One of the most common questions people have about hepatitis C is whether it is considered a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Technically, it isn’t categorized as such. However, while rare, hepatitis C can potentially be spread through sexual contact with someone who has this virus. How Hepatitis C Is Typically Contracted Hepatitis C is a virus that causes liver inflammation. Therefore, it is considered a liver infection, sometimes also referred to as a liver disease or disorder—versus being known as an STD. Hep C is typically contracted by coming into contact with an infected person’s bloo ..read more

Hepatitis B is inflammation in the liver that is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). While vaccination can help prevent you from contracting this virus, it still affects roughly 296 million people globally, many of whom are children. It contributes to around 820,000 deaths per year. (1) Although there is no cure, hepatitis B is often treatable. If you’ve been diagnosed with this virus, you may be wondering about your treatment options. Here are a few hepatitis B treatment options to consider No Treatment at All Just because you have the hepatitis B virus doesn’t automatically mean that you ..read more

Every year, roughly 1.5 million new cases of hepatitis C occur worldwide. (1) If you’re one of the individuals recently diagnosed with this disease, you may find that you have a lot of questions about what lies ahead. That’s completely normal. And getting a few answers can also help ease your mind. So, here’s what a hep C diagnosis means, as well as what you can expect. What a Hepatitis C Diagnosis Means Hepatitis C is a viral infection that occurs in the liver, leading to inflammation of this organ. Infection can be short-term, which is referred to as acute hepatitis C, or it can be long-term ..read more

9 Fall Fruits & Vegetables Good for Liver Health “From A to Z, apples to zucchini, find out 9 delicious fall fruits and vegetables that are wonderful for liver health. Fall is known as the season of change. Leaves transition from bright green to various shades of red, orange, yellow, and brown before finally falling from the trees. Warm winds change to cool breezes, putting a nip in the air. This makes fall a good season for also changing your diet in a way that promotes eating more seasonal food for liver health. Here are nine fruits and vegetables that are good options to consider for li ..read more

Hepatitis C drugs may reduce PTSD symptoms Source: Boston University School of Public Health “More than six percent of Americans will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in their lifetime. This potentially chronic condition disrupts lives, and can lead to or exacerbate existing health issues such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts. Despite the high prevalence of PTSD, the US Food and Drug Administration has only approved two medications to treat this condition — sertraline and paroxetine — and both have shown only limited effectiveness in reducing PTSD s ..read more

New Low-Cost Device Rapidly, Accurately Detects Hepatitis C Infection By Gisele Galoustian 8/3/2022 “Hepatitis C affects more than 354 million people worldwide. About 75 to 85 percent of people who have it get a long-term infection referred to as chronic Hepatitis C. Left untreated, it could lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure. Each year, an estimated 1 million people die from this disease. Despite the availability of effective therapies, only 20 percent of the population is diagnosed, and only 7 percent have received treatment within developed countries. In developing or low-inco ..read more

On April 10, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new recommendation that all adults be screened for hepatitis C, with people at higher risk being tested more often, and that pregnant women get screened with every pregnancy. (1) The goal of more universal testing, according to the CDC, is to help people identify whether they have this disease characterized by liver inflammation, especially since an estimated 44% don’t know they have it. This means that more people are likely to be diagnosed with hep C in the near future. What if one of those people is your family ..read more

WHO publishes updated guidance on hepatitis C infection – with new recommendations on treatment of adolescents and children, simplified service delivery and diagnostics Updated WHO Guidance on hepatitis C (HCV) infection was released today during a joint WHO-EASL-CDC symposium at the EASL International Liver Congress 2022 in London. These guidelines recommend a radical simplification of the care pathway to overcome barriers in access to HCV testing and treatment. Continue reading this entire article: https://www.who.int/news/item/24-06-2022-WHO-publishes-updated-guidance-on-hepatitis-C-infect ..read more

If you are diagnosed with hepatitis C, medications are generally prescribed. But there are also a few things you can do in the form of self-care that may be beneficial to your health, both mentally and physically. With that in mind, here are five self-care tips that are helpful for people with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). 1. Take Time to De-Stress Stress can take a toll on anyone, regardless of the status of their health. But if you have the hep C virus, enduring a lot of stress in your everyday life has another negative consequence in that it can potentially increase your risk of depression ..read more

The 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults consuming 2,000 calories per day include at least 2 cups of fruit and 2.5 cups of vegetables in their meal plan. (1) Additionally, these fruits and veggies should be varied, providing the body with more of the vitamins and minerals it needs to function optimally while also reducing the risk of illness and disease. Fruits and vegetables are perhaps even more important for people with hepatitis C. That’s because the fiber they contain helps support more efficient liver function. (2) And there’s no better time to enjoy produce than i ..read more