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Prevention and awareness are key essentials in maintaining our physical bodies. Many resources may be found here including: statistics, demographics, and basic health regulations to assist you in a lifelong journey of whole health focusing on the first component of wholeness, the body. The health and faith resources found on this site combined can bring balance between our body, soul (mind, will and emotions) and spirit. Learn more about the continuum of care in whole health while increasing your faith, utilizing wisdom, and bringing wholeness to your overall being, body, soul and spirit.
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Wondering how you can be more health conscious and are unsure where to start? You can check the National Health Observances calendar and see how you and your congregation celebrate health and honor those you love by making them aware of resources and agencies that provide support and materials to help you succeed!
Focus on health observances throughout the year.
Timely Topics:
Here's how to fight the "flu"...
Use this guide to discover the most common causes of the most common symptoms for your illnesses...
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Hepatitis
Description: The main causes of hepatitis are a group of viruses called Hepatitis A, B, and C, which infect the liver. Although these are all forms of hepatitis, they are widely different disease with different modes of transmission and courses. Hepatitis A is an acute-onset illness acquired by ingesting contaminated material usually by hand to mouth or by eating food contaminated by the virus. Hepatitis B occurs from contact with an affected person’s blood, as can happen when drug addicts share needles. Health care workers are at risk for catching this form of hepatitis because they come in contact with patient’s blood. Hepatitis C is contracted mainly by receiving a contaminated blood transfusion or by IV drug use. Hepatitis B and C do not have acute onset but develop as weakness, loss of appetite and jaundice. Hepatitis C is totally silent, gradually destroying the liver without symptoms.
Incidence: Common; can be acute or chronic
Prevalence: Males more than females; different age groups depending on the type
Signs and symptoms:
- Fever
- Nausea
- Anorexia
- Jaundice
- Fatigue
- Dark urine
- Abdominal pain
Risk factors:
- Health care workers and IV drug users are at risk
- Needle sticks with contaminated needles
- Transfusions with contaminated blood
- Sexual relations with an infected person
- Dialysis
Usual treatment:
- Medication
- Lifestyle changes (proper diet; good hygiene; safe sex; proper needle disposal)
- Sometimes surgery (liver transplant)
Usual course: Hepatitis A begins like other viral illnesses with aches and pains, followed by vomiting and jaundice. Recovery usually leaves no lasting liver injury and is often complete within two to three weeks. Hepatitis B has more gradual onset, but lets its presence be known by loss of appetite, weakness, and jaundice. After a few weeks or a few months many patients with Hepatitis B recover. However, some patients develop chronic that continues gradually destroying the liver, leading to liver failure and death. Hepatitis C is usually totally silent. Diagnosis is made by blood test for Hepatitis C. The disease sometimes becomes inactive but generally leads to destruction of the liver and death. Cancer of the liver is much more common in patients with chronic Hepatitis B & C.
Spiritual considerations: This diagnosis carries some fear and stigma, since some of the causes are related to alternative lifestyles which may not be acceptable in certain faith communities. Provide understanding for each person, and education for congregation members.
Promote hope that the disease will be treatable.
Prayer and positive thinking may be helpful.
Suggested scriptures: Psalms 100; Psalms 103:2-5
Resources:
www.cdc.gov/ncidoc/disease/hepatitis/a/index.htm
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Faith, hope, and love coupled with wisdom assists the believer in achieving health harmony in the soul (mind, will, and emotions) and spirit. Strengthen your inner man's soul and spirit by the associated articles, resources, and inspiration in our faith section. May the Lord prosper you with whole health. Learn more about the continuum of care in whole health while increasing your faith, utilizing wisdom, and bringing wholeness to your overall being, body, soul and spirit.
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We welcome collaboration with any professional health care agencies, as well as, church leaders. Also, if you are interested in linking, contributing or assisting Congregational Health ReSource with content, please contact us.
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