Hepatitis C is a bloodborne virus that causes inflammation of the liver. More than3百万people are living with hepatitis C in the United States.
Since many people may not have symptoms or don’t know if they have hepatitis C, their status is often not diagnosed or reported.
如今，丙型肝炎通常通过共享针头或其他设备注入药物来传播。
这些只是未经治疗的丙型肝炎的严重长期影响：
The area of the body most affected by hepatitis C is the liver. Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease that results when scar tissue begins taking over healthy tissue inside the liver itself.
这种疤痕会减慢血液的流动，并阻止肝脏加工营养和毒素。
肝硬化会对肝脏造成很大的损害，而不会被发现，并且可能导致诸如：
- 皮肤和眼睛的白色（黄疸）泛黄
- 慢性瘀伤和流血
- gallstones
- fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites)
- 腿和脚的疼痛肿胀（水肿）
- 脾脏（脾肿大）的增大
- 人体门户静脉系统中血压的升高（门户高血压）
- poisoning of the brain through the inability to process ammonia in the liver (hepatic encephalopathy)
- 慢性减弱骨密度（骨骼疾病）
许多患有肝硬化的人最终患有肝癌。
When the liver begins producing cells to fight off cirrhosis, some of these new cells can mutate into cancer cells and cause tumors to develop.
问题在于，癌症常常无法发现，直到严重的症状开始使自己知道。
需要注意的一些症状包括：
- 腹部右侧的疼痛或团块
- pain in the back or right shoulder
- 几乎不吃东西后感觉非常饱
- 茶色的尿液
- 苍白的凳子
- 乳房或睾丸的扩大
Treatments for liver cancer range from ablation (destroying the cancerous tissue) to chemotherapy to a liver transplant.
Many people with chronic hepatitis C eventually develop chronic liver disease. If left untreated, this will lead to complete liver failure.
好消息是，可以通过血液检查，CT扫描或肝活检来检测肝衰竭。但是目前对总丙型肝炎相关肝衰竭的唯一治疗方法是肝移植。
Scientists are quickly working to develop new treatments for liver failure, such as:
- 可以完成肝脏失败的工作的人工肝支撑设备不再能做。这使肝脏有时间再生并治愈。一个例子是
体外肝支撑装置（ELSD） ，在试验中取得了成功。 - Hepatocyte transplantation involves the transplantation of a small portion of the liver’s cells. This option leaves the liver intact, allowing cells to help it regenerate.
- 异种移植用动物肝或细胞和组织取代人肝的异种移植可用于加快接受人肝移植的过程。
俄亥俄州南部俄亥俄州南部医学中心胃肠病学高级医学总监Jesse P. Houghton说，与丙型肝炎有关的一些最常见的心理健康问题是疲劳，抑郁和认知受损（尤其是记忆）。
Some of these conditions are directly related to the virus, such as fatigue, and some are also related to the stigma associated with having a chronic condition that is often associated with substance misuse, he says.
One problem in the body often leads to another, which is why hepatitis C can also impact the skin — the body’s largest organ.
霍顿说，未经治疗的丙型肝炎会导致各种各样的皮疹，包括可触及的紫癜，地衣平面，甚至在手指和脚趾上被称为数字溃疡。
People with advanced cirrhosis due to hepatitis C typically have low blood pressure.
霍顿说，这是由于循环一氧化氮的增加，这是血管健康最重要的分子之一，通常由健康的肝脏代谢。
霍顿说，关节和肌肉问题会影响40％至80％的丙型肝炎患者。
关节问题包括类似类风湿关节炎的炎症 - 导致手和膝关节疼痛。
Muscles and joints in other parts of the body can become painful and swollen, as well.
There is some
However, studies attempting to identify a connection between hepatitis C and diabetes or insulin resistance have been mixed, says Houghton.
丙型肝炎具有许多破坏性的长期影响。这就是为什么要接受测试并接受治疗很重要的原因。
If you think you may have hepatitis C or have been recently diagnosed, talk to your doctor so it can be treated early.