There’s no doubt about it, your risk of illness goes up as you age¹. But many older adults already have a serious disease. It’s hepatitis C – and you can learn about this health condition with an online search. Rates of hepatitis C have been increasing in the elderly population. At least 75 percent of the adults who have the virus were born between 1945 and 1965².
Seniors need to know their risk of hepatitis C, and it’s easy to find out whether you’re at risk with an online search.
What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a virus that attacks the liver. It’s transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. While some people who engaged in risky activities, such as sharing needles, may know that they’re at a higher risk of having the disease, many seniors have no idea that they could be living with the illness.
It’s not clear why baby boomers have high rates of hepatitis C. Incidences of the virus peaked between the 1960s and 1980s. During that time, screenings for the disease were not as prevalent as they are now. Therefore, patients who received blood transfusions or underwent other medical treatments may have been infected without knowing.
Because hepatitis C produces chronic inflammation, it exacerbates the age-related illnesses for which older folks are already at risk. Research indicates that people with long-term HCV have a higher risk of:
- Liver cancers;
- Bile duct cancer;
- Anal cancer;
- Pancreatic cancer;
- Nonmelanoma nonepithelial skin cancer;
- Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma;
- Diabetes;
- Kidney disease;
- Cardiovascular disease, and;
- Neuropsychological and neurocognitive impairment.3
Early Signs and Symptoms
Hepatitis C doesn’t always produce symptoms. In many cases, the virus clears up on its own. However, most people who contract the illness develop a long-term form of the disease.
But they don’t always have symptoms. In fact, the virus can lay dormant in the body for years.
If you do develop early symptoms, you may feel like you have the flu. The following symptoms are likely to appear from two weeks to six months after infection:
- Fatigue;
- Sore muscles;
- Joint pain;
- Fever;
- Digestive distress;
- Itchy skin;
- Dark yellow or brownish urine, and;
- Jaundice.4
Seniors infected years ago may not remember coming down with these symptoms. But most people who had an acute version of the illness develop the chronic type of hepatitis C. Still, they may not have symptoms for decades.
Eventually, hepatitis C can lead to liver damage, including cirrhosis. This process can take up to 30 years. Over time, people with cirrhosis may experience:
- Tiredness;
- Weight loss;
- Abdominal pain and nausea;
- Extreme itching;
- Severe jaundice;
- Brain fog, and;
- Fluid in the abdomen.
Some of these symptoms are already associated with aging. For example, older adults often experience tiredness, weight loss, and difficulty thinking. Up to 30 percent of people with hepatitis C have a co-occurring mental illness.5
People may think that they’re just feeling poorly because they’re getting older. The more severe symptoms can indicate that a patient’s liver is already failing, however.
The most accurate way to know if you have hepatitis C is to undergo screening. An antibody test can tell you if you have ever been infected with the virus. A negative test result indicates that you have not been exposed to the hepatitis C. If you believe that you may have been exposed recently, however, you might want to be tested again later.
A positive test result tells you that you were subjected to the virus at some point in your life. It doesn’t necessarily indicate that you have the virus now. Antibodies will remain in your system even if the virus has cleared. Someone who receives a positive result should have further testing to determine whether they’re currently infected.
Liver enzyme tests can identify a current hepatitis C infection. Because these screenings aren’t standard, patients born between 1945 and 1965 may want to request a screening even if they feel fine.
How is Hepatitis C Treated?
Seniors who contracted the disease decades ago have been living with it for a while. Many also suffer from other chronic disorders.6 Therefore, treatment should address the comorbidities instead of the singular disease.
Experts used to think that cirrhosis couldn’t be reversed. They’ve learned that treating the disease that led to the liver damage can reduce the scarring that’s caused by cirrhosis.
Advancements in treatment have dramatically improved in recent times. Medications can put the disease in remission. Some can also reverse the liver damage that the virus caused.
Lifestyle changes may also improve the quality of life and prevent further liver damage. People with hepatitis C should avoid drinking alcohol, consume a wide range of nutrients from fresh fruits and vegetables and make sure that they get enough iron and protein in their diets.
Avoiding fat and sugar can improve liver health. Regular exercise can help people with the virus maintain a healthy weight, which is important for maintaining optimal liver function.7
Conclusion
If you’re part of the baby boomer generation, you might be surprised to learn that you could have hepatitis C.
Even if you don’t have risk factors or think that you have been exposed to the virus, it’s important to get tested. You could add years to your life and avoid being saddled with symptoms that detract from feeling great in your golden years.
