I am participating in a VIN campaign for Quest Diagnostics. I am receiving a fee for posting; however, the opinions expressed in this post are my own. I am in no way affiliated with Quest Diagnostics and do not earn a commission or percent of sales.
Did you know that Baby Boomers, those of us born between 1945 and 1965, are 5 times more likely to have Hepatitis C than other generations? I’m a boomer and I had no idea! More than 75% of adults infected with Hepatitis C are baby boomers who don’t even know they are infected. People can live with Hepatitis C for years, decades even before they show any symptoms. No one knows why the rates are so high in boomers but it is assumed most of the cases were contracted in the 1970s and 1980s when HepC rates were the highest.
According to healthcare professionals Hepatits C is primarily contracted through blood contact. It is believed most boomers were infected before there were universal precautions dealing with blood contact and the widespread screening of blood, which began in 1992. Personally, I worked in the medical field in the 1980s so on my next visit, I’m going to ask my doctor about being screened for HepC. The peace of mind or the knowledge of what I need to deal with before symptoms begin to show are worth the effort to be tested.
May is Hepatitis Awareness Month and Quest Diagnostics is launching a campaign to build awareness among baby boomers about the need to be tested for HepC. If you aren’t a boomer yourself, I’m sure you know some boomers. Make sure you share this post with friends and family so that they too will know the importance of being tested.
Hepatitis C is a potentially life threatening liver disease but, if caught in time, it is curable. Liver disease, liver cancer and deaths from Hepatitis C are on the rise and the Centers for Disease Control is urging all boomers to undergo a simple blood test to screen for the disease. Please, Ask your doctor about getting tested for HepC at your next visit.
Ignorance isn’t always bliss. If you happen to be caring a currently symptom-free life threatening disease, knowledge is definitely power. HepC can be treated and even cured if it is diagnosed soon enough. I urge my fellow boomers to get tested, we get enough blood work done already, what’s one more test; especially of that test could save your life?
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Vibrant Nation. The opinions and text are all mine.
