Hep C Testing in Cape Coral Florida
Free HEP C Testing, Treatment & Prevention Services
Hep C Care - Cape Coral FL
Hep C Testing in Cape Coral, Florida
When You Have an Opioid Use Disorder
Hepatitis C is a virus that targets the liver. Although in rare cases this virus can clear up on its own in the acute phase, most cases need treatment. If you are exposed and fail to be screened, hepatitis C can become a chronic condition that can seriously damage your liver and health. You don’t have to let hepatitis C continue if you have it. You have options.
At LifeLine Health, we screen people for this disease, and if diagnosed, we can prescribe medications that can cure the condition. Without treatment, you are at risk for side effects, some of which can include lifelong issues and life-threatening complications.
Hepatitis C and Drug Use
Injecting opioids and other drugs is the most common way that people become infected with hepatitis C. Sharing needles with someone who is infected with the disease is enough to spread the infection, but you can get it in other ways as well. For example, preparing drugs for injection often requires several types of equipment, including straws, pipes, filters, water, cookers and spoons. If any of these are infected with contaminated blood, the infection can spread quickly.
In 2021, 1,640 women received a diagnosis of hepatitis C. What’s even more disturbing is that 3,321 men received the same diagnosis that year. From 2010 to 2021, the numbers have been steadily increasing, and this is because of the increase in injected opioid drugs. People associated with these statistics are in the age group from 30 to 39, but the second-highest age group is those from 40 to 49 years old.
Other Diseases
Unprotected sex is not the most common way to spread hepatitis C, but it can be a factor, particularly in men who have sex with other men. It may also spread more easily in people who suffer from sexually transmitted infections that cause sores and ulcers, which can make it easier to contract hepatitis C and other infections.
Razors, Scissors or Toothbrushes
Toothbrushes, scissors and razors may contain blood infected with hepatitis C, so someone can become infected by sharing these items.
Rural Communities and Hepatitis C
We are now seeing more hepatitis C infections in rural populations because the opioid epidemic has moved from urban areas to rural areas. Rural hospitals are often underprepared to treat people with opioid use disorders and associated complications. Because of this, many people are continuing to share needles and are at risk of contracting hepatitis C in the process.
Rural areas can also be at a higher risk for hepatitis C epidemics because few people know they have the infection, especially at early stages when they are asymptomatic. They are unaware there is cause for concern and do not seek testing or treatment. According to researchers, 44.4% of rural opioid users share needles and 62.2% share other equipment, putting them at high risk of contracting blood-borne infections like hepatitis C.
Symptoms of Hepatitis C
Acute Hepatitis C
Acute hepatitis C is generally asymptomatic. However, you may experience a few of the earlier symptoms, including:
- Muscle aches
- Fever
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Jaundice
If someone fails to be screened for hepatitis C even though they are experiencing an opioid use disorder, they cannot be diagnosed or treated properly. However, in about 30% of all hepatitis diagnoses, the virus can be cleared of acute hepatitis C infection in what is known as “spontaneous viral clearance.”
Without treatment, however, there is a high risk of developing chronic hepatitis C, which is why after diagnosis, clients are often offered antiviral therapy, which can prevent acute hepatitis from converting to chronic hepatitis C. Antiviral therapy can prevent acute hepatitis C from converting to chronic hepatitis C and can help you avoid the side effects and potential life-altering complications it can bring. If you are an intravenous drug user, hepatitis C testing can help you catch the infection at an early stage and ensure you have access to effective diagnosis and treatment options.
Even if you have had hepatitis C for many years, you might not have symptoms. These symptoms only appear once hepatitis has damaged the liver sufficiently to produce them. Symptoms can include:
- Spider angiomas or spiderlike blood vessels
- Hepatic encephalopathy or slurred speech, drowsiness or confusion
- Weight loss
- Swelling in the legs
- Ascites or fluid buildup in the abdominal area
- Itchy skin
- Dark-colored urine
- Jaundice or yellowing of the skin of those with pale skin; those with darker skin may experience yellowing of the eyes
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Bruising easily
- Bleeding easily
Complications of Chronic Hepatitis C
When hepatitis C becomes chronic, the liver is in a state of ongoing inflammation. This is known as “chronic liver disease.” The inflammation damages the liver over time, causing scarring or fibrosis that prevents the liver from functioning as efficiently as it ordinarily would. This is called “cirrhosis.” At the end of this process, the person will be in chronic liver failure, and the liver will stop working.
Other Complications
Portal Hypertension
The portal vein takes blood from your spleen, pancreas, intestines and stomach to your liver. While there, the liver filters the blood and sends it back to your heart. When something blocks or slows down the blood flow within the portal vein, the blood pressure within the portal vein becomes too high. This is known as “portal hypertension.”
The body sets out to relieve the pressure on the portal vein by sending some of the blood to your other veins. This is more blood than these veins ordinarily receive, so the vessels begin to expand. As a result, the walls of these veins stretch out and become weak, causing fluids to leak into the abdominal area. It can also lead to breakage and bleeding.
Portal hypertension typically occurs after the liver develops cirrhosis. The scar tissue that is created during cirrhosis blocks the blood flow in the portal vein. Portal hypertension can lead to serious consequences, including internal bleeding, and is a common cause of death in this population. This is one critical reason for hepatitis C screening for those at risk of the infection. Early treatment can help you avoid these complications.
Liver Cancer
Liver cancer is another complication of chronic hepatitis C. Like hepatitis C, liver cancer also does not exhibit any early symptoms, but, as with hepatitis C, the condition is more treatable with early diagnosis. The first step is scheduling screening tests at LifeLine Health.
Treatments for Hepatitis C
At LifeLine Health, we have a highly effective treatment plan available for you if we diagnose you with hepatitis C.
Direct-Acting Antivirals or DAAs
If you’re diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C, DAAs will directly fight the virus. It is highly beneficial because it is an extremely targeted treatment. Another advantage is that DAAs do not negatively affect your other bodily systems as much as other treatments. This means that this treatment does not usually cause as many side effects for those taking it.
The positive news is that DAAs have been shown to cure hepatitis C in more than 90% of cases. If you test positive for hepatitis C, an eight-to-12-week course of DAAs may be prescribed to help you clear the infection and restore your health.
Additional Medications
Your physician may prescribe additional DAAs that help fight your hepatitis C infection. They include the following.
Harvoni
The medical community prescribes this medication for the treatment of HCV, or hepatitis C virus genotype 1. A genotype is the particular strain of the virus to which you have been infected.
Mavyret
Doctors prescribes Mavyret for the treatment of all HCV genotypes.
Epclusa
This is a medication prescribed for the treatment of moderate to severe cirrhosis. It can also treat the six genotypes of hepatitis C.
Mental Health – Depression
Approximately 30% of those diagnosed with hepatitis C also received a diagnosis of depression. Along with depression, many people experience anger and anxiety because of a hepatitis C diagnosis, and these conditions can prevent them from seeking help.
The treatment regimen for hepatitis C can be long and complicated, and clients must agree to keep up with their treatments for as long as is necessary. However, those who do not have a support system in place often fail to complete their treatments, but we can help you find the support you need even in challenging times like this.
Online and In-Person Support Groups
Hepatitis C is far from a rare condition, so you will be able to find an online group or an in-person group where you can discuss the problems you are having. Some of these include “The Mighty,” “I Help C” and “Life Beyond Hep C.”
Therapy Sessions
The stigma intimidates many people because others are aware that hepatitis C is the result of an opioid use disorder in many cases. For people with an OUD, there is help, and you do not have to go outside of your home to get it. Telehealth is an option now, so you can get the help you need for a mental health condition without having to leave your home. If you don’t mind leaving your home for traditional therapy sessions, that is always an option as well.
How Do You Prevent Hepatitis C?
There is currently not a vaccine against hepatitis C, but you can prevent it by the following:
- Refusing to share needles and other equipment
- Refraining from engaging in unprotected sexual activity with those infected with hepatitis C.
Help for Your Opioid Use Disorder
When you have an OUD or other substance use disorder, the best way to prevent hepatitis C is to get help. Substance use disorder is a medical condition. The medical community recognizes it as a chronic disease that can be treated, and we have more options than ever before to provide you with the healing you need.
How Do You Treat Opioid Use Disorder?
You have the option of entering a treatment center where you can receive medications to help you overcome your addiction. This is important because stopping opioids can lead to challenging physical and mental withdrawal symptoms. Then, you will have the option to enter into a program that treats your opioid dependency.
Substance use disorders are treated with evidence-based therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy, family behavior therapy and contingency management. When you enter an inpatient treatment program, you will start with medication-assisted treatment, and once you have conquered your physical addiction, you can move on to the treatment of your psychological addiction.
The first step is to contact us at LifeLine Health, and we will test you for hepatitis C and offer you the treatments you need to protect your long-term health. Contact us today.
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Most Asked
Is HIV treatable?
How is HIV transmitted?
HIV is primarily transmitted through certain bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. The most common ways that people become infected with HIV are through:
Unprotected sexual contact: HIV can be transmitted through unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral sex.
Sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs: HIV can be transmitted when needles or other equipment that has been used by an HIV-positive person is reused by someone else.
From mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding: HIV can be transmitted from a mother living with HIV to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
Blood transfusion or organ transplant: HIV can be transmitted through blood transfusions or organ transplants with infected blood or organs.
It’s important to note that HIV is not transmitted through everyday activities like hugging, shaking hands, or sharing utensils.
It’s also worth mentioning that, although the risk of transmitting HIV through oral sex is lower than that of other sexual behaviors, it is still possible to transmit the virus by this way.
I am pregnant and HIV positive. Will my child be born with HIV?
If you are pregnant and living with HIV, it’s important to seek medical care right away. With appropriate medical care and treatment, the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV can be significantly reduced. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the most effective method for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. ART can suppress the virus in the mother’s body, lowering the risk of the virus being passed on to the baby during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant and HIV-positive, you’ll be closely monitored by a team of healthcare professionals, including an obstetrician, an HIV specialist and a pediatrician. They will work together to ensure the best possible care for you and your baby. They may advise you to start the ART treatment or adjust the current regimen during pregnancy. This is necessary to achieve an undetectable viral load, which is critical in minimizing the chance of mother-to-child transmission. It’s also important to know that there is a small chance that your child may still become infected despite all the preventative measures. Therefore it’s important to test the baby for HIV shortly after birth and continue monitoring the baby’s HIV status after delivery. It’s worth noting that mother-to-child transmission of HIV is rare in developed countries due to improved treatment and awareness, as long as the mother is diagnosed and treated early.
Listen To What Our Patients Say…
Cristina Anderson
I am thankful to the nice people at Lifeline Health. I was so scared when I found out I had been exposed. They guided me and made me feel so at ease. I have not had an issues and I know it’s because I went to Lifeline Health first.
Juan Bustamonte
