If you have hepatitis C, protecting your liver is more than
just important - it is necessary. Believe it or not, hepatitis C is the leading
cause of severe liver disease and liver cancer, both of which can be fatal[1].
Avoiding alcohol and maintaining your
weight are only some of the ways you can stay healthy, but there is more you
can do!
Protection comes in many forms; it may come in the form of a
balanced diet or even by avoiding some naughty habits, but if you are an aging
senior, the best form of protection comes from Life Alert. While wearing their
emergency medical alert pendant you can be certain that you are getting the
best in personal protection because with one touch of a button, you can summon
an emergency medical response fast! No matter if you encounter a home fire or
even a serious fall, simply push the button on your pendant and Life Alert’s
24/7 dispatch team will send the proper authorities fast. You might not be able
to eliminate your hepatitis C, but by making healthy choices, including getting
Life Alert Protection, you can live a healthier and safer life!
Living longer and better is a goal we all want to strive
for. With hepatitis C, this can seem almost impossible, but with these tips
from Everyday Health1 you can
manage your symptoms and live your life to its fullest!
1. Avoid alcohol.
Alcohol is toxic to the liver, and drinking alcohol is associated with a faster
progression of liver disease, says Marc Ghany, MD, MHSc. Dr. Ghany tells his
patients that no amount of alcohol is safe. “We don’t actually know how much
alcohol is harmful, and because of that, the best recommendation for folks is
not to drink any.”
2. Minimize
acetaminophen use. It is recommended limiting the use of pain
medications containing acetaminophen to less than 2,000 milligrams a day as Acetaminophen
can cause liver damage on its own, so if your liver is already harmed from
other causes, the threshold for damage is lower.
3. Discuss all
your medications or supplements with your doctor. Some drugs are
metabolized by the liver and may cause further harm when your liver is already
damaged. Even supplements that are marketed as “natural” can interfere with
liver function and cause severe side effects. Filling your doctor in on all the
medications you take can help keep you safe.
4. Maintain a
healthy weight through diet and exercise. Being overweight can cause
fat to build up in the liver and contribute to insulin resistance and liver
damage from fibrosis, or scarring, of the liver. Work toward a healthy weight
by exercising regularly, eating healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and
whole grains, and watching your calorie intake.
5. Don’t give up
coffee. Could drinking coffee actually slow the progression of liver
disease? Potentially, according to preliminary research in a study of 766
participants conducted by Ghany and his colleagues. “Patients who drank three
or more cups of coffee per day had a 50 percent lower risk of disease
progression,” he says of the study findings. Although it’s too soon to
recommend that non-coffee drinkers start drinking coffee for their liver’s
sake, he says it won’t hurt to keep drinking it if it’s already a habit.
6. Get vaccinated.
Get tested for other viruses that affect the liver, like hepatitis A and B, and
get vaccinated against them to reduce the risk for further liver damage.
7. Talk about sex.
Ghany says that people in a monogamous relationship with chronic hepatitis C
can have normal sex lives. The risk of hepatitis C transmission through sex is low,
and he says the couple can decide whether they want to use barrier protection.
For people who have sex with multiple partners, using barrier protection is
recommended to help protect others from hepatitis C and protect themselves
against sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, which can accelerate liver
damage.
8. Keep your
appointments for regular checkups. For chronic hepatitis C, you'll
likely see your doctor every three to six months, depending on the severity of
your illness and the type of treatment you're getting. Don't skip these
appointments. Use them as opportunities to evaluate your care steps as well as
your condition.
Living with hepatitis C and managing it can be difficult,
but your personal protection doesn’t have to be. With Life Alert Protection,
you can summon an emergency medical response fast with just one touch of a
button. Whether you encounter a home invasion, home fire or even a serious
fall, Life Alert’s 24/7 dispatch team can send the proper authorities to you
fast with just one touch of a button! Independent living has never been so
safe! No matter your health condition, Life Alert Protection can add a boost to
your personal protection and safety. For
a free brochure on all of Life Alert’s services, call 1-800-513-2934.
Works Cited:
1.
Warner, Jennifer. “8 Steps to Protect Your Liver
With Hepatitis C.” Everyday Health.
15 May 2014. <http://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/hepatitis-c-living-well/protect-liver/
>.
