Hepatitis B is a severe liver infection. However, individuals can live a fulfilling life by following appropriate treatment, making healthy lifestyle changes, and having a supportive network. This infection is triggered by a virus that primarily impacts the liver and leads to inflammation.
Hepatitis B infections can be classified into two categories: acute and chronic. Acute hepatitis B happens soon after someone is exposed to the virus and usually resolves within six months. However, if the virus stays in the body longer than six months, it becomes chronic, requiring ongoing management to prevent complications.
What are the symptoms?
The liver is essential for keeping the body healthy. It filters out toxins, stores nutrients, and produces proteins that help blood clot. When hepatitis B causes inflammation in the liver, it has difficulty carrying out these essential functions. Hepatitis B symptoms vary from mild to severe. Some people might start experiencing symptoms as early as two weeks after exposure, while for others, it could take up to six months. Surprisingly, many people, especially young children, may not show symptoms, making early detection challenging.
Low-grade fever, joint pain, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine, and grey stools are some other symptoms that patients might show. Hepatitis B is spread via contact with infected bodily fluids like blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. However, it can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy.
How do you get it?
Using needles contaminated with infected blood can easily transmit the virus. Having unprotected sex increases the likelihood of coming into contact with the virus through blood or other bodily fluids. Tattooing or piercing with unsterilised equipment could carry the virus from one person to another. Objects like toothbrushes, razors, or scissors that may come into contact with infected bodily fluids and blood can also transmit the virus.
Hidden complications
If left untreated, chronic hepatitis B can lead to severe liver damage over time. The two most common complications of hepatitis B are cirrhosis and liver cancer, which can be life-threatening. While the liver can regenerate itself, prolonged inflammation caused by the virus can lead to scarring that disrupts its normal functions.
How can you prevent it?
The best method to prevent hepatitis B is by getting vaccinated. Additionally, practising safe sex, avoiding sharing needles, and ensuring proper sterilisation of medical instruments can reduce your risk of contracting the virus. This virus usually targets the liver and causes serious damage over time. If you want to learn how to keep your liver healthy, you need to take care of your diet, consume alcohol responsibly, pop medicines mindfully, start physical activity, and practice safe sex.
There are many liver-friendly foods which you can include in your diet, such as garlic (lowers the risk of cancer), green tea (reduces enzyme levels), nuts (reduces inflammation), coffee (slows down the progression of cirrhosis, fibrosis, and Hepatitis B and C), and olive oil (contains fatty acids).
