What is Hepatitis?
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis is also the name for the family of viral infections that affect the liver. The most common types are hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Viral Hepatitis & Your Liver Health
Weighing about three pounds, the liver functions as a unique organ with many crucial roles to sustain life. From circulation to digestion, the liver continuously processes the blood used by the rest of the body. The liver performs over 500 functions to keep us healthy including converting food into substances needed for life and growth, storing glycogen (a blood-sugar regulator), amino acids, protein, and fat. It also makes the enzymes and bile that help digest food and neutralizes harmful toxins and waste.
Types of Hepatitis
If you are actively using drugs, testing for HIV and hepatitis C every three to six months can help keep you and others healthy.