Tuesday, April 10, 2007

How Your Immune System Can Help Defeat Hepatitis C

With Hepatitis C affecting millions of people in the United States, many people find themselves wondering just how the virus is able to get past the body's immune system and develop into a chronic illness. The immune system is supposed to be the body's line of defense against disease, fighting until the virus or bacteria is diminished. So how does the immune system succumb to the Hepatitis C virus so easily? Scientific research has uncovered the virus' ability to change its form when confronted by immune cells, thus being able to sneak past and establish itself in the body. At this point, chronic liver disease is imminent.

The Hepatitis C virus is smart and knows exactly how to maneuver its way past the immune system. Think of it in terms of a battle: the immune system is working hard to defend its territory (the body), which the HCV is trying to invade. Part of the virus is keeping the immune system occupied, while another part gets through, settling in the body. The immune systems of some people may be strong and healthy enough to keep the virus at bay. For others, their immune systems simply are no match for HCV, offering minimal protection against the disease.

This may sound like a no-win situation, but the more we learn about the evolution of the virus, the closer we are to finding a vaccine or a cure for it. As research continues, there are some simple behaviors you can adopt to help strengthen your immune system. Getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, and avoiding alcohol and any other toxic substances that pose a threat to the health of your liver, are all ways to help prevent liver disease from progressing into a chronic illness.

Now that researchers have been able to pinpoint exactly how the Hepatitis C virus escapes the immune system, there is increased hope for its defeat. www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2007/03/post_2.html to read this article in its entirety and learn more about how HCV is able to distract the immune system long enough for it to turn into a chronic disease, and what preventive steps you can take to stop this from happening.

About the author :

By Nicole Cutler This article was prepared for Hepatitis-Central.com. Visit us to learn more about liver health.

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