Hepatitis is the term used to describe the inflammation of the liver caused by both viral and non-viral factors. “We have forms of hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E within the viral category,” stated Dr. Lohit Shetty Raju, consultant for HPB and liver transplantation surgery at Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road in Bengaluru, in an interview with HT Lifestyle. The overuse of alcohol (alcoholic hepatitis), autoimmune disorders, some chemical and medication exposures, and the increasingly common fatty liver disease, also known as NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), are examples of non-viral causes.
While some hepatitis causes cannot be prevented, Dr. Lohit Shetty Raju emphasized that most of them are caused by straightforward lifestyle decisions. The following lifestyle choices can help reduce your risk of contracting hepatitis:
1. Proper food consumption and hygiene habits
The fecal-oral route is how hepatitis A is transmitted, typically by food or drink tainted with an infected person’s excrement. It is well known to be widespread in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene. On the other hand, prevention techniques include drinking water that is safer, cleaning your hands frequently, and avoiding food from unsanitary sources.
2. Continue to practice good hygiene
Your risk of catching hepatitis A and B is increased by unsafe sexual practices and inadequate handwashing. It is essential to wash your hands frequently, especially before eating and after using the restroom. In order to prevent these diseases, safe sexual behaviors are equally crucial.
3. Get immunized
Both hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines are available. You should obtain the immunization if you are in a high-risk group, such as medical professionals or anyone who frequently comes into touch with bodily fluids that are infectious. Preventing a liver infection is preferable to managing severe liver disease, which can be avoided.
4. Use fluids with prudence
Interaction with blood, sperm, vaginal fluids, or even saliva is one of the main ways to get hepatitis B. It can be vertically transmitted from a woman to her child at birth. Intercourse, sharing of needles, and unscreened blood donation are all ways for people to spread it. Make sure that only authorized facilities administer blood transfusions. Additionally, it is not appropriate to exchange personal products like toothbrushes or razors.
5. Give up alcohol
Alcohol causes alcoholic hepatitis, which destroys the liver. Reducing the amount of alcohol that is drank can be advantageous.
6. Keep an eye out for indicators
Keep an eye out for early symptoms include a low fever, mild jaundice, nausea, belly aches, and appetite loss. Very rarely, hepatitis A can cause Acute Liver Failure, which in severe cases may require a liver transplant.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge before you choose to consume any product or perform any exercise.
