The Caring Ambassadors Program uses a unique approach in our work to address the elimination of viral hepatitis and specifically hepatitis C.
Our three main methods to combat hepatitis C are to Empower patients and providers to increase their knowledge of hepatitis C to improve access a cure; to Educate systems and communities on how to integrate viral hepatitis services into existing programming; and to Advocate on behalf of patients and communities to create sound policy, funding and messaging. We are honored to serve the community to help eliminate the largest infectious disease outbreak of our time; we promise to be BOLD in our approach to creating paths to health and making hepatitis C history.
The CDC updated the adult hepatitis B vaccination recommendations!
On Monday, May 23, 2-3:30pm EST the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP) will host a webinar on the federal implementation of these new guidelines. As part of the Viral Hepatitis National Strategic Plan, federal partners are working together to increase hepatitis B vaccination uptake in the United States. OIDP will be joined by a panel of federal leadership from across HHS to discuss how each agency plans to employ the new recommendations and encourage vaccination uptake.
The time is now. 71 million people worldwide are living with chronic Hepatitis C right now. It is the largest chronic infectious disease outbreak of our time…and it’s curable. Talk to your doctor about treatment for your Hepatitis C, and don’t take no for an answer.
MY CHOICES© is a tool to help you recognize and act upon what you can control in your health care journey to achieve optimal healing, regardless of the illness you face. It contains elements of a guide book, health planner, journal, and activity book to help orient you to and plan for the journey ahead.
Weekly News Update.
Caring Ambassadors Program provides 3 weekly news updates covering Lung Cancer News, Hepatitis C News, and My Choices© Update. Receive them delivered weekly to your inbox.
Weekly News Update
Hepatitis C News
Week Ending May 16, 2022
Gaps in Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B Vaccination Among Hepatitis C Antibody-Positive Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
“Vaccination for both hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis B (HBV) is recommended in hepatitis C infection (HCV). Among HCV antibody-positive persons experiencing homelessness, we identified high rates of HAV (34%) and HBV vaccine (35%) eligibility, highlighting critical gaps in HCV preventative services. Following education, 54% and 72% underwent HAV and HBV vaccination, respectively.”
Closing Racial Gaps in Hepatitis C Screening and Treatment
“Hepatitis C is an inflammatory liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It’s passed via contact with blood from someone who already carries the virus. While hepatitis C is contagious and may not present any symptoms, it’s often treatable. Screening can identify the presence of HCV and can lead to life-saving treatment.”
CDC Gives New Information About Mysterious Hepatitis Cases in Children
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are continuing to investigate a mysterious outbreak of hepatitis in young children that has taken five lives so far in the U.S. The agency said in a recent telebriefing that they’re looking at 109 cases across 24 states and Puerto Rico. The U.K. Health Security Agency has reported at least 169 cases as of May 3.”
Missouri launching statewide effort to eliminate hepatitis C
“Missouri is kicking off a statewide effort to eliminate the most common blood-borne infection —hepatitis C. Hepatitis C is a viral infection that, left untreated, can lead to liver disease and cancer. According to CDC estimates, 2.4 million people in the U.S. are living with hepatitis C, and half of them may not know they’re infected.”
DOJ Complaint Flags HCV Drug Denials for People With Addiction
“A complaint filed with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that Alabama’s Medicaid program is illegally denying curative drug treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to people with substance use disorder.”
5 Science-Backed Self-Care Tips for People with Hepatitis C
“Hepatitis C (hep C) can be a scary diagnosis at first, especially if you don’t know much about it. If you’re living with hep C, an infection impacting the liver that develops from the hepatitis C virus (HCV), there are treatment options and lots of ways to take care of yourself.”
Getting Social Support for Your Hepatitis C and Substance Use Disorder Recovery
“Society may often stigmatize hepatitis C infections from the hepatitis C virus because of the context of drug misuse and addiction that links them. This can place a lot of emotional stress on people living with hepatitis C and a substance use disorder.”
My Choices© Update
Week Ending May 16, 2022
How Nutrigenomics May Impact the Way You Eat
“Choosing what to eat and the steps you need take to achieve your health goals can be overwhelming. With so many diets out there and numerous experts who all have different opinions, how can you determine what’ll work for you? Nutrigenomics provides some clarity.”
6 Natural Antihistamines to Help With Allergies
“Antihistamines treat seasonal allergies, also known as hay fever. A lot of people take antihistamine medications, but some natural antihistamines are available, as well.”
Is Acupuncture Any Help for Depression?
“Acupuncture is what’s known as a complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapy that involves inserting thin needles into the skin at specific points on the body to stimulate the central nervous system.”
5 Ways To Make Your Nighttime Routine More Meaningful
“No matter your work schedule, you probably know how difficult it can be to maximize the remaining hours of the day. After you’ve done all of the necessary tasks like making dinner, picking up the house, or maybe getting in some evening movement, you’re left with little time to yourself. Yes, you could spend that time scrolling on your phone or watching television (and sometimes that’s exactly what we need), but other times you may crave something a bit more meaningful. “
Being Unable to Afford Healthy Food Can Raise Diabetes Risk
“Young adults who struggle to afford food face an increased risk of diabetes later in life, possibly due to the long-term effects of eating cheaper, less nutritious food.”
It’s Time to Reframe Chronic Pain
“Persistent headaches and back pain. Achy bones, especially feet and hands. Gnawing, cramping guts. Whole-body soreness. So many people live with various flavors of chronic pain, and often go months or years without finding relief.”
Alternative medical care still has its place. Here is why
“While Ayurveda can have positive effects when used as a complementary therapy in combination with standard, conventional medical care, it should not replace the latter, especially when treating serious conditions”
How To Harness The Power Of Your Dreams, From A Psychologist
“Every night when you sleep and dream, you’re gifted the opportunity to deepen your connection to your own psyche and the spirit world. I (and many cultures through time) believe that spirit speaks to us when we sleep, and if we listen closely enough, we’re guided in what action to take in our waking lives.”
A Harvard nutritionist and brain expert avoids these 5 types of foods that can make you ‘tired and stressed’
“While many conscientious eaters think constantly about the food we’re eating — how it will affect our hearts, the environment and most of all, our waistlines — we rarely think about its impact on our brains, mood and energy levels.”
Can meditation and mindfulness exercises reduce stress?
“Meditation is known to reduce blood pressure as well as symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, according to studies evaluated by the National Institutes of Health. It may also ease symptoms of anxiety and depression and may help people with insomnia.”
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Hepatitis Awareness Month
hep·a·ti·tis
noun
a disease characterized by inflammation of the liver.
Hepatitis C kills more Americans than HIV. Hepatitis C is a fully curable and preventation virus that causes liver inflammation that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer if left untreated. 2.4 million Americans are infected with the hepatitis C virus. About 1 million of those Americans have no idea. About 45% of those infected with the virus have no idea they are slowly dying.
Newsweek, April 22, 2002
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is not a new problem. The virus was identified in 1989, and the first interferon treatment was released in 1991, and direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) targeting HCV began in 2011. DAAs allow people to be cured of HCV with less side effects and less time that the first treatments. There is a cure. No one else needs to die.
Congress has refused to fund the elimination of the hepatitis C virus for deacdes. Congress has allocated only 10% of the needed money to eliminate hepatitis and save millions of Americans. Hepatitis will not wait, why is Congress?
Call Congress today and tell them to fund hepatitis elimination after years of inaction. 202-224-3121
Get Tested. Get Cured.
National Nutrition Month
We have all heard it before,
“You are what you eat.”
Nourishing your body through any journey is essential. According to the CDC, fewer than 1 in 10 American adults and adolescents eat enough fruit and vegetables. An unhealthy diet can lead to increased chances of some cancers and type 2 diabetes.
Many illnesses can affect the way the body is able to process nutrients. Even some treatments have side effects that influence the bodies ability to use the fuel foods provide. Fueling your body correctly can actually help treatments be more effective.
Knowing the current dietary guidelines can help you make healthier decisions on your journey.
It’s not only about how much you eat, but what you eat plays a significant role in your wellness. There are many ways that you can approach improving your diet. You can learn more about nutrition and how to make changes in the Nutrition section of in MY CHOICES: A Planner of Healing.
“No disease that can be treated by diet should be treated with any other means.”
— Maimonides
Learning new habits is never an easy feat. Michael Pollan, a respected journalist, writer and professor offers a simple and effective recommendation,
“Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.”
Sounds easy enough, right? We put together a list of his 7 rules for eating well to help you create your new eating habits. Great for hanging on the fridge for a daily reminder.
Cancer Prevention Month
DID YOU KNOW?!
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- The liver is a complex organ that is involved in over 500 body functions!
- A human body cannot survive more than 24 hours without a liver.
- The liver helps detoxify blood, creating vital substances like proteins, and processing nearly every class of nutrient.
Your liver and cancer
Hepatitis C is the most common blood born viral infection in the US. An estimated 325 million people have viral hepatitis, globally. In left untreated, hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer.
There is a cure for hepatitis C, and it is detected by a simple blood test. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.
Have you or someone you know been diagnosed with hepatitis C?
Conversations with health care professionals can be intimidating. Keeping track of what you need to ask and the answers to your questions can be overwhelming. Hep C Discussion Point was created to aid in this part of the process. This completely free and confidential tool is built for starting and continuing conversations about treating hepatitis C.
For additional information about promoting overall health, check out MY CHOICES: A Planner for Healing©
Get Tested. Get Cured
Hepatitis C, or hepatitis C virus (HCV) should not be a mystery. Hepatitis C is the most common, chronic blood-borne viral infection in the United States. Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. The liver acts as a filter for blood, processes nutrients and fights infections. It is an important organ to help your body maintain wellness. You can learn more about hepatitis C symptoms here.
To see if there has been been exposed to HCV, there is a simple blood test. There are many ways that one could have been exposed to HCV. Learn about hepatitis C transmission here.
Unlike many chronic viruses, hepatitis C is curable with antiviral treatment.
Challenge yourself in 2022 to know your HCV status.
Get Tested. Get Cured.
Talk to your doctor about hepatitis C. We understand that starting that conversation can be hard.
Click here to visit Hep C Discussion Point, a tool designed to help you choose topics to discuss with your health care team.
Join the World Hepatitis Day Movement!
We can’t wait for the pandemic to end to get hepatitis elimination back on track!
CDC Releases 2019 Hepatitis Numbers – We are on the wrong road to elimination!
Today, CDC published online the 2019 Viral Hepatitis Surveillance Report for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. This report now includes demographic characteristics of persons with chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, urbanicity, and US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regions.
