Get tested for hepatitis to be on top of your health condition

Free hepatitis or HIV screening? Sounds like a no-brainer!  And yet a number of us end up debating with ourselves whether to go for the free test or remain in the false comfort of not knowing our status. It is exactly this fear and neglect of getting regular tests that costs many people their lives.

The death toll on hepatitis C has surpassed that of AIDS over the last many years, according to a recent study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  In the U.S. alone, the mortality rate from hepatitis C has been steadily increasing.

While there have been significant improvements in the treatment of hepatitis C, researchers believe that a large part of  the problem lies in the lack of testing and unfortunate un- diagnosis of many people who are infected with hepatitis C and do not know it.

Today’s trend is that most people who go for hepatitis screening are mostly those exhibiting physical symptoms or with high risk factors in developing the disease.  That’s late in the game for initial testing.

Hepatitis C, especially in its chronic stage, is very often without any symptoms. Thus, people may unknowingly carry the disease for years. People with hepatitis C are at a great risk of developing liver cancer, which ultimately causes death. At this point, there is no vaccine for liver cancer and treatments usually accompanied by difficult side effects.

A major risk factor of hepatitis C is exposure to infected injected drug needles and blood transfusions. While hepatitis C is not known to be transmitted through sex, reports show that incidents of hepatitis C have been increasing among people with HIV.

The best way to address hepatitis C is  still to get tested. Today, hepatitis screenings are given for free in many trusted clinics, or can be availed at affordable rates.  Please refer to or Resource Page for more information on free and low cost screenings.

When hepatitis C is identified early on, patients can be given vaccinations, treatments and dietary plans to slow down the progress of the disease. As far as hepatitis treatment and cancer prevention go, the first step starts with you. So go ahead and brave that hepatitis screening!  Screen. Vaccinate.  Don’t Hesitate!