Hepatitis Basics

Most people infected with hepatitis may not even be aware that they possess the virus because its symptoms are similar to that of the flu. Hepatitis cases are becoming more and more frequent in the United States, primarily due to the public’s lack of information about the virus and how it affects the liver.

The liver is responsible for many bodily processes, including filtering out toxic, harmful substances from the blood. The liver must process everything we ingest and when the organ is stressed due to the hepatitis virus, it is unable to perform at its optimal ability.

Of the hepatitis viruses, A, B and C are the most common in the United States. There are various myths surrounding this disease, from whether already having one form of the virus prevents you from getting another or if a vaccination against one strain protects against another. It is possible to be infected with more than one form of hepatitis at a time, and whichever vaccine you receive will only protect you from that particular form of hepatitis. These faulty assumptions only increase the chances for infection.

Hepatitis A and B are much less prevalent than HCV, the most common form of hepatitis. HCV is spread through blood-to-blood contact and often develops into chronic liver disease.

When infected with hepatitis, symptoms can include jaundice, muscle and joint pain, and fatigue, all of which are similar to cold or flu symptoms.

As of yet, there is no cure for hepatitis C, and the treatment methods available through Western Medicine have not proven to be highly successful. A combination of treatments is typically the best course of action against hepatitis.


By Nicole Cutler


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