Millions of Americans are walking around with hepatitis C and don’t know it. It’s called a “silent epidemic” because people can be infected for decades and have no idea. In fact, 70% or more of people who contract the infection don’t have any signs or symptoms. And those who do, have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, or nausea that could be almost any problem.

If you’re between the ages of 54 and 74 you’re five times more likely than people older or younger to have hepatitis C. There are two things you need to do if you’re at risk for hepatitis C:

1. Ask your doctor to test you or pick up an FDA-approved test at your pharmacy and do the test at home

2. Download your copy of Conquering Hepatitis C: A curable cause of liver disease — a new guide from Harvard Medical School experts

This straightforward, easy-to-understand report brings you the facts you need to know to prevent, treat, and even cure hepatitis C. You’ll discover:

• The main role your liver plays in your body. When you eat, drink alcohol, or even take medications you take in toxins that end up in the bloodstream. Your liver’s job is to breakdown the toxins so they can be removed from your body. All told, your liver performs about 500 key functions—so it’s very important to make sure your liver is healthy.
• The difference between acute and chronic infections. Acute hepatitis C can be a mild illness that lasts up to six months after being exposed. For as many as 25 percent of people, the body will rid itself of the virus during this time. If the infection lasts for more than six months, it is considered to be hepatitis C. And hepatitis C is likely to turn into a chronic infection simply because it is able to fly under the radar of your body’s immune system. 
• Why all baby boomers should be tested for hepatitis C. Hepatitis C wasn’t discovered until 1989 and donated blood wasn’t screened for the disease until 1992. People born between 1945 and 1965 likely contracted the disease at some point between the 1960s and the 1980s when infection control measures weren’t as tight as they are today. Because hepatitis C usually produces no symptoms it is important to be tested to see if you have the disease so you can get treatment before liver damage occurs.
• Why some people don’t know they have hepatitis C until they have liver damage. Up to 20 percent of people with chronic hepatitis will develop cirrhosis, which is a scarring of the liver that makes it harder and harder for the liver to function. In the initial stage of cirrhosis, there are typically enough healthy cells that the liver can still do its job. But as the disease advances, more scarring occurs, causing a loss of liver function, which can lead to jaundice, swollen blood vessels, fluid buildup in the belly and more. By getting tested now, you may be able to avoid liver problems.
• 4 conditions you’ll need to be tested for if you have chronic hepatitis C. If your doctor determines you have hepatitis C, you’ll need a physical exam and blood tests to determine your liver function. In addition, you should also be tested for: Chronic hepatitis B, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, cryoglobulinemia (a condition that inhibits blood circulation), and kidney disease. Many of these conditions can speed up scarring and increase your risk of liver cancer.

Whether you have hepatitis C or one of the many risk factors for it, Harvard Medical School’s Conquering Hepatitis C is critical to helping you understand the condition and how it can affect your liver, and the tests and treatments you should consider so you can protect your health.