Having a long-term health condition can feel stressful and overwhelming. But there are things you can do to take care of yourself and protect your household and sexual contacts so that you can live a full, meaningful life and do the things that are important to you.

Taking care of yourself

Not everyone with chronic hepatitis B needs a​ntiviral medicines. People with chronic hepatitis B can live long and active lives by taking good care of themselves and having regular appointments to watch for liver issues.

Keeping your liver as healthy as possible is important when managing hepatitis B. When your liver has damage, it has to work harder. This can make you feel weak and get tired more easily. Consider trying the following things to protect your liver and improve your whole-person health:

• Follow Canada’s food guide. Eat whole, unprocessed foods, like fruit, whole grains, fish, lean meats, and vegetables. A type of vegetable called a cruciferous vegetable (including broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage) help protect your liver from chemicals in the environment.
• Talk to your healthcare provider about vitamin D and calcium supplements, because people with liver disease can develop weak bones.
• Limit foods with saturated fats, like fatty meats, butter, ghee, and cheese.
• Limit foods with added sugar, like fruit juices, sodas, and candy.
• Reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, and cut back or quit smoking. Alcohol and smoking are hard on your liver and can cause more liver damage.
• Try to be active every day and get enough sleep. Use the 24-hour movement guidelines for specific recommendations.
• Always check with your healthcare team before taking new medicines, including non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal medicines because many medicines are filtered through the liver.
• Consider healthy ways to manage your stress. Make time for your hobbies like reading, walking, or spending time with loved ones. There are many resources to support your emotional well-being, like talking to your healthcare team or calling the Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642. The Hepatitis B Foundation has online support groups for people living with hepatitis B.

Regular checkups

People with chronic hepatitis B should have regular monitoring, including specialist visits and blood work, to understand the status of their hepatitis B infection and their liver health.

Consistent care is key to your treatment and safety. Skipping or delaying checkups puts you at risk of missing important changes in your liver health. This can delay life-saving interventions. Create reminders about your checkups on your phone or on a calendar. And consider your next regular checkup appointments when you are planning future travel.

Untested or unapproved treatments

You may see advertisements that recommend specific herbal treatments, supplements, and cleansing diets to cure your liver. These treatments are often not tested or approved, so they can do more harm than good. They also don’t repair liver damage. If you have seen an advertisement that you have questions about, talk to your healthcare provider before trying any new products or treatments.

Protecting yourself and others

The best way to prevent spreading hepatitis B to others is to make sure they are immunized against hepatitis B virus. Close contacts of a person living with hepatitis B should get the vaccine series, if they haven’t already gotten it. Learn more about hepatitis B vaccine in Alberta.

Because of the risk of serious illness, if you have hepatitis B, it is also recommended that you get:

• hepatitis A vaccine
• pneumococcal vaccine

Other ways to prevent the spread of hepatitis B:

• Use a condom for sex if your partner is not immunized against hepatitis B.
• Don’t share items that might have small amounts of blood on them, like razors, needles, nail clippers, toothbrushes, earrings, or body jewelry.
• Cover all cuts and open sores.
• Use lotion to help prevent dry, cracked, or broken skin.
• Take extra care when cleaning blood spills and disposing of items with blood on them, like menstrual products and tissues.

Teaching others about hepatitis B

You are not alone in this journey. Around the world, there are 300 million people living with chronic hepatitis B.

You can use your voice to teach others about hepatitis B and clarify misunderstandings and myths. Spread the word and encourage others to get the vaccine for hepatitis B, as this is the best way to prevent hepatitis B infection.

Find resources and services in your community

• 211 Alberta helps people in Alberta find the right resource or service for whatever issue they need help with. 211 is available any time, day or night, by phone (call 211), text, and online chat. It is confidential and available in over 170 languages over the phone.
• The Alberta Healthy Living Program has workshops, classes, and services to improve your health and quality of life.
• The Alberta Health Services Chronic Disease Management program has links and resources to help people living with chronic conditions.