Hepatitis C is a disease that most people get infected with due to alcoholism and drug addiction. It attacks the liver and can lead to advanced liver disease if not taken care of. Hepatitis C sometimes becomes a chronic disease because the individual’s body is unable to fight it off. People who have it may not have symptoms for years after they get infected, even though the health of their live is deteriorating. For those who do have symptoms with the disease, they can include nausea, fever, muscle aches, headaches, tiredness, jaundice, sore abdomen, and mental health problems.
Hepatitis C is a virus that infects people through coming into contact with the blood of another person who has it. It can be spread by people with drug addiction by using a needle or syringe after someone else. It can also be spread in sexual activity through blood contact. People suffering from drug and alcohol addictions are more likely to get Hepatitis C because they tend to engage in risky behaviors such as unprotected sex with someone else who may have it.
This virus reproduces itself in the cells of the liver. The body tries to protect itself, which causes swelling. Over the long term, this leads to liver damage. Drug and alcohol addiction are also known to create a lot of liver damage, making the problem even worse. This is why it’s even more important for an individual who has Hepatitis C to get the addiction treatment that they need. Stopping drug and alcohol abuse will slow down the harm being done to the body by this virus.
Rehab facilities that have a strong medical element often provide services for patients who have Hepatitis C, such as assessing the level of liver damage. This is a good option for some people to look into.