A diagnosis of hepatitis can be overwhelming—the worry over effects on health, well-being, work, relationships, and life in general, can be all-consuming. But with successful cures available for hepatitis C, and effective management of hepatitis B, life can still be lived well. The following resources have reliable information about how to manage symptoms, maintain relationships, keep physically and mentally well—and who you do, or don’t, have to tell about your hepatitis status. Contact us at if you would like assistance in accessing these, or any other, resources.
Life relationships and hepatitis B
Hepatitis SA, Adelaide, 2023. 2p.
Practical advice woven through a personal account of someone seeking information about how to manage a diagnosis of hepatitis B in the family: whether to tell other family members, how it would affect relationships, how it might be transmitted to other family members, and how to find a hep B friendly doctor who would speak the same language.
Disclosure
Hepatitis NSW, Sydney, 2023. 3p. factsheet
A useful factsheet that covers: who do/don’t you have to tell if you’ve been diagnosed with hep C or B (and the legal implications): when should I tell someone that I have hepatitis? What should I say? And some possible outcomes of disclosing this information.
Hep B Winners – B형 간염과 살아가
The purpose of this chat group for Korean speakers is to share useful information, and to encourage each other with lifelong monitoring to manage hep B. Members currently include Hepatitis NSW’s Lived Experience Speakers and the winners of Hep B Writing Competition. Discussions have so far included pregnancy and hep B, and how to get liver clinic services without extra cost.
Nutrition in advanced liver disease for weight management
Queensland Health, Brisbane, 2022. 7p
Suggestions for people with chronic liver disease, in particular advanced liver disease (cirrhosis), who may be overweight and have been advised to lose weight or prevent weight gain. It includes advice about how to maintain muscle mass, exercise, keeping up with constant protein intake, lowering salt intake and general meal planning hints.
Exercise for healthy livers
Hepatitis SA, Adelaide, 2022 (rev). 3-fold brochure
Information about why exercise is important, how it helps, what types of exercise are useful, how to set goals and stay motivated. Read only online (important note: ad blocking apps may need to be turned off to view complete ISSUU resources). Free printed copies are available: email .
Can pickle juice reduce cirrhotic muscle cramping
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 2022. 3p article review.
Compared to other cirrhosis-related symptoms muscle cramps can have the highest impact on daily quality of life. Liver experts found that the acid in pickle brine triggers nerves in the back of the throat, which turns the cramp off.
Nutrition in advanced liver disease
Queensland Health, Brisbane, 2021. 6p
For people with chronic liver disease, in particular advanced liver disease (cirrhosis), who are losing weight without trying. It contains information on how diet can help you manage this condition: how to increase protein and lower salt intake, how to manage fluid intake and fluid build-up in the body. With suggested meal and snack plans.
How chronic stress changes the brain: and what you can do to reverse the damage
The Conversation, Melbourne & Sydney, 2020. 4p
This article outlines some of the health and mental health impacts of repeated stress: the effects on motivation, mental ability, sleep patterns and physical health (including diabetes). It includes evidence based information about managing stress to achieve physical and mental well-being.
Healthy Eating blog post
Hepatitis SA, Adelaide, 2019. Blog post series
These blog posts cover a variety of topics relating to managing a liver-friendly diet including: whether ‘detoxing’ is useful, eating low salt when you don’t cook, low-salt eating at times of celebrations, how to track your sodium intake, how to have a no-salt diet or a low-salt diet, and how to make food preparation easier.
