| St. John's Riverside Hospital is offering a free ongoing support and education
group dedicated to individuals infected or affected by Hepatitis C, on the first
Monday of every month at 7PM.
The Support Group provides a forum where experts can speak about new advances
and current treatments or the Hepatitis C virus. Discussions will include: living with Hepatitis C, homeopathic and natural alternatives, education on transmission and prevention, Insurance and disabilities issues, nutritional advice, counseling and open feedback sessions.
With 4 million people in the US (200 million worldwide) currently infected, as many
as 10,000 people die from complications from Hepatitis C each year. But that number
is about to soar as the millions who are infected but don't know it begin to get sick. Without better therapies, the number of deaths is expected to triple by the year
2015 ---- higher than the current annual death rate for AIDS.
It takes decades for symptoms of disease to appear. Experts say the silent epidemic
of the 70's and 80's, when the then-unrecognized virus was passed undetected
through blood transfusions, are just beginning to show itself.
Hepatitis C can be spread in these ways:
q Blood transfusions before 1992
q Sharing needles for IV drug use
q Jobs with exposure to blood (especially healthcare workers)
q Sharing personal items (toothbrushes, razors, nail clippers)
q Unprotected sex with multiple partners
Testing for Hepatitis C is recommended for anyone who has any of the above risk
factors because a person can show no symptoms for 20 years after infection. The
virus does eventually attack and damage the liver. Hepatitis C may lead to serious
liver disease such as cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer. For more information about
the Support Group or to RSVP please call Linda Bohan at St. John's
at 914-964-7547.
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