Hepatitis C (HCV) is a virus that is transmitted by blood only.   The word Hepatitis literally means “inflammation of the liver.”  Hepatitis can be caused by viruses (such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C), or by drugs, medicine, alcohol, toxins, autoimmune disease, and bacteria.  The liver itself performs over 500 bodily functions and when damaged can impact the functioning and health of other organs in the body.  Complications of long term liver disease include:

• Impotence
• Fatigue
• Pressure in spleen & intestines
• Weakened blood vessels in esophagus & stomach
• Fluid accumulation in the abdomen
• Fluid build-up in the feet & ankles
• Toxin-related impaired cognitive function