HepcHope.com-Hepatitis C: A forgotten disease

Hepatitis C-A forgotten disease

If you’re one of the over 3 million people with hepatitis C (Hep C), you may have had it for years or even decades. Hep C is a slow progressing disease, with symptoms that may not appear for years, if at all. It’s no wonder you pushed it to the back of your mind where it’s been almost forgotten. But here’s something you shouldn’t forget. Hep C is a serious disease. It can be silently doing harm to your liver. And if left untreated, it can lead to liver damage and potentially even liver cancer.

The good new is Hep C hasn’t been forgotten and neither have you!

Rethink Hep C:

There’s never been a better time to rethink your Hep C. In the last few years, scientific advances have made treatment for Hep C shorter and more effective than it was in previous years. The goal of Hep C treatment is to be ‘cured’ of the disease. The medical term is ‘sustained virologic response’ or SVR. A person is considered cured when no virus is detected in the bloodstream 3 months after treatment is over.

Talk to a Hep C specialist today. A Hep C specialist is someone whose specialty is gastroenterology, hepatology or infectious diseases. It can also be a nurse practitioner or physician assistant who cares for patients with Hep C. These experts will know that in just the last few years, great strides have been made to better understand, identify and treat people with Hep C.

Find out what’s at stake today.

Don’t wait for your Hep C to progress another day. Join Hep C Hope to get more information including a personalized discussion guide to help you talk with a gastroenterologist or Hep C specialist. The contents in the guide will be helpful at any point along your Hep C treatment journey. Call or visit the website today.

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844-4-HEPCHOPE Register for more information.

Hepatitis C may progress slowly but it can lead to liver damage and possibly even live cancer.

Get the Hep C facts:

Hepatitis C is an infectious (contagious) liver disease that spreads through blood to blood contact with an infected person. Of those infected with the Hep C virus, the majority develop chronic Hep C-a serious, lasting disease that can result in severe liver damage, long-term health problems and even death. Hep C symptoms may not appear for years or even death. Hep C symptoms may not appear for years or even decades. Even though you may not feel sick, your Hep C can be silently doing harm. By the time symptoms appear, liver damage is often already advanced. The rate at which the damage may occur is different for everyone.

75% of people with Hep C are unaware that their livers are being slowly damaged.

#1 Chronic Hep C is the number one cause of liver cancer and liver transplants in the U.S.

The number of Americans who die from Hep C related conditions is increasing.

More facts to consider:

*Baby Boomers (people born between 1945 and 1965) are 5 times more likely to have Hep C.

*Complications from Hep C are now responsible for the deaths of as many as 15,000 people in the U.S. each year.

*More Americans die from Hep C than HIV every year.

*Hep C can be cured. You are considered cured when the virus cannot be detected in your bloodstream 3 months after treatment is completed.

Get more facts:

To learn more important facts about Hep C and to join Hep C Hope for customized materials, visit our website or call today.

Don’t forget the Hep C basics:

What is Hep C?

Hep C is a disease caused when the Hep C virus infects the liver. Other Hepatitis viruses including A and B types are also common but they are spread and treated somewhat differently.

There are 2 types of Hep C, Acute Hep C lasts a short period of time and occurs within the first 6 months a person is exposed to the Hep C virus. For most people (75%-85%) acute infection becomes chronic infection. Chronic Hep C lasts a long time and occurs when the virus remains in a person’s body. Hepatitis actually means inflammation or swelling of the liver.

How do you get Hep C?

Hep C is spread when the blood from a Hep C infected person enters another person’s bloodstream.

Hep C is not contagious like a cold or the flu. You cannot spread Hep C by kissing or casual contact, sneezing, coughing or sharing food or drink.

Some common ways people become infected:

*Current or past IV drug use.

*Tattoos or body piercing with non-sterile tools.

*Contact with infected blood or needles (more common for healthcare workers).

*Blood transfusions or organ transplants before 1992.

*Dialysis for kidney or liver failure.

Your liver and Hep C:

Your liver works in many ways to keep you healthy. Some of its most important roles include:

*Breaking down alcohol and drugs and removing wastes.

*Storing nutrients from the food you eat and releasing them into the bloodstream.

*Producing chemicals your body needs to make your blood clot.

*Producing bile to help you digest fats.

When your liver is inflamed and/or damaged by Hep C, it has a harder time doing its jobs.

What are the symptoms of Chronic Hep C?

It’s common for people with chronic Hep C not to have any symptoms. There are many factors that determine whether or not you show symptoms including how long you’ve had the virus and other health conditions you have Chronic Hep C symptoms can take up to 30 years to develop. When they do appear, they can be a sign of serious liver problems. Symptoms may include:

*Fever

*Fatigue

*Loss of appetite

*Nausea/vomiting

*Abdominal pain

*Dark urine

*Gray-colored bowel

*Joint pain

*Jaundice

Managing your Hep C:

When you have Hep C, you’re at risk for liver damage. However, healthy lifestyle changes can help your liver damage.

*Eating a healthy diet can make it easier for the liver to do its job and can help repair some liver damage.

*Stop drinking alcohol. It can speed up liver damage and impact how well Hep C treatment works.

*Losing weight, if you are overweight prior to treatment may make treatments more effective.

*Getting a good night’s sleep and resting when feeling tired can help with the fatigue associated with Hep C.

Another part of managing Hep C is making sure you don’t spread it. Here are some simple ways to protect others:

*Look out for blood. When you have Hep C, anyone who comes in contact with your blood could get it. If you cut yourself, clean up any blood spills quickly with bleach and water.

*Don’t share personal items. Your toothbrush, nail clippers and razors all may come in contact with blood.

*You haven’t been forgotten after all in the last few years, scientists advances have led to Hep C treatments that are more effective than previous medicines. For some patients, the length of treatment may be shorter. You have more reasons than ever to rethink your Hep C.

Keep in mind:

There are different genotypes of the Hep C virus. How long your treatment will last and your chance of a cure will depend on your type. In the U.S., the most common type is genotype 1. Your genotype doesn’t change during the course of infection.

Rethink your Hep C and take action:

You may have had many reasons to put off thinking about your Hep C. However there are actually important reasons to rethink your Hep C and do somethings about it. To start, visit HepcHope.com or call 844-4-HEPCHOPE.

A better conversation starts here.

There is no ‘one’ way to talk about Hep C because everyone experiences it differently. A gastoenterologist or Hep C specialist is a great resource to turn to for the correct information about your Hep C. Here are some questions to help you start the conversation:

*How might Hep C impact my long-term health?

*How can I find out my genotype?

*What treatment options are there for my type of Hep C?

*How long will treatment take?

For more questions, join Hep C Hope for your custom guide to start a better conversation with a gastroenterologist or Hep C specialist today.

HepcHope.com 844-4-HEPCHOPE

Register for more information.

Disclaimer: this information was taken directly from Hep C Hope Gilead Sciences Inc. pamphlet.  For more information on Hepatitis C, please email or call them. This is very serious and get all your facts.