HAVE YOU BEEN TESTED FOR HEPATITIS C ?

Hepatitis C is called the "Silent Epidemic." Within the next 5 years, the number of people that have this disease will outnumber those with HIV. It isn't that so many new people will get the virus, but that so many more will be aware of the fact that they are walking around with it today. The majority of people with Hepatitis C don't experience any symptoms, and have no idea that their lives may be at stake. Thus the reason why it is so important that everyone be tested. People that are particularly at risk are:

Anyone who had a blood transfusion before 1992 Those in the medical profession People that have used any kind of street drugs Anyone that has had a tattoo or body piercing Those having multiple sex partners

There are many people who spent years bouncing around from doctor to doctor, complaining of fatigue, muscle and joint aches and pain, depression, sleep disturbances, and a variety of other symptoms, only to be told that these symptoms were caused by emotions, or "all in their head". Quite often, when the diagnosis of Hepatitis C is reached, it is a relief. Not that anyone would want to have an illness such as this, but that all of the puzzle pieces finally fall into place, and all the years of knowing that "something is wrong" finally make sense.

Those infected with the Hepatitis C virus face the possibilty of cirrhosis or liver cancer. It is the leading reason for liver transplants in the United States. There is no cure yet for this insidious disease, but there are treatments that attempt keeping the virus under control until a cure is found. It is important to heighten public awareness of this potential epidemic. If you would like to know more about Hepatitis C, please visit the following links, both to learn more about the disease, and to meet some wonderful people who have learned to keep smiling in the face of this monster virus, commonly referred to as "The Dragon".