Phillips Health Care Newsletter

Hepatitis C Basics

KEY POINTS

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).

Many people with hepatitis C don't look or feel sick so might not know they have the virus.

Left untreated, hepatitis C can lead to serious liver problems, like scarring and cancer.

About Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by Hepatitis C Virus. Hepatitis C can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, long-term illness.

Fast facts

Hepatitis C is one of the most common types of viral hepatitis in the United States.

It is estimated that more than 2.4 million people - and as many as 4 million people - had hepatitis C from 2017-2020. 1

After more than a decade of annual increases, the rate of acute hepatitis C declined for the first time in 2022.

Rates of acute hepatitis C were highest among non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native people.

People ages 20–39 years had the highest incidence of acute hepatitis C.

More than half (52%) of cases with risk information were associated with using injection drugs.

Types

The two types of hepatitis C are:

Acute hepatitis C

When someone is first infected with HCV, they can either have a very mild illness with few or no symptoms or a serious condition that could require hospitalization.

Less than half of people who get hepatitis C are able to clear the virus in the first 6 months after infection without treatment.

Chronic hepatitis C

Most people who get infected will develop a chronic, or lifelong, infection. Left untreated, chronic hepatitis C can cause serious health problems including liver disease, liver failure, liver cancer, and even death. Chronic hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver cancer and the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States.

Signs and symptoms

You can have hepatitis C even if you don't have any symptoms. ?

Many people with hepatitis C don't look or feel sick.

If you do develop symptoms, you will notice them 2-12 weeks after infection with the virus. Signs can include:

Dark urine or clay-colored stools

Feeling tired

Fever

Joint pain

Loss of appetite

Nausea, stomach pain, throwing up

Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)

People with chronic hepatitis C are usually asymptomatic, meaning they do not have symptoms, or have general symptoms like chronic tiredness or depression. Yet even people without symptoms can spread the virus to others.

Keep Reading: Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis C

How it spreads

Hepatitis C is spread when blood from an HCV-infected person — even microscopic amounts — enters the body of someone who is not infected. Because of how it spreads, certain life circumstances, jobs, and behaviors can increase your risk for hepatitis C.

It's important to know that even people who have cleared or been cured of the virus can be re-infected.

Screening, testing, and diagnosis

Hepatitis C usually doesn't have symptoms. Getting testing is the only way to know if you have hepatitis C.

Testing 

Your doctor will draw blood to do an HCV antibody test that will show whether you have ever been infected with HCV.  If you have an active infection, your doctor will diagnose you with hepatitis C and get you started with treatment right away.

Treatment

Most treatments involve 8–12 weeks of oral medication (pills). Treatment cures more than 95% of patients with hepatitis C, usually without side effects.

ANNUAL PHYSICALS

Why are Check-Ups Important?

According to the CDC:

“Regular health exams and tests can help find problems before they start. They also can help find problems early, when your chances for treatment and cure are better. By getting the right health services, screenings, and treatments, you are taking steps that help your chances for living a longer, healthier life. Your age, health and family history, lifestyle choices (i.e. what you eat, how active you are, whether you smoke), and other important factors impact what and how often you need healthcare.”

What better time than summer to take some time and schedule an appointment—for adults (when it’s vacation time) and kids (when school is out). 

RECOMMENDED FOR ADULTS

Recommendations for adults can       include:

Personal & Family History

Any Complaints and/or Concerns

Vitals, including Height, Weight, Temperature, Respiration 

& Blood Pressure

Blood pressure Check

Heart Health Check

Lung Health

Head & Neck Exam

Abdominal Exam

Skin & Nails Exam

Extremities Exam

General Appearance Physical Exam

ADDITIONAL EXAMS 

FOR MEN

Testicular exam:  Check each testicle for lumps, tenderness, or changes in size. Most men with testicular cancer notice a growth before seeing a doctor.

Hernia exam: Check for a weakness in the abdominal wall between the intestines and scrotum.

Prostate exam:  Checking the prostate for its size and any suspicious areas.

ADDITIONAL EXAMS 

FOR WOMAN

Breast exam. Feeling for abnormal lumps, lymph nodes in the underarm area and look for visual abnormalities of the breasts and nipples.

Pelvic exam: The pelvic exam allows examination of the vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus and ovaries and a PAP test.

LABS

Complete blood count (CBC)

Chemistry panel

Urinalysis (UA)

Lipid Panel (cholesterol levels)

Blood Sugar (for diabetes)

PREVENTIVE

Colorectal cancer screening is recommended for all adults, 45 and over

Mammograms are recommended for women over 40.

FOR KIDS

Preschool age children (4-5 years old):

Preschool age children need to have their 4/5 year old vaccines before starting kindergarten. These can be given as early as age 4 but can wait until just prior to the start of kindergarten.  A physical prior to starting first grade.  The ideal time to schedule a physical examination is in the summer before your child will start kindergarten. 

School age children (6-11 years old):

After starting school, a physical is recommended every two years. They will need vaccines again at  age 11 or 12. If children are participating in sports, a sports physical is required. 

Teenagers (12-17 years old):

If your teenager is participating in school sports, they will need an annual sports physical. If not, a physical is recommended every two years. There are vaccines recommended 11- and 12 years old, and then possibly again when at 16.

Phillips Clinic Family Practice     providers go beyond the minimum recommended yearly primary care checkups, and offers wellness and anti-aging services as well.

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. As a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or, in serious cases, from sneezing or minor bumps.

Osteoporosis means “porous bone.” Viewed under a microscope, healthy bone looks like a honeycomb. When osteoporosis occurs, the holes and spaces in the honeycomb are much larger than in healthy bone. Osteoporotic bones have lost density or mass and contain abnormal tissue structure. As bones become less dense, they weaken and are more likely to break. If you’re 50 or older and have broken a bone, ask your doctor or healthcare provider about a bone density test.

IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine (colon). Irritable bowel syndrome commonly causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation.

Even though signs and symptoms are uncomfortable, IBS — unlike ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, which are forms of inflammatory bowel disease — doesn't cause changes in bowel tissue or increase your risk of colorectal cancer.

Only a small number of people with irritable bowel syndrome have severe signs and symptoms. Some people can control their symptoms by managing diet, lifestyle and stress. Others may need 

medication.

SYMPTOMS

The signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can vary widely from person to person and often resemble those of other diseases. Among the most common are:

Abdominal pain or cramping

A bloated feeling

Gas

Diarrhea or constipation — sometimes alternating Mucus in the stool

For most people, IBS is a chronic condition, although there will likely be times when the signs and symptoms are worse and times when they improve or even disappear completely.

Although as many as 1 in 5 American adults has signs and symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, fewer than 1 in 5 who have symptoms seek medical help. Yet it's important to see your doctor if you have a persistent change in bowel habits or if you have any other signs or symptoms of IBS because these may indicate a more serious condition, such as colon cancer.

Symptoms that may indicate a more serious condition include:

Rectal bleeding

Abdominal pain that progresses or 

occurs at night

Weight loss

It's not known exactly what causes irritable bowel syndrome, but a variety of factors play a role. The walls of the intestines are lined with layers of muscle that contract and relax in a coordinated rhythm as they move food from your stomach through your intestinal tract to your rectum. 

If you have irritable bowel syndrome, the contractions may be stronger and last longer than normal, causing gas, bloating and diarrhea. Or the opposite may occur, with weak intestinal contractions slowing food passage and leading to hard, dry stools. Abnormalities in your gastrointestinal nervous system also may play a role

causing you to experience greater than normal discomfort when your abdomen stretches from gas or stool. 

TRIGGERS vary from person to person

Common triggers include:

Foods. The role of food allergy or intolerance in irritable bowel syndrome is not yet clearly understood, but many people have more severe symptoms when they eat certain things. A wide range of foods has been implicated — chocolate, spices, fats, fruits, beans, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, milk, carbonated beverages and alcohol.

Stress. Most people with IBS find that their signs and symptoms are worse or more frequent during periods of increased stress.

Hormones. Because women are twice as likely to have IBS, researchers believe that hormonal changes play a role in this condition. Many women find that signs and symptoms are worse during or around their menstrual periods.

Other illnesses. Sometimes another illness, such as an acute episode of infectious diarrhea (gastroenteritis) or too many bacteria in the intestines (bacterial overgrowth), can trigger IBS.

What Is An Allergy

Nearly 20% of Americans have allergies. Allergies are an abnormal response of your immune system. Your body's defenses react to a usually harmless substance, such as pollen, animal   dander, or food. Almost anything can trigger an allergic reaction, which can range from mild and annoying to sudden and life-threatening. 

Some of the most common triggers include:

Pollen

Pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds can trigger hay fever or seasonal allergies. You might have symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, and itchy, watery eyes. 

Animal Dander

Proteins secreted by oil glands in an animal's skin and present in their saliva can cause allergic reactions for some people. The allergy can take two or more years to develop and symptoms may not go away until months after being away from the animal. If your pet is causing allergies, make your bedroom a pet-free zone, avoid carpets, and wash him regularly. A HEPA filter and frequent vacuuming may also help

Dust Mites

Dust mites are microscopic organisms that live in 

house dust. Help prevent dust mite allergies by 

covering mattresses, pillows, and box springs, 

sing hypoallergenic pillows, washing sheets weekly in hot water, and keeping the house free of dust collecting-items.

Bug Bites & Insect Stings

Symptoms include extensive swelling and redness from the sting or bite that may last a week or more, nausea, fatigue, and low-grade fever. In rare cases when insect bites cause a severe reaction (anaphylaxis), symptoms may include difficulty breathing, swelling around the face, throat, or mouth, racing pulse, an itchy rash or hives,      dizziness, or a sharp drop in blood pressure. 

Molds

Molds make allergens, irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances. Inhaling or touching mold or  mold spores may cause allergic reactions in some people. 

There are many types of mold. They all need moisture to grow. 

They can be found in damp areas such as basements or bathrooms, as well as in grass or mulch.  

Avoid activities that trigger symptoms, such as raking leaves. Ventilate moist areas in your home

Food

Milk, shellfish, eggs, and nuts are among the most common foods that cause allergies. An allergic reaction usually happens within minutes of eating he offending food. Symptoms, which can include breathing problems, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, and swelling around the mouth, can be severe. Avoid all foods that you are allergic to.

Relieving Your Allergy Symptoms

Your Phillips Clinic Family Practice Provider Can Perform a simple    Allergy Skin Test.

Symptoms which usually prompt an allergy test  include:

Respiratory: itchy eyes, nose or throat; nasal congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, chest congestion, cough or wheezing

Skin: itchiness or eczema  

Abdominal: vomiting or cramping and diarrhea consistently after eating certain foods

Severe reactions to stinging insect stings 

Skin tests can be performed in the office to determine what’s cause your symptoms. A very small amount of certain allergens is put into your skin by making a small indentation or “prick” on the surface of your skin.  Your skin will react to the substances that trigger your allergies.

A personalized serum is then made up for you. You take this  serum home, use a few drops under your tongue every day. You return every 12 weeks for a refill and follow-up. Within months, you should notice a significant reduction in your symptoms and the need for allergy medications. And in time, your allergies will disappear.