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Numerous articles on Hepatitis C that have appeared in newspapers and health magazines have frightened the general public.
We often heard stories about cirrhosis of the liver, illness that leads to death and necessary and costly medicines (combinations of interferon and anti- AIDS drugs) as the only hope; we have heard of patients being urged to have blood tests every three months along with a liver ultrasound and a visit to the hepatologist every six months.
Now, if they told you that by eating healthy and genuine foods in the proper way, avoiding excesses of alcohol, reducing smoking and leading a healthy life you could obtain greater advantages than you could with present day drugs, you might feel a little confused and dubious. Let's try to clear up a few doubts.
Down with useless alarmism: not everyone becomes ill
Information that only highlights the most serious aspects seems to be aimed at promoting the prescription of costly drugs (and useless in the long run, as anyone can see by reading the product information enclosed with interferon).
The Hepatitis C virus can give rise to major problems, but in the majority of cases it doesn't cause any sort of damage. At the end of '99, one of the world's most authoritative medical journals, the New England Journal of Medicine( Vogt M, et al. N Engl J Med. 1999 Sep 16;341 (12):866-70) published a story about roughly 500 German children who had heart surgery (and transfusions) well before the Hepatitis C virus was known. Only 14% of these patients contracted the virus, and in the space of 20 years half of these children had a complete recovery, with a total disappearance of the virus from their bodies. Only 3% of the remaining patients had a rise in transaminases.
If we add up the numbers, we find that out of 70 infected subjects only 1 (I repeat 1 out of 70) had a persistent increase in the transaminases. On the other hand, 50% of the infected adults didn't contract the disease and will not be infected with it.
In the remaining 50% there could be an increase in transaminases and, in some of these persons, with a percentage that depends on the intake of alcohol, age, and interference of other illnesses (like hepatitis B), there could be a gradual transformation towards cirrhosis.
Compared to the various studies and the various researchers, this percentage ranges from 6% to 20%, and the most frequent form of cirrhosis that develops in Italy is bland and therefore can be effectively cured. The transformation into a liver tumor is linked to heredity, alcohol consumption and lifestyle.
Let's check the figures again
So, of the 1000 persons in Italy who are infected, 500 will recover completely, 470 will have high levels of aminases during their lifetime without further deterioration of their condition and 30 persons will have an evolution towards cirrhosis. Some of these 30 persons may develop a liver tumor.
Nevertheless, this considerable number of people should not be underestimated (since around 2 million Italians seem to have had contact with the virus) and the research that is conducted is well justified.
But we can't allow a reasonable concern for a public health problem to transform awareness into fear
We know that liver damage depends on two factors: the first is linked to the toxic action of the virus, and the second depends on the activation of the immune system , that indirectly produces an inflammation that also damages the liver.
There are precautions that must be taken that are much more important than the latest drug proposed by the pharmaceutical industry. It's not just a virus problem!
Reduction of inflammation and restriction of toxicity in the diet
All dietary measures that can help avoid the activation of the immune system and the resulting inflammation are crucial.
There must be a correct intake of vitamins and minerals, live and vital substances such as fresh fruit and vegetables must be consumed and any possible food intolerances must be identified. Most of all, one must eliminate those substances that have a toxic effect on the liver such as alcohol, mushrooms and colorings and preservatives that are often excessively present in today's diet.
What's more, if I were infected with the virus, I would engage in a healthy daily program of aerobic fitness (running, swimming, cycling) and I would respect my need for sleep.
These are two effective and important means by which to re-balance the immune system and avoid the devastating chronic inflammatory stimulus on the liver.< /p>
Simple instruments for monitoring the situation
Many scientific studies point out that even the reading of a patient's tansaminases can be a very valid means of avoiding the systematic and repetitive recourse to a liver biopsy.
Today we know that if the ALT are higher than the AST (or, as they used to be defined, the GPT are higher that the GOT) and if these values remain stable, the liver does not have a tendency towards cirrhosis.
If the opposite case exists, this possibility is more frequent and a more detailed medical, clinical and dietary examination is necessary.
So let's go ahead and spread knowledge in order to help those who suffer to cure themselves properly and to prevent those who are " infected" from doing the wrong things, but let's not make the people believe that contact with the virus is the real problem.
For thousands of years we have encountered viruses and our immune system, if well-nourished, is often able to deal with them much more effectively than drugs.
Doctor Attilio Speciani
Clinical Allergist and Immunologist
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