4 Prevention Tips and Alternative Treatments for Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a contagious liver condition that is spread through the hepatitis C virus. It can either be short-term or cause chronic illness that can sometimes be life-threatening. In the United States, as many as 3.9 million people are suffering from long-term hepatitis C. This article will discuss the basic prevention tips and alternative treatments for Hepatitis C to help you avoid the condition.
Prevention tips
The most effective way to avoid contracting Hepatitis C is by avoiding contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids or blood. Here are some ways to ensure this:
- Don’t share personal care items
For your safety and personal hygiene, you should never share personal care items such as toothbrushes, nail cutters, and razors.
- Never share needles
If you are an intravenous drug user, then your chances of contracting hepatitis C increase exponentially because of sharing needles. Additionally, you should also choose your tattoo and piercing parlor carefully.
- Practice safe sex
Even though it is uncommon for someone to get hepatitis C after sexual intercourse, experts recommend practicing safe sex, especially if you engage with multiple partners.
- Avoid exposure to blood products
If you are a medical worker, take extra measures to avoid coming in direct contact with blood or blood products. All the tools used for drawing blood must be disposed of and sterilized safely.
Alternative treatments
Regular hepatitis C treatments can take its toll on the body. However, you can use the following natural or alternative options to ease the symptoms and make your treatment more tolerable.
- Follow a balanced diet
A healthy diet strengthens your immune system that helps fight off infections. Therefore, consider adding whole grains, fruits, veggies, and proteins.
- Get massage therapy
A trained masseuse rubs and kneads your muscles and soft tissues to help relieve stress. While it may not directly treat hepatitis C, it does work wonders in overcoming fatigue, which is a common symptom of hepatitis C.
- Practice meditation
Living with a condition like hepatitis C can be overwhelming. When you practice meditation regularly, it relaxes your body and the brain, focusing on your wellness.
- Do yoga
Yoga involves deep breathing, stretching, and meditation. It can support you in relieving anxiety and also get rid of body pain or treatment side effects.
Integrate these prevention tips and alternative treatments for hepatitis C into your life if you want to overcome the disease naturally. If you have contracted the virus or living close to someone who has, you must take extra precautions to avoid disease transmission. At the same time, it is important to know that hepatitis C does not spread through casual contact such as hugging, kissing, holding hands, breastfeeding, and the like. Its primary method of transmission is through infected blood or bodily fluids.