Hepatitis Awareness – Living A Better Life

The month of May 2010 is being celebrated as the Hepatitis Awareness Month all over the world. The disease, thought to be responsible for causing severe liver tissue damage leading to liver cancer, is a major cause of death worldwide.

There are seven types of hepatitis virus infection, but the most common hepatitis types are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Infection with hepatitis A virus leads to mild inflammation of the liver tissue, but complications are never that serious. Infection with hepatitis B causes chronic long-term illness and permanent damage to the liver if not diagnosed at an early sage. Finally, hepatitis C – it is more dangerous than any of its earlier two types and causes liver cirrhosis.

Though causes, risk factors, and symptoms are very specific for each Hepatitis A, B, and C viral infection types, there are certain hepatitis signs and symptoms that are common with almost all the three types of hepatitis infection. They are:

• Persistent pain in the upper right quadrant of abdomen
• Jaundice
• Frequent nausea and vomiting
• Major loss of appetite leading to unusual weight loss
• Excessive fatigue
• Itching
• Appearance of irregular black patches in some parts of the body

Hepatitis prevention and hepatitis treatment, in addition to consistent viral medication, requires leading a healthy lifestyle. Here are some helpful tips for holistic living with hepatitis:

Avoid alcoholic drinks:
Beer, wine, and spirits should be avoided straight away if one is suffering from chronic hepatitis. It puts extra stress on the already inflamed liver tissue. Drinking alcohol increases risk of liver cirrhosis in hepatitis C patients and also interferes with certain treatment procedures.

Consult doctor before taking unnecessary drugs:
Whatever you think you want to have as your dietary and medical supplements, some herbal medicines or vitamins, do consult your doctor first before actually going in for them.

Quit Smoking:
Liver tissues are known to heal by themselves with proper medications and treatment, but smoking interferes with this healing process significantly. So, one should quit smoking immediately after hepatitis infection is detected.

Follow a balanced diet:
A good diet is a must for an inflamed liver. Follow a balanced diet to keep your liver stress free and working.

Do brisk exercise regularly:
Yoga and brisk exercise have been found to have wonderful healing effects in hepatitis patients. Consult your doctor before embarking on a daily exercise schedule.

Hepatitis vaccination:
It is never too late to get vaccinated if you are suffering from hepatitis. Even if you already have one type of hepatitis, you can still be infected with another type. This is called hepatitis co-infection. Effective vaccinations are available for both hepatitis A and B. Go for a vaccination regime to keep yourself from getting other types of hepatitis.