HBV or Hepatitis B virus that infects the liver. It is the most common infectious disease in the world, with over a billion people worldwide having been infected with it in their life, and approximately 240 million of those are chronically infected. Worldwide, it leads to over 780,000 deaths per year. Most people who get HBV don’t know it because it rarely leads to signs or symptoms in the acute or chronic stages of infection.
Hepatitis B is transmitted in much the same way as HIV, It’s spread by the blood, semen, etc, you could find detailed information on causes and symptoms of hepatitis here.
10 things HBV patients need to know
Here is what you need to know about hepatitis B;
1. Get monitored regularly
No one likes a blood draw or to be reminded they have hepatitis B, but it’s important that you’re tested annually or more often if you have a high viral load and/or signs of liver damage. So be brave, protect your health, and go to the lab for a blood test.
2. If you’ve been prescribed an antiviral, don’t forget to take it
Taking a pill every day is tedious and it’s tempting to skip it, but failing to take your daily antiviral reduces its effectiveness and can lead to drug resistance. The hepatitis B virus is a master at mutating to escape whatever is attacking it. Forgetting to take your daily pill can lead to an uptick in your viral load and liver damage. Stay strong, take your daily pill, and keep that virus undetectable.
3. Take Antiviral medications for long-term commitment
Until a complete cure is developed, several antiviral medications — including entecavir (Baraclude), tenofovir (Viread), lamivudine (Epivir), adefovir (Hepsera) and telbivudine (Tyzeka) — can help fight the virus and slow its ability to damage your liver. But they work for only as long as we take them, and once we start, we are usually committed to years of treatment. Quitting antivirals before we’ve achieved undetectable viral load and lost the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) often results in a resurgence of both viral load and liver damage. Antivirals are a long-term treatment that help prolong our lives.
There are lots of pharmacies provide this medication especially online pharmacies Apollo, GDMeds, 984degree pharmacies, they provide these HBV and HCV medicines, you can visit their website for more details about the product and know about discounts.
4. Demand to be screened for liver cancer
Some experts say current medical guidelines that recommend when we should be screened for liver cancer don’t go far enough to protect us. So take charge of your health and ask for a liver cancer screen, which includes a semi-annual blood test and an ultrasound. Hepatitis B-infected Asian men (or of Asian descent) over age 40 years and Asian women over age 50 years, patients with a family history of liver cancer, patients with cirrhosis. Think you’re not at risk for cancer because you take antivirals? Think again. Antivirals help reduce liver damage, but if you’ve had cirrhosis or are older, the risk of liver cancer remains.
5. Experts say a cure is coming … so stay informed about new drug developments and clinical trials
Lots are happening on the research front. Keep searching on the medication or treatment, and stay updated is very important. Some foundations also provide free clinical test, knowing about this new development is crucial.
6. If someone promises a new cure or treatment that sounds too good to be true
In our search to be rid of hepatitis B, we may be tempted to yield to clever marketing and try a supplement that promises to cure us. But first, do your homework and practice precaution.There is no magic bullet that will cure hepatitis B. Experts hope to find one soon, but for now be patient and stay skeptical. If you want to safeguard your health, eat healthy foods and avoid alcohol and cigarettes.
7. Practice safe sex and never re-use needles
Hepatitis B is increasing—even though a safe and effective vaccine exists. Unfortunately, not everyone is immunized and the infection is still getting transmitted sexually. it’s also spreading when syringes are re-used and shared, so support needle exchange programs in your region and state.
8. Fight discrimination against hepatitis B and know your rights
Hepatitis B should never be a barrier to the education or job you want. It depends on us, our friends, and our family, to stand up and fight for our civil rights. We can’t back down. If we don’t fight, who will?
9. If you are Pregnant with HCV Get your viral load tested and ask your doctor about antivirals
A Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) for the first time recommended that pregnant women with viral loads (HBV DNA) higher than 200,000 IU/mL (or 1 million copies/mL) receive an antiviral (either tenofovir or telbivudine) starting at their 28th week of pregnancy. The antivirals won’t hurt you or your baby and will reduce the risk that your baby will be infected with hepatitis B to nearly zero, as long as your baby gets the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine and a dose of HBIG (hepatitis B antibodies) within 12 hours of birth.
10. Be brave to screened for hepatitis B and vaccinated
If you are infected with hepatitis B, you need to disclose your infection to people who may be at risk. If you just discovered you have chronic hepatitis B, which you may have contracted at birth, you need to tell your siblings and your mother and get them screened and immunized if needed. It is the best thing we can do for yourself and the people we love.
Hepatitis B is very common and a potentially deadly infection that leads to much suffering worldwide.Taking proper medication is only way to treat this disease. Be aware of these things and flight against this silent epidermic.
