Hepatitis C Symptoms Can Lay Dormant For Years
I have a friend who contracted the Hepatitis C virus years ago, and who is now suffering with liver cancer. He is unable to work, unable to function on a daily basis.
Hepatitis C is the number one cause for liver transplants. It puts patients at risk for cirrhosis of the liver as well as liver cancer.
It can be a relatively silent disease, as many people have no symptoms for years after contracting the virus. In many cases, these are people who are in their 50’s and 60’s, who often learn of their illness through a routine blood test and are shocked to hear they have the disease. Hep C is five times more prevalent in the United States than HIV/AIDS and kills almost 10,000 Americans annually.
What are the primary risk factors for Hepatitis C? Factors include the use of intravenous drugs – as well as intranasal administration of cocaine; promiscuous sex; blood transfusions; and exposure to tainted blood.
The good news is that recent advances in treatment have dramatically improved the success rate in eradicating the Hepatitis C virus from 50% to 80% of patients. The old standard of care has taken a major leap forward by adding directly acting antiviral agents to the body. Also, a new medication (a pill called Incivek) is given for 12 weeks in combination with the the old treatment (peginterferon and ribavirin), which is then continued for 36 more weeks.
******************************************************
– John D. Miller is the founder/owner of Home Care Partners, LLC, a Massachusetts business providing private duty, personalized in-home assistance and companion care services to those needing help in daily activities and household functions. He can be reached at: (781) 378-2164; email: [email protected] ; or online at: www.homecarepartnersma.com
- Small Cost Increase in Medicare Part B for 2025 - November 18, 2024
- November Caregiver Month, pt 2 - November 11, 2024
- November is National Family Caregivers Month - November 7, 2024
- How Home Care Helps - November 4, 2024
- What is Home Care? - October 25, 2024
- Social Security COLA Set at 2.5% for 2025 - October 14, 2024
- In-Home Elder Care - October 10, 2024
- Signs Your Elderly Parents Need Help at Home, pt. 2 - September 30, 2024
- Signs That Your Elderly Parents Need Help at Home, pt. 1 - September 23, 2024
- Home Care for Elders: Key Takeaways, pt3 - September 16, 2024
John D. Miller is the founder/owner of Home Care Partners, LLC, a Massachusetts business providing private duty, personalized in-home assistance and companion care services to those needing help in daily activities and household functions.
Phone: (781) 378-2164
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://homecarepartnersma.com
