10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW IF DIAGNOSED WITH HEPATITIS
July is Hepatitis Awareness Month. Safeguard your health and prevent the spread of Hepatitis. Here are 10 things you need to know if diagnosed with Hep B:
Get monitored regularly. There’s no cure yet, but there are effective treatment options. Protect your health, and go to the lab for a blood test.
If you’ve been prescribed an antiviral, don’t forget to take it. Failing to take your daily antiviral reduces its effectiveness and can lead to drug resistance. Forgetting to take your daily pill can lead to an uptick in your viral load and liver damage.
Don’t Quit. Quitting antivirals before you’ve achieved undetectable viral load and lost the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) often results in a resurgence of both viral load and liver damage. Antivirals are a long-term treatment that helps prolong our lives.
Get screened for liver cancer. Take charge of your health and ask for a liver cancer screen, which includes a semi-annual blood test and an ultrasound. Think you’re not at risk for cancer because you take antivirals? Think again. Antivirals help reduce liver damage, but if you’ve had cirrhosis or are older, the risk of liver cancer remains.
Don’t fall for clever TV ads. Clever marketing may claim herbal supplements are a magic bullet – they will not cure Hepatitis B. To safeguard your health, eat healthy foods and avoid alcohol and cigarettes.
A cure is coming so stay informed. New drug developments and clinical trials means there is lots happening in research. To find out what drugs are in the development pipeline, visit the Hepatitis B Foundation’s Drug Watch page for the latest news. You can also find out if you qualify for a clinical trial.
Fight discrimination against hepatitis B. Know your rights. Hepatitis B should never be a barrier, but ignorance and stigma remains in the U.S.
Practice safe sex. Unfortunately, not everyone is immunized and the infection is still getting transmitted sexually.
Tell friends and family to get screened for Hepatitis B and vaccinated.
Consider companion care services. If you or a loved one cannot get to the doctor or to the lab for tests, please consider using Visiting Angels companion services. As a part of the service we provide transportation to and from physicians and therapy, but also to the supermarket, beauty salon, and to run errands. Medication reminders are also included, as are meals and light housekeeping. A little companionship goes a long way to improving your day and keeping you healthy. We help Seniors “thrive not just survive!”
Till next time!
Irv Seldin, JD
Owner and President, Visiting Angels of the Palm Beaches
Article not intended as medical advice.