How to help your body
There are some lifestyle changes you can make when living with
hepatitis C which will help your body and improve your overall
well-being. These include:
Reducing or stopping alcohol and drug
consumption
Alcohol and drug use can cause further harm to
your liver. With alcohol, it is essential to minimise alcohol
intake or cut out alcohol completely in order to keep any damage to
your liver to an absolute minimum. Research has shown that even
moderate drinking can accelerate the progress of liver disease in
people with hepatitis C.
Drug use can quicken the speed that damage is being done to your
liver. If you have hepatitis C and are sharing equipment to prepare
or inject, inhale or snort drugs, it can also put other people at
risk of getting the virus. To protect your liver and to reduce the
risk of passing on the virus, consider stopping drug use, or use
new equipment every time and never share.
If you have successfully been treated for hepatitis C, you must
also be aware that you are at risk of reinfection if you are using
drugs and sharing equipment.
Support is available if you need help to change your drinking or
drug use habits.
I was a heavy drinker, and had drunk every day for at least 10
years, but I was determined to give this treatment the best chance
to work. I found the strength to stay on the wagon.
Phil
Eating a healthy, balanced diet
It is important to maintain a healthy weight for your gender,
age and height, and also to ensure that you eat a healthy, balanced
diet. A healthy, balanced diet can help improve liver health and
lower your risk of developing liver cirrhosis.
This includes:
- Drinking plenty of water to help the liver flush out
toxins.
- Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, good carbohydrates and
proteins, foods which are high in fibre (e.g. wholegrain breads and
cereals), and foods which are low in saturated fat (e.g. rice and
pasta). These foods are much easier for the liver to process than
fried, salty, and sugary foods.
You can arrange an appointment with a dietician to support you
to make positive changes to your diet.
Staying active
There are many benefits to taking regular exercise including
energy gain, weight loss, and mental well-being. All of these make
a big difference to living with hepatitis C. People with hepatitis
C are encouraged to take mild to moderate exercise, which can even
include taking a brisk walk. Keep in mind, however, that if you are
receiving treatment for hepatitis C, you may find your capacity for
exercise to be less.
Being active can:
- Improve your mood if you are feeling down
- Help relieve stress
- Help you sleep better
- Help you maintain a healthy weight
- Improve your body's ability to fight infections.
Sleep
Getting a good nights sleep is important for everyone, but
particularly if you suffer from a long term illness like
hepatitis C. A lot of research has shown that sleeping less
than 6 hours a night can increase your chances of various serious
health conditions. For tips on a good night's sleep visit the
National Sleep Foundation website.
Smoking
The benefits of stopping smoking are clear. However, it's much
easier said than done. Like some drugs and alcohol, the addictive
qualities of tobacco mean that coming off can be very stressful. If
you feel ready to quit, your doctor will be only too glad to give
you as much help as possible. ASH Scotland have a useful information sheet which
explain the health risks of smoking with a blood borne virus
infection.
Complementary therapies
There are also a wide range of complementary therapies that may help to
relieve symptoms and some of the side
effects of treatment.