepatitis C and how does one combat it?

12/19/2022

 

What are the possible signs and symptoms of the Hepatitis C Virus?

Every chronic disease starts with an acute phase. And this phase shows up a lot of signs. If you constantly experience any of the below-mentioned symptoms, make sure to consult a healthcare professional. 

• Jaundice

• Fatigue

• Itchy skin

• Poor appetite

• Bleeding and easy bruising

• Weight loss

• Spider-like blood vessels on your skin

• Swelling in your legs

• Drowsiness, confusion, and slurred speech

• Dark-colored urine

• Fluid build-up in the abdomen

Never ignore the signs that your body shows. If you have been facing any of the symptoms mentioned above, consult a doctor immediately, and follow the prescribed treatment plan. 

 

Who are at risk?

As per the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, adults belonging to the age group of 18-79 should do early screening for Hepatitis C, even those without the symptoms. Screening is important for early detection and easy treatment. This also increases the chance of survival before it is too late. It is especially important for those who are at a higher risk of exposure, including: -

• Anyone with abnormal liver function test results with no identified cause. 

• Anyone who has undergone perennial hemodialysis treatments. 

• Individuals with HIV infection.

• Sexual partners with Hepatitis C infection. 

• People who received organ transplants or blood transfusions before 1992.

• Anyone with Haemophilia who was treated with clotting factors before 1987.

• Healthcare workers who have been exposed to blood needle sticks. 

• Babies who are born to mothers with Hepatitis C.

• Anyone who has been to prison.

 

What are the treatments and preventive measures?

The treatment for hepatitis C can be a little long term than what we usually expect. However, it also depends on which stage you are in. Nevertheless, the following are some of the treatments and preventive measures that you can follow for fast recovery or keep the disease at bay: -

• Medical consultation: - Medical consultation is the first and most crucial step of diagnosis. If you have been dealing with any sort of discomfort for a certain period, it is essential to consult a doctor and follow his guidance. 

• Antiviral medications: - There are a lot of antiviral medicines readily available in the market that are intended to treat Hepatitis C infection, such as Daclatasvir, Sofosbuvir, etc. The goal is to have no hepatitis C virus in the body for at least 12 weeks after completing the treatment. You can buy the cheapest Hep C Medication online from our drugstore and enjoy the deals and discounts. Make sure to take the medicine only under professional guidance. 

• Liver transplant: - Liver transplant can be an option if you have developed severe liver complications from a chronic hepatitis C infection. Here in the process, the surgeon replaces the damaged liver with a healthy liver. 

• Vaccinations: - The treatment for hepatitis c also comes with a round of sessions for vaccination. It is a mandatory part of the treatment depending upon its severity. 

• Stop drinking: - While you are undergoing treatment for Hepatitis C, it is mandatory to stop alcohol consumption. The virus directly affects liver functions, and topping it up with alcohol consumption can even make it worst. Hence, stop drinking for faster and better results. 

• Be aware: - Be aware of the services you are taking, especially those that concern your body. If you are about to get a tattoo, make sure to ask your tattoo artist if the needles are sterilized. To add on, if you have any vaccination planned, ensure the syringe used by the doctor is unused. 

 

To conclude: -

To conclude, it is highly important to do a yearly screening to that even the simplest disorder can be detected at the earliest possible and keep you safe from falling into the trap of a deadly virus. Life is precious, and so health is. Hence, it should be our utmost priority to take better care of ourselves and live life to the fullest. Maintaining an upgraded lifestyle is not as tough as it might sound. It just takes the complete involvement of your conscious mind and some basic awareness. Simply put, you need to go for healthier and better alternatives. With constant exposure to the external world, our body undergoes a lot of changes on a day-to-day basis. Hence, annual check-ups are a must for people between the age of 18-27. Apart from that, live a life that your children can look up to.