Overcoming Ignorance of Hepatitis C Symptoms, Causes & Treatments

Finally... someone is taking some action related to the topic of our blog, Hepatitis C Symptoms, Causes & Treatments. I enjoy what I do here but I do wish I could deliver more good news. I have quoted below from a article on the Local CBS web site in Los Angeles. I am happy and I must say, proud (I used to live in LA), that California (Los Angeles County Department of Public Health) comes through again with a first by creating a position called "Hepatitis Coordinator".

The position was announced Friday and I quote from the CBS article:

"Hepatitis C is a major global health issue -- a 'viral time time bomb,"' said Dr. Robert Kim-Farley, director of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention in the county's Public Health Department.

"With the additional resource of a coordinator, we will be able to expand and enhance our current activities," he said.L.A.'s Public Health Department says there are more people living in the county who are infected with Hepatitis C than with HIV and that sharing syringes and men having unprotected sex with other men are broadening the scope of the epidemic.

"The new Coordinator's position is essential to addressing the needs of those with Hepatitis C and stopping the spread of the blood-borne illness," said Brian Risley, co-chair, Hepatitis C Task Force for L.A. County.

Let's all hope that this work fulfills more that it's mission and becomes a model for other states to do the same. Taking action to overcome ignorance is the first step in overcoming this disease,
followed closely by testing for it.

If you are possibly at risk, early diagnosis of the virus even if you don't have hepatitis c symptoms, is extremely important. The earlier you know if you have Hep C, the more you can do. There is a FDA approved test that you can take in your own home. You send it out for testing and get the results over the phone. No doctor visits involved. Here is a series of videos explaining the process of the test.

Disclaimer—The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.

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Big Pharma? Not Hepatitis C Symptoms (this time)

This post is not about hepatitis c symptoms directly but is about something that makes me sick... and might literally make you sick too. It comes in the form of 7 short videos (link). I originally saw these videos on Lloyd Wright's blog. He is the author of several Hep C books and many resources about Hepatitis C. These video segments are from a documentary about the drug industry's seemingly primary motivation... profit. We will all have an occasion to get a prescription from our doctor so these videos are mandatory to make you a more informed consumer.

Please visit Lloyd's website for a wealth of information on Hep C but go directly to YouTube to watch the videos. The quality is better. I have put up the first of the seven below but be sure to watch all 7 segments by clicking on the link below each video that points to the next part.



Also as another resource, there is a web site mentioned in the the last video to help combat the confusion about which drug may be best for you. That website offers a lot of information about what might be best for you and save you money. It is from Consumer Reports, a trusted impartial organization. As always, please take this and all information presented as educational and find a health professional to discuss what you find here. Here is a short video from Consumer Reports about what they are doing with this site

Even though this article (check out the other posts) was not about Hep C directly, I still urge you, as always, to get tested. Early diagnosis of the virus, even before you have hepatitis c symptoms is extremely important. The earlier you know if you have Hep C, the more you can do. Click here to learn how to get tested from home with no doctor visit.

Disclaimer—The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.

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Dry Mouth, Another of the Hepatitis C Symptoms

I read an article on Sunday that talked about Hepatitis C Symptoms that I have never heard discussed and thought I would pass on the information as well as the 10 suggestions from the article for it's releif. I am refering to the common problem among hep c patients with dry mouth. The actual number of people that suffer from it is debatable but I know for a fact that it is part of having the disease, at least in some cases. This condition is called xerostomia and it is simply a situation where the mouth just doesn't make enough saliva.

This can lead to problems with dental health and even be a factor in acceptance as a liver transplant candidate. This article indicates that the depression medication that many Hep C patients are on, as well as methadone that some may be on, might be partially the cause of xerostomia. To my knowledge there has been no formal study of the issue but here is the list offered in the article that may provide some releif:

10 Tips for Helping Xerostomia

Since saliva acts to protect your teeth from bacteria, there is plenty of reason to avoid a chronic dry mouth. While your doctor and dentist should be aware of your oral health issues, below are ten ways to help restore moisture in your mouth:

1. Regularly sip water and sugarless drinks.

2. During meals, sip water to help with chewing and swallowing.

3. Chew sugarless gum or suck on hard sugarless candy to help stimulate saliva flow.

4. Avoid caffeine, tobacco and alcohol because they all dry the mouth.

5. During the night, use a humidifier.

6. Avoid spicy and salty foods as these can exacerbate a dry mouth.

7. Reduce bacteria and plaque in your mouth by brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily.

8. Minimize sugary, sticky foods, and brush immediately after their consumption.

9. Visit your dentist at least twice a year.

10. Discuss a salivary substitute with your healthcare provider.
List was from this Article

This is a lifestyle altering disease and it is in the altering of the lifestyle that symptoms can often be controlled and delayed as long and as much as possible. There are also treatments available that can be effective for Hepatitis C that are beyond the scope of this article.

If you are possibly at risk, early diagnosis of the virus, even before you have Hepatitis c symptoms is extremely important. The earlier you know if you have Hep C, the more you can do. There is a FDA approved test that you can take in the privacy of your own home. You send it out for testing and get the results over the phone. No doctor visits involved. Find out for sure, click here for details.

Disclaimer—The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.

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Late Stage Chronic Hepatitis C Symptoms

There is a lot of emphasis on the early phase of Hepatitis C but for those dealing with the disease it is long winding road. Therefore, it becomes very important to understand what can happen in the later, "chronic phase". This phase, although called chronic, may not always in the beginning have different hepatitis C Symptoms than the "acute (first) phase". Left unchecked, in later stages of the chronic phase, the symptoms will generally become more pronounced and can progress to cirrhosis of the liver.

When the disease turns to cirrhosis, the liver tissue will be replaced with scarlike hardening. Accompanying this change, the liver gradually starts to fail. It looses it's ability to do all that a liver does. Please keep in mind that lifestyle choices can have a dramatic effect on these symptoms for better or worse depending on the choices that are made. The earlier the diagnosis of Hep C is made the greater chance of controlling it. If there is any chance you have been exposed to the virus please get tested as soon as possible. Because it sometimes can take 20-30 years to reach these later phases. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the sooner lifestyle changes can be made to delay or eliminate the more serious symptoms.

When the hepatitis c symptoms or cirrhosis symptoms get bad enough they will include the following:

* Fluid retention causing swelling of the belly (ascites), legs, or whole body

* Persistent jaundice

* Fatigue

* Disturbances in sleeping

* Itchy skin

* Loss of appetite, weight loss, wasting

* Vomiting with blood in the vomit

* Mental disturbances such as confusion, lethargy, extreme sleepiness, or hallucinations
This list came from here

There is much that can be done to deal with the symptoms of hepatitis c so that they are kept as subdued as possible even in the chronic stage. There is another article in this blog that makes suggestions on how to deal with pain without the use of painkillers. This is a lifestyle altering disease and it is in the altering of the lifestyle that symptoms can be controlled and delayed as long and as much as possible. There are also treatments available that can be effective for Hepatitis C that are beyond the scope of this article.

If you are possibly at risk, early diagnosis of the virus, even before you have hepatitis c symptoms is extremely important. The earlier you know if you have Hep C, the more you can do. There is a FDA approved test that you can take in the privacy of your own home. You send it out for testing and get the results over the phone. No doctor visits involved. Find out for sure, click here for details.

Disclaimer—The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.

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Ferritin Levels and Hepatitis C Symptoms

I have found two very interesting bits of information that could have significint effects on Hepatitis C Symptoms and the functioning of the disease. It is in relation to the "Ferritin Levels" of a person with hep C. "Ferritin" is a protein that itself has high levels of iron found in the intestines, liver and spleen. It is the main way iron is stored in the body. High levels of iron for Hep C patients is not good. As I understand it, the virus attaches to the iron molecule resulting in free-radical damage to liver cells.

First, watch this video from the author Lloyd Wright who has written several books on Hepatitis C and has a blog and web site also. Watch this and then read the quotes following and I think it will all make a lot of sense to you.

Now check out these quotes from University of Chicago Press and authored by the Deptartment of Medicine at the University of Connecticut Health Center. They certainly fall right in line with what Mr Wright said in the video.

There is growing evidence that mildly increased amounts of iron in the liver can increase hepatic injury, particularly if combined with other hepatotoxic factors, such as alcohol use, use of porphyrogenic drugs, or chronic viral hepatitis...

Mean serum levels of ferritin and iron... were significantly higher among subjects with HCV infection...than among subjects without liver disease... HCV infection is significantly associated with higher serum levels of ferritin and iron in the US population.
Quote is from Here and edited for ease of reading

From another source here is some additional information that says taking the iron out of the system can be of benefit to the person with Hep C.

Reduction of serum iron has been shown to normalize liver enzyme levels, which are elevated during periods of active liver damage (Fong TL et al 1998). Iron depletion therapy has also been shown to improve the response to conventional medicines used to treat hepatitis (Fargion S et al 1997). The only effective way to decrease serum iron is to have an iron loss, as occurs when donating blood. Hepatitis C patients cannot donate blood for common use, but their blood can still be removed, although it must be discarded.
Quote from Here

I have stated before I am not a health professional but these sources independently support one another and it might be worth talking to your doctor about if you deem them with enough credibility. It would certainly seem worth the effort to get the ferritin tests if it could effect the Hepatitis C Symptoms or the long term progression of the disease.

If you are possibly at risk, early diagnosis of the virus, even before you have hepatitis c symptoms is extremely important. The earlier you know if you have Hep C, the more you can do. There is a FDA approved test that you can take in the privacy of your own home. You send it out for testing and get the results over the phone. No doctor visits involved. Find out for sure, click here for details.

Disclaimer—The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your health care professional. You should not use the information in this article for self-diagnosis or to replace any prescriptive medication. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem.

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