Hepatitis C: Causes, Treatments, and What You Need to Know
When you hear hepatitis C, a viral infection that attacks the liver and can lead to lifelong damage if not treated. Also known as HCV, it’s one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease in adults. Unlike hepatitis A or B, hepatitis C often shows no symptoms for years—by the time people feel sick, the virus has already caused scarring in the liver. It’s not something you catch from food or water. It spreads through blood, mostly from sharing needles, unsterile medical equipment, or, less commonly, from mother to baby during birth.
What makes hepatitis C dangerous isn’t just how quietly it moves through the body—it’s how treatable it’s become. Modern antiviral treatment, direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) that cure over 95% of cases in just 8 to 12 weeks has changed everything. No more interferon shots with brutal side effects. No more waiting years hoping the body clears it on its own. Today, a simple daily pill can wipe out the virus before it turns into cirrhosis or liver cancer. But here’s the catch: you have to know you have it. Most people don’t.
That’s why testing matters. If you were born between 1945 and 1965, got a blood transfusion before 1992, or ever used injected drugs—even once—getting tested is critical. Even if you feel fine. Even if you’ve never had a needle near your skin. The virus can hide in your liver for decades. And while treatment is highly effective, liver damage, including fibrosis and cirrhosis, can still progress even after the virus is gone. That’s why follow-up care and monitoring are part of the process.
The posts below cover real-world issues people face with hepatitis C—from how it interacts with other conditions like diabetes and kidney disease, to what happens when you’re on multiple medications, how to avoid liver stress from NSAIDs or statins, and how to stay safe if you’re also managing other chronic illnesses. You’ll find practical advice on treatment timing, drug interactions, and how to protect your liver while living with this virus. This isn’t theory. These are the questions people ask after they’ve been diagnosed—and the answers that actually help.
- By Percival Harrington
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- 27 Nov 2025
Hepatitis B and C: How They Spread, How to Test for Them, and What’s New in Treatment
Hepatitis B and C spread through blood and bodily fluids, but only hepatitis B has a vaccine. Testing is simple, treatment for hepatitis C is now curable, and new therapies for hepatitis B are on the horizon. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself and others.