Living with Chronic Hepatitis C

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Living with Chronic Hepatitis C

Living with Chronic Hepatitis C

Living with Chronic Hepatitis C

Several lifestyle modifications can improve the quality of life of people with HCV. The U.S. National Hepatitis C Program has outlined several lifestyle modifications to help people live with the chronic HCV.

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Diet and nutritionNutrition refers to everything that happens in the body after consumption of food. This includes food moving through the stomach and intestines, where it gets broken down into smaller units called "nutrients." Nutrients include fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water.All food is passed through the liver. The liver changes food into stored energy and chemicals necessary for life. It makes nutrients available so your body can use them to build cells, provide energy, and maintain normal body functions.A bad diet sometimes can lead to liver problems. A diet of too many calories causes weight gain. Fatty liver results from too much weight gain. Over many years, fatty liver probably contributes to a person with hepatitis C developing cirrhosis. Being overweight and having fatty liver also have been shown in a number of studies to lead to

lower rates of hepatitis C clearance in patients treated with interferon and ribavirin.One's diet also can contain toxins that are harmful to the liver. Some toxins act quickly. Eating certain poisonous mushrooms, for example, can cause liver failure and death within days. Other toxins, such as alcohol, damage the liver over time.A good diet, by contrast, can improve liver health in a person with hepatitis C. A balanced diet can lead to better liver functioning and lowered risk of cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver. It also can help the immune system stay strong and fight off illness.Finally, people infected with hepatitis C have higher rates of diabetes than those who are not infected, but a good diet can help reduce body fat and control blood sugar. This lowers diabetes risk.People with hepatitis don’t necessarily need a special diet. A healthy

diet will help reduce the risk of complications.Hepatitis C infection can affect diet. Treatment too can affect appetite and diet. Treatment with interferon sometimes causes loss of appetite, sore mouth and throat, metallic tastes, nausea, and vomiting. Diet modifications may help reduce these effects. Cirrhosis often causes loss of appetite and fatigue that discourages eating. In some cases, severe weight loss and malnutrition result.Eating healthy and often can help prevent the nausea caused by some hepatitis medications.Weight-induced problems can be reversed. Losing weight and keeping the weight off can improve liver enzyme levels and fibrosis.Avoid fad diets, because losing weight too fast can put strain on the liver.Exercise is important, and not just because it helps keep weight down. Exercise can improve appetite, relieve some of the side effects of hepatitis C medications, boost the immune system, and improve the sense of

well-being.Remember that patients with cirrhosis can put on "fluid weight." This is different from "fat weight," which is what most of us put on. Fluid weight is managed in a different way.At present, there is no evidence for a safe level of alcohol for people with hepatitis C. The best advice is to avoid alcohol completely.

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Vitamin and mineral supplementsSome people with hepatitis C, particularly those with cirrhosis, have above-average levels of iron in their body. Too much iron can damage organs. If these people take multivitamin/mineral pills, they should take the ones without iron. These pills usually are marketed as formulas for men or adults over 50. These people also should avoid taking large doses of vitamin C because vitamin C helps the body absorb iron.Vitamin A, if taken in doses larger than the recommended 10,000 IU, can harm the liver. Vitamin A is even more toxic in someone who drinks alcohol. Some dietary

supplements have high amounts. Many fruits and vegetables contain beta carotene, a non-toxic form of vitamin A. Some supplements also contain this form of vitamin A. ,

Herbal productsJust because something is "natural" doesn't mean it is harmless. Certain herbs, including Kava-Kava and pennyroyal, can cause liver damage.

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Calories and proteinPeople with cirrhosis may need more extra calories and protein. They may lose their appetite and experience nausea, vomiting, and severe weight loss. This can lead to shortage of the minerals calcium and magnesium (signs include muscle cramps, fatigue, weakness, nausea, and vomiting), or a shortage of zinc (signs include reduced ability to taste, changes in taste).It can help to eat small, frequent meals (4 to 7 times a day), including an evening snack.When the scarring from cirrhosis prevents blood from passing through the liver, pressure increases in the veins entering the liver. This is called

portal hypertension. The body is forced to reroute the blood away from the liver and into the general blood circulation. This causes large blood vessels, called "varices," to form.Because the rerouted blood bypasses the liver, it contains high levels of amino acids, ammonia, and toxins that normally would have been handled by the liver. When these substances reach the brain, they can cause confusion and temporary loss of memory (a condition called "hepatic encephalopathy").Amino acids and ammonia come from protein in the diet. Some evidence shows that patients with cirrhosis do better when they get their protein from vegetables (such as beans, lentils, and tofu) and

from dairy products (eggs, milk, yogurt) instead of from meats.Doctors can prescribe a syrup called Lactulose to push food through the bowels more quickly. This way, less food is absorbed, the liver has less work to do, and fewer toxins make their way to the brain.

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