Don't let these common myths stop you from getting the most out of your life and relationships!
You may get hepatitis A from food prepared by someone with the disease but only if he/she was unhygienic, i.e. didn’t wash their hands properly with soap after toileting and before food preparation.
Hepatitis B and C are not transmitted by casual contact.
While it is best to abstain from alcohol if your liver is damaged, people with hepatitis can still drink alcohol in limited quantities, depending on the state of their liver health.
The amount of alcohol your liver can handle depends on the degree of damage it has suffered from the hepatitis. However it is recommended that you limit the amount you drink even if your liver is not damaged.
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are not transmitted via saliva. Hepaittis B is transmitted through blood to bloodstream contact and sexual contact. Hepatitis C is transmitted only through blood to bloodstream contact.
Although the hepatitis B virus is found in saliva the amount is not enough for it to be a transmission route. However, hepatitis B and C may be transmitted through kissing if there is blood present.
Hepatitis C is transmitted only by blood-to-bloodstream contact. Hepatitis B is transmitted by blood and sexual fluids. Neither is transmitted by sharing toilets.
Hepatitis A is transmitted via faecal-oral route but unless you plan on licking the toilet seat, or don’t wash your hands after toileting and before handling food, it is unlikely that you will get hepatitis A from sharing toilet seats.
Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are not transmitted through sweat. So go ahead and enjoy your workout.
However, it is wise to be blood safe at the gym and not share articles which might have come into contact with blood, such as boxing gloves.
