Liver recovery after hepatitis C

It is known that in 80% of cases, viral hepatitis C from an acute form flows into a chronic one. The disease causes severe complications such as cirrhosis and liver cancer. To prevent negative consequences, it is necessary to follow the regimen and recommendations of the doctor regarding nutrition and activity, as well as take medications for prevention. It is important to restore the liver after hepatitis C in accordance with all the rules in order to avoid a relapse.

Basic recommendations during the recovery period

The difficulty in the treatment of hepatitis C is that the virus is constantly changing, mutating. Fortunately, with timely seeking medical help, the likelihood of a cure is quite high. But it is equally important to properly organize the recovery period. Recovery usually takes a long time. To speed up the process, experts recommend approaching the problem in a comprehensive manner. The patient is prescribed medications, herbal preparations, a special sparing diet and health exercises.

Maintenance therapy is prescribed after a thorough diagnosis. She has three main purposes:

• normalization of enzyme production;
• regeneration of damaged liver cells;
• removal of toxins from the body.

Preparations containing essential phospholipids of plant or animal origin are used, which allow both to restore the liver after hepatitis C and start regeneration processes. At the same time, positive changes will take place much faster. It is important to adjust the diet to avoid the development of gastrointestinal diseases.

The main recommendations in the recovery period are as follows:

1. Patients with hepatitis need to lie more. It is this position that is considered the most physiological for the liver.
2. Under no circumstances should you overwork yourself. For several months, it is forbidden to engage in physical labor, bend over, and engage in physical education. Even housework can lead to a relapse of the disease. The load must be strictly dosed.
3. In the rehabilitation period, you can not lift heavy objects, the weight of which exceeds a couple of kilograms.
4. In summer, in hot weather, you should not go out into the sun. You need to try to be in the shade all the time.
5. It is necessary to minimize the risk of infection - monitor the observance of sterility in the dental and manicure rooms, do not use other people's hygiene items. Since otherwise the liver will experience additional stress. After all, she will need to remove the toxins secreted by the pathogen.
6. For at least six months, you should completely abandon bad habits - smoking and drinking alcohol, including beer.
7. Medications can be taken only as prescribed by a doctor. Most of them are excreted by the liver, which causes an increased load on it. Due to uncontrolled medication, drug-induced hepatitis often develops.

How much the liver recovers after hepatitis C is influenced by many factors - the age and condition of the patient's body, the degree of liver damage. Rehabilitation can take from 6 months to a year.

Nutrition rules after hepatitis C

The liver removes toxic and radioactive substances, toxins and poisons from the body. It also regulates metabolism and is responsible for the production of organic substances - carbohydrates, proteins and fats. One of the main conditions during the recovery period after hepatitis C therapy is the observance of a special diet rich in useful substances. Food products are selected so that they do not overload the liver, are as light as possible and are well absorbed.

How long the liver recovers after hepatitis C is largely affected by the patient's diet, so experts recommend following the following rules:

1. Everything fried, fatty, salty and spicy is excluded from the diet. Such dishes are high in calories, contain harmful substances, are difficult to digest and can unnecessarily load the liver. The best way to prepare meals for hepatitis patients is by steaming. This method of heat treatment allows you to keep intact all the vitamins and minerals. Steamed food does not irritate the gastrointestinal tract.  
2. Small meals are helpful. Your usual portion should be divided into several parts. The frequency of meals also increases. Their number can reach up to 5-6 times a day. It is best to eat at the same time. In order to control the quality and quantity of food eaten, experts recommend that patients start a special diary and write down all meals in it.
3. During this period, it is necessary to increase the consumption of clean, non-carbonated water. Tea, coffee and juices are not suitable due to their carbohydrate content. Drink up to 2 liters of plain water per day.
4. In liver disease, protein synthesis is impaired. Therefore, you should increase its share in the diet. To do this, consume more eggs, various types of meat, fish and dairy products.
5. It is necessary to enrich the diet with vitamins as much as possible. The diet welcomes a large number of fruits, vegetables, berries, herbs. If the rehabilitation period fell on the cold season, when the content of nutrients in the products is reduced, you should purchase a vitamin complex at the pharmacy.
6. It is better to eat green vegetables and limit red and yellow ones such as carrots, red and yellow peppers, tomatoes, pumpkin. They contain a lot of carotene, which puts an additional burden on the diseased organ.
7. It is necessary to reduce the amount or completely abandon the use of chocolate, confectionery sweets, as well as pasta rich in carbohydrates.
8. Especially useful for the liver are cottage cheese in the amount of 200-300 g per day and honey - no more than 100 g per day. It is also necessary to consume more fermented milk products, such as yogurt, kefir, fermented baked milk.
9. You shouldn't eat mushrooms. They may contain toxins that a diseased liver cannot neutralize. For the same reason, limit the use of canned foods.
10. Harmful to the liver are garlic, spices, horseradish, onions, mustard.
11. It is dangerous to consume cold foods and drinks. This can cause spasm of the bile ducts.

The rules listed above are effective for hepatitis and any acute and chronic liver diseases. Proper nutrition will reduce the load on the diseased organ in order to promote its regeneration.

Physical activity

During the period of liver recovery after hepatitis C treatment, as well as during exacerbations of the disease, physical activity should be strictly limited. Sports activities can greatly harm, worsening the patient's condition.

The doctor can make an exception only for people who are overweight. After all, a significant fat layer interferes with the normal functioning of the body. However, aerobic exercise will have to be left until better times. These include running, jumping, swimming, exercise bike and any active sports. Instead, they are allowed to do static gymnastics, such as yoga. Such a light load will help improve the physical condition of the patient and give the muscles tone. In addition to yoga, you can take on board water aerobics, as well as walking in the fresh air at a calm pace.

After a few weeks, the doctor may allow you to complicate the workout. But if the liver is enlarged and there is such a symptom as pain in the right hypochondrium, then active sports are still contraindicated.  

Folk methods of treatment

The doctor may prescribe herbs to restore the liver with hepatitis. They must be taken to cleanse the body and eliminate intoxication.

Viral hepatitis affects not only the liver, but also other organs such as the gallbladder, pancreas, intestines, brain, nervous and immune systems. Herbs have choleretic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and soothing properties. One effective council is the following:

• mint;
• birch leaf;
• coltsfoot.

All herbs are taken in equal parts and brewed according to the recommendations indicated on the package. Use the infusion in a bite with honey for a week. After that, you can drink another collection.

Useful infusion of wild rose. The drink is prepared in the evening. Take 3 tablespoons of rose hips and pour 0.5 liters of boiling water. It is necessary to insist the remedy in a thermos for about 10-12 hours. In the morning, a glass of ready-made infusion is measured and 3 tablespoons of xylitol are added to it. Drink the remedy before breakfast. The rest of the infusion is divided into 2-3 servings and drunk throughout the day without the addition of xylitol.

A medicinal mixture is prepared from the following ingredients:

• juice from 2 lemons;
• apple cider vinegar - 100 ml;
• honey - 0.5 kg;
• olive oil - 0.5 l.

The tool is used three times a day for a tablespoon. Store it in the refrigerator.

Prepare an infusion of milk thistle from its seeds. Raw materials in the amount of 0.5 tablespoons are poured with boiling water and left for 20 minutes. The infusion is filtered and taken three times a day 30 minutes before meals. You can take milk thistle in the form of a crushed dry herb in a teaspoon three times a day.

The following composition is useful:

• chicory;
• St. John's wort;
• calendula.

All components are mixed in equal parts. Then 2 tablespoons of the herbal mixture is poured into 2 cups of cold water and left to infuse overnight. In the morning, the infusion is boiled over low heat for 5 minutes and filtered. The decoction is consumed in small portions throughout the day. The duration of the course of treatment is 2 months. The collection helps to stabilize the patient's condition, eliminate the stagnation of bile and associated pain.

The following recipe allows you to both restore the liver after hepatitis C treatment and consolidate the result of drug therapy:

• field horsetail;
• yarrow;
• rosehip berries.

All ingredients are mixed in equal parts. A tablespoon of the composition is poured with a glass of boiling water, covered and left to infuse for 2-3 hours. Take the remedy 100 ml half an hour before meals three times a day. The course of treatment is 2 weeks. Then follows a monthly break and repeat.

There is an opinion that in the treatment of hepatitis C a positive effect can be achieved with the help of medicinal plants - adaptogens. These include the following:

• eleutherococcus;
• aralia high;
• Leuzea safflower;
• ginseng;
• radiola pink;
• Chinese Lemongrass.

Interferon has a particularly strong antiviral effect against hepatitis C. This substance is produced by the body. Polysaccharides contained in some plants are capable of enhancing its synthesis. They are rich in aloe, arnica, coltsfoot, kalanchoe and plantain.

Reception of all herbal preparations can be started only after prior consultation with a doctor, as some components can cause an increase in bile production. Their uncontrolled intake can provoke a deterioration in the patient's condition.

Medications

Whether the liver recovers after hepatitis C treatment or not will be shown by tests. If the indicators are still not normal, then additional drug therapy will be needed.

The hepatitis C virus destroys liver cells - hepatocytes. As a result, the body cannot perform its main function - to cleanse the body of toxins. To help the body get rid of harmful substances, the specialist prescribes the intake of special drugs. They remove toxins and promote the regeneration of liver tissues.

Preparations from the group of hepatoprotectors help restore liver function. They act in several directions at once:

• relieve inflammation;
• regenerate liver tissue;
• act as antioxidants.

Among the drugs that can restore hepatocyte membranes and strengthen the body's defenses, the following can be distinguished:

1. Phosphogliv is a combined drug, which includes glycyrrhizic acid and phospholipids. The agent relieves inflammation, stabilizes the membranes of liver cells, and has an antiviral effect. Phospholipids are part of cell membranes, so taking the drug helps to restore damaged areas. The components of the product normalize protein and lipid metabolism, which allows you to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood.
2. Karsil, the main component of which is silymarin, restores damaged liver cells and normalizes its main function - the removal of toxins from the body.
3. Heptral is available in tablets and suspensions for injection. The drug includes the active component ademetionine, which is part of all tissues and body fluids. It also has antidepressant and neuroprotective effects. The component activates regeneration processes, metabolism and helps to remove toxins from the body.  
4. Essentiale Forte is available in the form of capsules and solution for injection. It contains essential phospholipids - components of animal origin that stimulate the recovery of hepatocytes. The drug is able to accumulate in the body.
5. Rezalut capsules contain phospholipids. The drug has a regenerating effect on liver cells, restores membranes, inhibits lipid oxidation, and normalizes metabolic processes.

With hepatitis take vitamin complexes. The daily norm of the components contained in them is as follows:

• ascorbic acid - up to 100 mg;
• thiamine and pyridoxine - 2 mg;
• nicotinic acid - up to 20 mg.

It is equally important to start taking antiviral drugs on time, such as:

1. Daclatasvir - consumed with meals 1 time per day at a dose of 60 mg. The tool prevents the development of the virus. It is taken in combination with other drugs against hepatitis C. The course of treatment lasts from 12 to 24 weeks.
2. Sofosbuvir is a new generation drug, the active components of which act on the RNA of the virus, preventing it from developing and forming strains. The drug is taken at a dosage of 400 mg at the same time with meals, 1 tablet per day. The drug may affect the rate of the reaction. You can buy sofosbuvir on the website - sofosbuvir.rus
3. Ribavirin - strengthens the immune system and inhibits the development of pathogenic flora. The drug is taken at 400-600 mg twice a day - in the morning and in the evening. The dosage depends on the weight of the patient. The course of treatment lasts from 24 to 48 weeks.
4. Interferon - stimulates the immune system, accelerates the production of humoral antibodies. The drug is available in ampoules.

Any doubts about whether the liver recovers from hepatitis C will disappear if several drugs are taken at the same time. This will give you the best results. Active components will act on different parts of the RNA of the virus, which will reduce the risk of relapse.

Taking all of the above drugs can only be started after consulting a doctor and under his supervision. Incorrect dosage and ignoring contraindications can cause significant harm to health and cause an exacerbation.

In order for the patient to be able to return to their usual way of life, an integrated approach is needed. But even with all the recommendations, the risk of re-infection remains. Therefore, for preventive purposes, experts recommend taking a blood test every 3-6 months. This will allow you to see how the liver recovers after hepatitis C, to detect the onset of the disease in a timely manner and start treatment.