Hepatitis D Treatment (Cont.)

Stay Healthy During Hepatitis D Treatment

Regardless of whether you have acute or chronic hepatitis D, you should take certain steps to stay healthy and avoid hurting your liver -- both as your body is fighting the hepatitis D virus and after hepatitis D treatment has ended. Following are some things you can do to stay healthy:
 
  • Getting enough calories. Many people with hepatitis D -- especially those taking medication -- get nauseous. In order to get enough calories, try eating several small meals throughout the day (instead of three large meals a day). If you feel sick in the morning, try eating some crackers or dry toast before getting out of bed. It may also help to drink lemon water or have a lemon drop.
     
  • Getting plenty of rest.
     
  • Drinking plenty of fluids. You should try to drink at least 10 to 16 glasses a day of water, clear juices, or other drinks that do not have caffeine in them.
     
  • Avoiding medicines that can harm the liver. Talk with your healthcare provider about all of the medicines that you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, as well as vitamins and herbal remedies.
     
  • Avoiding alcohol. Alcohol poisons your liver and can cause even more damage to the cells that are already fighting the hepatitis D virus. The exact amount of alcohol that will harm the liver isn't known. Therefore, it is generally recommended that people with hepatitis D avoid alcohol completely.
     
  • Exercising regularly. Do light-to-moderate exercise for 30 minutes a day. Walking is one example of an activity that can provide light-to-moderate exercise.
     
There are also a number of things that a person with chronic hepatitis D can do to help stay healthy both during and after treatment for hepatitis D. Some of these things include:
 
  • Avoiding unsafe sex
  • Avoiding sharing needles
  • Asking your doctor about tests to check for liver damage
  • Asking your doctor about the hepatitis A vaccine
  • Learning how to protect yourself from other hepatitis viruses.
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD