The Liver and its Nightmare
Ever thought about the bad stuff that could happen to you? Let’s not get dramatic. Ever thought about your poor organs? Hard-working, innocent organs like your liver? They keep you running without complaint. So, don’t you torture it with alcohol. What is your liver’s worst nightmare? It’s probably Hepatitis. And what makes Hepatitis stand out? Well, you won’t even know if you have it. There are a few tests to find out. It’s just that they aren’t quite reliable.
The poor organ gets inflamed and won’t be able to function properly, ultimately leading to a sad death. It’s on you. You should have taken care of the poor thing. The least you can do is run a test. Do you need more motivation? If you don’t want to look pathetic lying on a hospital bed with your body slowly dissolving in a state of chaos and disorder, you better take care of your liver.
Are you at risk?
How many people do you think have Hepatitis? You might think, such a condition is rare. However, about 2.4 million adults have Hep C, and another 0.85 million with Hep B. The number of affected individuals is on the rise. Doesn’t seem like it? Well, it really doesn’t. How many people think they have Hepatitis? All of them? No. Not even close.
You wouldn’t know if you have it. Less than half of the people who have some form of Hepatitis are aware of their condition. This puts the majority at risk. If Hepatitis isn’t so dangerous, how could it possibly pose a threat to you? Hepatitis, as such, might not be a problem, but it could develop into cirrhosis or in the worst case, Hepatic encephalopathy.
Our aim this year with regard to Hepatitis day is to find the missing millions who have no idea they have Hepatitis. You should run a test like the HCV and make sure you are safe. Even if you are diagnosed with some form of Hepatitis, further complications can be avoided. You should be aware of the risks that such a common condition poses. More than sixty-three per cent of the population are estimated to be infected.
The various cures.
Hepatitis can be quite confusing with its different variations. We can all agree on one thing — it’s quite dangerous. But with our medical progress, dealing with it is a piece of cake. There are five types of hepatitis named A through E.
Hep A is not that dangerous. Get some bed rest, stay hydrated and get some food with nutritional value and you’ll be good in no time. You’ve probably taken vaccination against it as a child.
Next comes Hep B. You only need to worry about the chronic type. It’s treatment can be a drag as it includes antiviral meds for months or even years with constant monitoring. You could get vaccinated so the risk goes down. Just stay away from contaminated consumables and don’t expose yourself to such stuff. You’ll probably be safe from both of these. Don’t be afraid of the syringe! Go get those shots!
Hep C is something you don’t want. How do you get Hep C? Get a syringe used by an infected guy. Acute and chronic Hep C are both treated by antivirals. If you develop cirrhosis as a result of chronic Hepatitis C, congratulations, you are eligible to have a liver transplant. you would not have a spare, healthy liver lying around. So, don’t be stupid. Stay away from drugs and needles. You could get an HCV test to check if you have or had Hep C. Well, the thing is, the test cannot tell if you have it at present or if you were exposed to it sometime in the past. Yeah, a really good position to be in. A good memory helps. You won’t forget something like Hepatitis. What do you know? Drugs really do kill.
You want Hep D? You’ve got to try. It’s like a free pack that comes with another. If you can’t get Hep B, you can’t get Hep D. It’s free, but you can’t take it without the other. You’re safe. But if you do get Hep D, you’re in trouble. We only have one shot at curing it — a drug called Alpha Interferon. You’ve got more bad news. Signs of improvement were shown in only about twenty-five to thirty per cent of the people. Get the three vaccines for Hep B. Needles aren’t so scary when you look away.
Lastly, we have Hep E. It comes and goes as it pleases. No medicine. Believe in your immune system. Root for your immune system like there’s no tomorrow. Just do the stuff you’d do if you had Hep A. One more thing: Avoid alcohol. Pregnant women with this condition require extra attention. Eat healthy and Hep E won’t probably notice you.
Is this all?
Well, you’ve been reading of chronic Hepatitis a lot. Why that specifically? Hepatitis isn’t just as simple as A, B, C, D and E. The other dimension of it would be acute and chronic. Let’s get to it.
Acute hepatitis is similar to mild flu. The symptoms include fatigue, pale stools, loss of appetite and weight, fever, muscle or joint aches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes, itchy skin, malaise, or a general feeling of being unwell. Acute hepatitis isn’t usually dangerous and it takes decades to develop into a chronic condition.
Chronic Hepatitis causes liver failure over a period of time. Its symptoms include jaundice, swelling of the lower extremities, confusion and blood in the faeces or vomit. How do you know if you have jaundice? Watch out for dark urine, hives, itchy skin, light-coloured faeces, yellow skin, whites of the eyes, and tongue. Hepatic encephalopathy is as bad as Hepatitis gets. It starts affecting your brain and your chances of getting back are quite low.
Are you safe? If not, what to do?
To stay safe is quite easy. First, run a test like HCV and find out whether you are infected. If so, a change in diet can suppress the condition. The doctors will take care of it. Do as they ask, and you’ll be safe and doing the things you love just the way you did before. If you are not infected, your risk of having such a life-threatening condition can be avoided by getting vaccinated. These vaccines are specially developed to counteract viruses that cause the condition. Spread awareness of the condition as most people wouldn’t know about it until things get complicated and out of hand. You can save yourself from surgery. Get vaccinated and stay away from drugs and alcohol. This is for your benefit through a healthy liver.
