Thursday, October 20, 2016

The Effects of Hepatitis C on the Body

Hepatitis C is caused by a #virus that is passed through contact with the blood of an infected person. The infection leads to inflammation of the #liver.

The liver processes blood and filter toxins so they don’t cause damage to your body. The liver also produces bile, which helps you to digest food and stores glucose and vitamins. Inflammation makes it difficult for the liver to perform these vital functions. In time, the #hepatitisC infection can affect the entire body.

Hepatitis C Effects On Body

Early #symptoms, including yellowing skin and fatigue, may be mild and easily dismissed. Chronic #infection can cause scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). As the #disease progresses, symptoms such as #skin problems, blood disorders, and #fever may appear.

In the long term, #hepatitis C can lead to severe liver damage, liver #cancer, and liver failure. Early #treatment can help delay or prevent serious damage.

Digestive System


Inflammation of the gallbladder can make it painful to digest fatty foods. Therefore, people with hepatitis C may feel some pain in the upper right portion of the #abdomen. This may be due to a build-up of fluid in the #stomach (ascites). This occurs when the damaged liver doesn’t produce enough albumin, a substance that regulates the amount of fluid in cells.

Other digestive symptoms include #nausea, #vomiting, and #lossofappetite. Stool may become pale or clay-colored, and urine may darken.

Central Nervous System


When the liver doesn’t filter toxins from the blood, they can damage the central #nervoussystem (hepatic encephalopathy). This can lead to a variety of symptoms, including sweet or musty breath, weakening of small motor skills, and sleep disturbances. Dry #eyes and mouth are sometimes associated with hepatitis C.

A build-up of #toxins in the brain can cause confusion, #forgetfulness, poor concentration, and personality changes. Advanced symptoms include abnormal shaking, agitation, #disorientation, and slurred speech. Severe cases may cause #coma.

Circulatory System


A poorly functioning liver can create blood flow problems and increase pressure in the #vein that leads to the liver (portal vein). This can cause portal #hypertension, which may force blood to find an alternate vein. The vein can burst if it’s too small, causing serious internal #bleeding (variceal bleeding).

Skin, Hair, and Nails (Integumentary System)


A protein molecule called hemoglobin is found in red blood cells. #Hemoglobin transports #oxygen and #iron to cells throughout the body. Iron is crucial in sustaining cells that make up healthy skin, fingernails, toenails, and hair.
Bilirubin is another important substance in hemoglobin. When the liver can’t do its job, bilirubin can build up and cause your skin and the whites of your eyes to turn yellow.

Endocrine and Immune Systems


The #endocrine system regulates #hormones. As part of the endocrine system, the #thyroid gland delivers hormones into the bloodstream. Sometimes hepatitis C can cause the #immunesystem to mistakenly attack or damage thyroid tissue. This can cause an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), which can lead to #sleepdisorders and #weightloss. Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) can make you feel sluggish.

Overall Health

Many people infected with hepatitis C have no symptoms, especially in the earliest stages. Some report general #fatigue, #fever, or non-specific #aches and #pains.

DRUGS USED For TREATMENT OF HEPATITIS C
Find Complete List of Hepatitis C Generic and Branded Medicines here with complete details about medicine.

Content Source : HealthLine