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Hemochromatosis: Treatment, the Liver, and Hepatitis B
… a more severe version of the disorder called juvenile hemochromatosis. With juvenile hemochromatosis, patients experience an excessive amount of iron overload that can lead to liver and heart damage between the ages of 15 and 30. Hemochromatosis, the Liver, and Hepatitis B While the body needs a certain amount of iron to function, iron overload can be dangerous. Hemochromatosis can lead to two major liver issues: hepatomegaly and cirrhosis. Hepatomegaly is the enlargement of the liver and cirrhosis is the scarring of the liver. Both issues can impair the liver’s ability to function and filter out toxins that enter the body. They can also increase a person’s risk of developing liver cancer. Recently, two major studies by the University of Exeter and the U.K. University of Connecticut, and the U.S. National Institute on Aging have found that a person living with hemochromatosis has four times the risk of developing a liver disease than a person who is living with the disorder. For individuals living with hepatitis B, it is extremely important to understand any behaviors or conditions that may have a negative impact on your liver. Since one liver disease can increase your risk of another liver disease, it is important to identify the disorder as early as possible, especially if you have any of the following risk factors: Risk Factors for Hereditary Hemochromatosis: Men or postmenopausal women Of Northern European descent Having a relative with hemochromatosis Risk Factors for Secondary Hemochromatosis: Alcoholism Family history of diabetes, heart disease, or liver disease Taking iron or vitamin C supplements Hepatitis B patients do not have an increased risk of developing hemochromatosis4. However, if you have any of the above risk factors, it is important to get tested. Hemochromatosis can easily be identified by a comprehensive look at a person’s family health history, a physical exam, and a simple blood sample. Your doctor will then use the blood
http://www.hepb.org/blog/hemochromatosis-treatment-liver-hepatitis-b/ -
Recently Diagnosed with Hepatitis B? Getting Through the Next Months Waiting to Confirm if Your Infection is Acute or Chronic
… supplements or over-the-counter drugs. Some can be dangerous to a liver that is battling hepatitis B. Get plenty of rest, and exercise if you are able. Don’t forget that you are infectious during this time, and that loved ones, sexual partners and household contacts should be tested to see if they need to be vaccinated to protect against hepatitis B. Sometimes family members or close household contacts may find that they have a current infection or have recovered from a past HBV infection. If anyone fears exposure, ensure them that hepatitis B is not transmitted casually. They should get tested, and vaccinated if needed, and take simple precautions. Remind them that 1/3 of the world's population will be infected with the hepatitis B virus during their lifetime. On the flip-side… Do not let this new hepatitis B diagnosis consume you. As the weeks and months pass, you might find that the infection is not resolving, and you might worry that you have a chronic infection. The associated stress and anxiety can be challenging, even overwhelming. It can contribute to physical symptoms you may be experiencing. Find a family member, friend, or health care professional with whom you can share your concerns. If you are told you have recovered from an acute HBV infection (you are now HBsAg negative, HBcAb positive and HBsAb positive) be sure to get copies of your lab reports to ensure there are no mistakes. Compare them with our easy to use blood tests chart. If something looks wrong, or if you’re confused, speak up and ask your doctor. Once confirmed, be sure to include hepatitis B as part of your personal health history. This is important in case you have conditions requiring treatment later in life that might once again warrant monitoring of your hepatitis B. It is possible for a past HBV infection to reactivate if a person requires longterm immune suppressing drugs . No one wants to learn they have chronic hepatitis B but it is a
http://www.hepb.org/blog/diagnosed-with-acute-hbv-getting-through-the-next-six-months/ -
Be Brave: Join a Hepatitis B Clinical Trial and Help Find a Cure
Photo courtesy of CDC. By Christine Kukka One of the bravest things people living with hepatitis B can do is participate in a clinical trial to help find the drug that will one day eradicate the virus that infects more than 240 million worldwide. There are medical and financial advantages to participating in a trial. We may gain access to a drug that is more effective than what is currently available. We may get free lab tests and medications, and we know we have helped millions of others in the pursuit of a cure. For example, if you participate in the Hepatitis B Research Network Adult Cohort Study, which is currently collecting data on how hepatitis B affects in 2,500 people in the U.S. and Canada over a five-year period, you helps scientists better understand this disease while getting free annual liver tests. There are different types of clinical trials, for example some compare the effectiveness of a new drug against current treatments. When TAF, a new formulation of tenofovir, was in clinical trials, one group of patients received TAF and the other received the standard tenofovir drug. Researchers then compared viral loads (HBV DNA) and liver health from the two groups to see if TAF was as effective as tenofovir in lowering viral load and reducing the risk of liver damage. Other drug trials compare the effectiveness of a new drug against no treatment. In this double-blind study, a control group receives no treatment (a placebo - or sugar pill) and the other group gets the experimental drug. Researchers don’t know until the end of the study which participants received the experimental drug in order to achieve an objective view of a drug's effectiveness. Clinical trials are also used to test the accuracy of new monitoring equipment or approaches, or they can help define what screening practices work best in individual immigrant communities. Photo by Amanda Mills of CDC. They can also assess the effectiveness of herbal supplements and vitamin D in reducing
http://www.hepb.org/blog/brave-join-hepatitis-b-clinical-trial-help-find-cure-httpwww-hepb-orgblogp5479/ -
Buyer Beware: When Someone Claims to Have a Hepatitis B Cure, It's a Counterfeit Drug
… an antiviral drug called hepantivir, for example. But this drug has no scientific credentials. It has never been studied or tested or reported on in medical journals. But "experts" promise it will cure hepatitis B for $800. We at the foundation remove these posts as soon as we discover them. These herbal supplements and counterfeit drugs can look very official, with medical-sounding names and packaged to appear like true pharmaceutical products. The advertising often features a photo of a doctor to appeal to a local audience. But they’re fake, and some of these "products" can even make you sicker than before you started the alleged, miracle drug. In 2013, a study by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime that focused on Africa and South-East Asia suggested the counterfeit drug market in Africa was worth about $4 billion (USD). A report found that in 2009, in Nigeria, 60 out of 225 (27 percent) antimalarial medications failed chemical analysis, and in Ghana, 14 out of 17 (82 percent) antimalarial drugs followed suit. Their deceit is cruel and criminal, especially when it targets frightened people who may have no access to treatments or advice. In the U.S., drugs must be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. To win that approval, randomized, clinical trials that compare outcomes of treated patients to untreated patients (the control group), are needed to prove a drug actually does helps people. This is the gold standard of medical evidence. That careful FDA review does not, however, apply to herbal supplements. One day, some of these supplements may indeed be found to have beneficial effects to protect the liver against hepatitis B after rigorous study and experiments. But that research hasn’t happened yet. The U.S. National Institutes for Health has published a directory about what scientific research has discovered about common herbal supplements. Probably the most popular herbal supplement pitched as a liver remedy is milk thistle, and
http://www.hepb.org/blog/buyer-beware-when-someone-claims-to-have-a-hepatitis-b-cure-its-a-counterfeit-drug/ -
Is there any special diet for people living with chronic hepatitis B infection?
In general, you want to be sure you are living a healthy lifestyle. Avoid alcohol and cigarettes. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, and get regular exercise. When possible, choose whole foods fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, plant-based proteins (like tofu, grains, and peanuts), fish and lean meats. Avoid processed foods and limit sugary drinks (sodas and fruit juices) and foods with added sugar. Limit red and fatty cuts of meat and limit foods deep fried in unhealthy oils. Avoid processed meats (like hot dogs and deli meats). Make sure to buy your nuts from trusted sources, and to inspect the nuts and grains for any signs of Aflatoxin poisoning (moldy appearance and discoloration). Also be very careful with medications or herbal remedies and supplements. Some supplements and herbs can do more harm than good. Here is more information on how to maintain a healthy liver. Find more healthy liver tips on this episode of our B Heppy podcast with Dr. Jennifer Lai. This guide is a comprehensive resource on the dos and don’ts while living with hepatitis B.
https://www.hepb.org/what-is-hepatitis-b/faqs/is-there-any-special-diet-for-people-living-with-chronic-hepatitis-b-infection/ -
Summertime Strategies to Protect Your Liver: Enjoy a Dose of Sunlight and Vitamin D
Grace Wong, associate professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong Catching 15 minutes of sunlight three times a week and drinking water instead of sugary drinks are two of the easiest and most natural ways to protect against liver cancer and other types of liver damage when you live with hepatitis B. Sunlight doesn’t cure hepatitis B, but it spurs production of vitamin D, which appears to help prevent a number of cancers and other liver problems. The liver appears to play a vital role in metabolizing vitamin D, and when you have healthy vitamin D levels, your body’s cells behave and grow normally. But when you have a vitamin D deficiency, communication between your cells breaks down, which can lead to abnormal cell growth and cancer. Studies are finding that hepatitis B patients who have vitamin D deficiency often have higher viral loads and rates of liver damage, cirrhosis and cancer, which is troubling because one-third to one-half of people with hepatitis B are deficient in vitamin D. A recent study, published in the Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, followed 426 hepatitis B patients for more than 13 years. Those with vitamin D deficiency had twice the number of “clinical events,” including liver damage and cancer, than patients with normal vitamin D levels. Patients with normal vitamin D levels were also twice as likely to seroconvert and lose HBeAg and develop “e” antibodies (called HBeAg seroconversion), which leads to lower levels of hepatitis B virus (viral load) in their bodies. But don’t reach for those vitamin D supplements just yet. Grace Hong, associate professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and lead author of the study, says supplements aren’t needed unless patients have serious vitamin D deficiencies. “I advise my hepatitis B patients to make life style modification to increase their vitamin D levels,” she said, which includes getting
http://www.hepb.org/blog/summertime-strategies-to-protect-your-liver-catch-some-rays-and-avoid-sugary-drinks/ -
I’m living with hepatitis B, what should I do to reduce my risk of developing liver cancer?
There are several ways you could reduce your risk of liver cancer. First, start by learning about hepatitis B, and what people living with hepatitis B should do regularly to maintain a healthy liver. Make sure to visit your doctor regularly to check your liver enzymes (ALT/AST), viral load (HBV DNA), platelet count and other liver function tests along with an ultrasound (every 6 months or at least annually). Ask your doctor about using simple blood tests to look at your Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4) for liver fibrosis. Discuss treatment with antivirals with your doctor. (First line antivirals include tenofovir (TDF), tenofovir (TAF) and entecavir). These antivirals are effective at suppressing and controlling the virus, reducing liver damage resulting from the inflammatory response to the virus, and lowering the risk of developing liver cancer. Learn here about other important questions to ask your doctor. Make healthy lifestyle choices! You can make lifestyle choices that will put you in control during your journey with hepatitis B. You can support your liver by not drinking alcohol, not smoking and maintaining a healthy weight by eating a well-balanced diet and getting regular exercise. Here is some information on how to maintain a healthy liver. You may want to listen to this podcast about what a person with hepatitis B should eat, and you may find this guide helpful. Also be very careful with other prescription and over-the-counter medications or herbal remedies and supplements. Herbal remedies and supplements are not tested or regulated for purity and safety. Some supplements and herbs can do more harm than good. Join the Hep B Community! There, you will be able to engage online in discussions with scientists, clinicians, and people living with chronic hepatitis B from around the world, exchanging ideas, and experiences and knowledge about hepatitis B. Find more Frequently Asked Questions here. Page updated 12/27/2022
https://www.hepb.org/what-is-hepatitis-b/faqs/im-living-with-hepatitis-b-what-should-i-do-to-reduce-my-risk-of-developing-liver-cancer/ -
If I don’t need to take medicine for my hepatitis B at this time, what must I do to support my liver?
If you have been carefully evaluated by a knowledgeable doctor and learned you do not need treatment, it is important to continue with regular monitoring of your hepatitis B infection and the health of your liver every 6 months or at least annually because things can change with time - even if you have been in an inactive phase of the virus. In general, you want to be sure you are living a healthy lifestyle. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, and get regular exercise. Eat a diet full of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, plant-based proteins, fish and lean meats. Avoid processed foods and limit sugary drinks (sodas and fruit juices) and foods with added sugar. Limit red and fatty cuts of meat and limit foods deep fried in unhealthy oils. Also be very careful with medications or herbal remedies and supplements. Some supplements and herbs can do more harm than good. Here is more information on how to maintain a healthy liver. Find more healthy liver tips on this episode of our B Heppy podcast with Dr. Jennifer Lai. You also want to be sure close household contacts, family members, and sexual partners are tested. We are very lucky that hepatitis B is a vaccine preventable disease. Please visit our webpage to learn more about hepatitis B transmission, and how to protect your loved ones. Find more Frequently Asked Questions here. Page updated 05/09/2022
https://www.hepb.org/what-is-hepatitis-b/faqs/if-i-dont-need-to-take-medicine-for-my-hepatitis-b-at-this-time-what-must-i-do-to-support-my-liver/ -
Frequently Asked Questions about Hepatitis B
Below are links to some of our most commonly asked questions. What is hepatitis B? Why is hepatitis B so dangerous? Is there a cure for hepatitis B? What treatments (medicines) are available for chronic hepatitis B? If the currently approved hepatitis B drugs do not provide a cure, then how are they helping? What can I do if I live in the U.S. and the insurance co-pay for my hepatitis B drugs costs too much for me to buy them? Is there any special diet for people living with chronic hepatitis B infection? What blood tests are important to diagnose and evaluate my hepatitis B infection? Does everyone with chronic hepatitis B need to take medicine? Will herbals, natural "remedies", Ayurveda or Traditional Chinese Medicine, supplements, or vitamins and minerals control hepatitis B? If I don't need to take medicine for my hepatitis B at this time, what must I do to support my liver? Can a hepatitis B infection be prevented? How can I protect my loved ones? Is the hepatitis B vaccine safe? Is the hepatitis B vaccine safe during pregnancy? Can I catch hepatitis B from the vaccine? If I started the vaccine series but didn't complete my 2nd or 3rd dose on schedule, do I have to start over? I received my vaccine years ago--am I still protected? Should I get the hepatitis B vaccine if I have a chronic HBV infection or have recovered from a past infection? Where can I get vaccinated against hepatitis B in the USA? What should I do if I am diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B? I am diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, can I get married and have children? I am currently pregnant, and I have hepatitis B. What should I do to protect my baby? Can I donate blood if I have hepatitis B? If I have chronic hepatitis B infection, can I hug my children, partner or friend? I’m in love, when and how do I tell my (prospective) partner that I have hepatitis B? If hepatitis B is sexually transmitted, how come my partner isn’t infected? If chronic hepatitis B is a silent disease, why do I have symptoms? Sometimes I feel sad and depressed because of my hepatitis B status, what should I do? I keep hearing about a “Functional Cure” for chronic hepatitis B, what does this mean? Liver Cancer What is the likelihood that someone infected with hepatitis B will develop liver cancer? I’m living with hepatitis B, what should I do to reduce my risk of developing liver cancer? Clinical Trials My country does not have a clinical trial for hepatitis B. Is it possible to travel to another country to participate?
https://www.hepb.org/what-is-hepatitis-b/faqs/ -
Healthy Liver Tips
People living with chronic hepatitis B infection may or may not need drug treatment. But there are many other things patients can do to protect their liver and improve their health. Below is our list of the top 10 healthy choices that can be started today! Schedule regular visits with your liver specialist or health care provider to stay on top of your health and the health of your liver. Get the Hepatitis A vaccine to protect yourself from another virus that attacks the liver. Avoid drinking alcohol and smoking since both will hurt your liver, which is already being injured by the hepatitis B virus. Talk to your provider before starting any herbal remedies or vitamin supplements because some could interfere with your prescribed hepatitis B drugs or even damage your liver. Read more. Check with your pharmacist about any over-the-counter drugs (e.g. acetaminophen, paracetamol) or non-hepatitis B prescription drugs before taking them to make sure they are safe for your liver since many of these drugs are processed through your liver. Avoid inhaling fumes from paint, paint thinners, glue, household cleaning products, nail polish removers, and other potentially toxic chemicals that could damage your liver. Eat a healthy diet of fruit, whole grains, fish and lean meats, and lot of vegetables. “Cruciferous vegetables” in particular -- cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower -- have been shown to help protect the liver against environmental chemicals. Limit foods and drinks with added sugars including sodas, fruit juices, desserts, packaged snacks and other foods that contain added sugar. Limit foods containing saturated fats including fatty cuts of meat and foods fried in oil. Avoid eating raw or undercooked shellfish (e.g. clams, mussels, oysters, scallops) because they could be contaminated with a bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus, which is very toxic to the liver and could cause a lot of damage. Check for signs of mold on nuts, maize, corn, groundnut, sorghum, and millet before using these foods. Mold is more likely to be a problem if food is stored in damp conditions and not properly sealed. If there is mold, then the food could be contaminated by “aflatoxins,” which are a known risk factor for liver cancer. Reduce your stress levels by eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of rest. Keep in mind everything you eat, drink, breathe, or absorb through the skin is eventually filtered by the liver. So protect your liver and your health.
https://www.hepb.org/treatment-and-management/adults-with-hepatitis-b/healthy-liver-tips/