exercising the human spirit! celebrating the gift of life
TRANSCRIPT
Exercising The Human Spirit!
Celebrating the Gift of Life
Exercising The Human Spirit!
You don’t have to win the race to be a winner.
Objectives Liver Function Liver Disease What is Hepatitis
Signs and Symptoms How is it Transmitted Treatment for Hepatitis
Nutrition Exercise
My Personal Experience with Hepatitis C Support Group
Why should I care about my liver? The liver performs many important functions:
Stores energy Helps build muscles Helps make bile to digest foods Stops cuts from bleeding Kills germs Removes substances that are harmful to the body Processes everything we eat, drink, breathe and absorb
through our skin
When your liver is not healthy, it cannot keep you healthy
Healthy Liver
Unhealthy Liver
Liver Disease Impact
Over 30 million Americans have liver related diseases and certain liver diseases are on the rise such as: Fatty Liver Disease Hepatocellular Carcinoma (type of liver cancer)
You can help to stop the spread of liver disease
What causes liver disease?
Liver diseases are primarily caused by one of the following: Genetics Viruses Unhealthy lifestyle choices Reactions to medications or chemicals
There are more than 100 different liver diseases
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis means inflammation (swelling) of the liver
Many conditions can cause hepatitis such as: Autoimmune disease Viruses Alcohol and toxins Fatty liver
Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are the most common forms of viral hepatitis in the U.S.
The A’s, B’s and C’s of Hepatitis
Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C
Not chronic Chronic in about 5% of cases
Chronic in about 85% of cases
Transmitted through feces due to poor hygiene or contaminated food or water
Transmitted through bodily fluids
Transmitted blood to blood
Vaccine available Vaccine available No vaccine available.
Prevention is key.
Action Steps for Hepatitis A Talk to your healthcare provider about the hepatitis A
vaccine and get vaccinated before traveling to countries where hepatitis A is common
Always wash your hands after using the bathroom or changing a diaper
Always wash your hands before preparing and eating food
Avoid consuming contaminated water or foods
Avoid sexual behaviors that expose you to fecal matter
Avoid eating uncooked shellfish
Action Steps for Hepatitis B
Talk to your healthcare provider about the hepatitis B vaccine and get vaccinated before traveling to countries where hepatitis B is common
Get screened if you are pregnant
Get tested if you are at high risk for hepatitis B
Practice safe sex
Do not inject drugs or share needles
Do not share personal items such as razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers
Make sure only clean equipment is used when getting tattoos or body piercings
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that causes the liver to swell.
Chronic hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis (scarring), liver failure and liver cancer
Most people have no symptoms and have the disease for many years before it is diagnosed
Currently, over 4 million people in the U.S. are infected with the hepatitis C virus
How is Hepatitis C transmitted? Hepatitis C is transmitted blood-to-blood
You may be at risk if you Have ever used drugs (even once) Received a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992 Received a clotting factor made before 1987 Have ever been on hemodialysis Have had abnormal ALT levels several times on blood test results Have ever worked or come in contact with infected needles or
blood Have ever worked or been housed in a prison Were born to an HCV-infected mother Have ever had unprotected sex Have ever had a sexually transmitted disease Have ever had tattoos or body piercings
Hepatitis C is not spread by… Casual contact
Hugging
Sneezing
Coughing
Sharing food, water, eating utensils or drinking glasses
Breastfeeding
Hepatitis C Testing
Antibody Test Blood test that indicates if the body has
developed antibodies to the hepatitis C virus
Confirmatory Test Second test may be done to confirm the results
of the first antibody test
Hepatitis C Tests and Procedures Liver Enzyme Test
Measures the amount of enzymes in the blood
Viral Load Test Measures the concentration of HCV in the blood
Genotype Test Determines the HCV strain (or genotype)
Liver Biopsy Provides detailed information on the condition of the liver
Global Distribution of Hepatitis C Genotypes
Prevent the Spread of Hepatitis C
Cover cuts and sores on skin
Do not share razors, toothbrushes or other personal items
Do not share needles, cookers, water, cotton, ties or crackpipes
Do not share straws used to sniff cocaine
If you are HCV-positive, practice safe sex and tell your partners
If you are HCV-positive, do not donate blood or sperm
Living Healthy with Hepatitis C See a healthcare provider regularly
Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B
Avoid alcohol Get support
Consider attending a risk reduction program or a drug treatment program
Diet/Exercise and Hepatitis C
Talk to your healthcare provider or nutritionist about the best diet for you
Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet
Maintain a healthy weight and exercise
Talk to your healthcare provider before taking any medications (over the counter, prescription, vitamins, or natural supplements) Learn about your medicines and how they affect your liver Follow dosing instructions
Treatment/Management Options Treatment options and success vary by person.
Be sure to consult your healthcare provider when considering treatment options. Medical Treatment
Antiviral medication Pegylated interferon Combination therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin Clinical trials
Alternative Symptom Management Holistic remedies
Treatment/Management Considerations Side effects of HCV medications include fatigue,
depression, muscle pain, headaches, weight loss, nausea/vomiting, anemia, skin rashes, itching, flu-like symptoms and fever
Pregnant women should not take interferon or ribavirin due to birth defects
Herbal supplements that are good for your liver may not necessarily be good for other conditions
Treatment Success
Medical Sustained Virologic Response (SVR)
Treatment for hepatitis C is considered successful when the virus can no longer be detected in the body six months after the medication has been completed.
SVR varies by individual SVR varies by genotype
SVR for genotype 1 is between 40% – 55% SVR for genotypes 2 and 3 is between 70% – 80%
Treatment Costs For Hepatitis C Costs include
Doctor Visits Blood Tests Liver biopsy Medications
$50,000 plus
Education Communication Support
Family Co-workers Friends
Continue on with your daily routine Positive attitude
My Personal Experience With Hepatitis C
For More Information
ALF Helpline at 1-800-GO LIVER www.liverfoundation.org
Center for Disease Control www.cdc.gov
Other resources Department of Health National Institutes of Health Contact Your Physician Contact a Hepatitis C Survivor
Hepatitis C Support Group
PROBLEMS SEEM SMALLER WHEN THEY’RE SHARED WITH A GROUP
Meets 3rd Monday of each monthBismarck's Medcenter One’s Outpatient Services Building 414 North 7th Street7:00 PM For information contact Lynn at 701-222-4136
Family Support Is Number One! My Support Team.
106th Boston MarathonApril 15, 2002
Exercising The Human Spirit!
You don’t have to win the race to be a winner.
A New Race Begins !I Run The Race Not For Myself, Instead I Run The Race For All Those That Will Struggle With Hepatitis C.