Maple Grove/Chaska Patient Handbook 2023 - 66

level of alcohol in your blood very high. So, even if you
don't drink every day, you may put your baby at risk for
fetal alcohol syndrome.
I know drinking is bad for my baby,
but I can't stop. What should I do?
The best thing you can do is quit drinking when you
are still thinking about getting pregnant. If you are
pregnant, quit drinking alcohol and try other beverages,
such as water or fruit juices. It is a good idea to stop
smoking too. Be honest with your doctor. Tell them how
much you are smoking and drinking. Your doctor may
be able to help you stop smoking and drinking before it
hurts your baby.
Is there a cure for fetal alcohol
syndrome?
No, there is no cure. Children with fetal alcohol
syndrome can be helped, though. The treatment
involves giving them good medical and dental care
and eyeglasses and hearing aids if these are needed
and placing them in special school programs. The best
way to treat fetal alcohol syndrome is to keep it from
happening. You can do this by not drinking alcohol
during your pregnancy.
Remember:
* No amount of alcohol is safe in pregnancy.
* Quit drinking as soon as you think you are pregnant.
* If you can't quit drinking, get help quickly.
This information provides a general overview on
alcohol use during pregnancy and may not apply to
everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this
information applies to you and to get more information
on this subject.
Source: American Academy of Family Physicians. Permission is granted to reproduce this
material for nonprofit educational purposes. Written permission is required for other use.
Hepatitis B & C (HBV & HCV)
What is hepatitis? What are
hepatitis B & C?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by a
virus, drugs, or other factors. So far, there are six known
kinds of viral hepatitis: A, B, C, D, E, and G. They differ
in how they are transmitted as well as how long and
how severely they can affect you. For example, hepatitis
A and E, milder forms, are spread through contaminated
foods or water, while hepatitis B, C, and D, more serious
forms, are spread through contact with human blood or
by sexual activity (primarily B). Hepatitis B and C have
the greatest potential to damage your liver in the long
term. There is a vaccine for the prevention of hepatitis B
but not for hepatitis C.
How do I know if I have hepatitis
B or C?
Many people don't notice anything wrong with them-
they look and feel healthy. In fact, you can have
hepatitis B or C for many years before you even know
you have the virus. But by then, your liver may already
be damaged. Sometimes, people feel like they have a
mild-to-moderate " flu " tired, feverish, weak, achy, sick
to their stomach, and not hungry. Also, some people
might have jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
Your doctor may order blood tests to see if you have a
mild or severe form of hepatitis. The tests see how well
your liver is functioning and may test for the virus itself
or for antibodies (proteins your body makes to fight the
virus) that have built up in the blood. These tests should
be repeated periodically.
How do you " catch " hepatitis?
Both Hepatitis B and C are spread through contact with
human blood, and perhaps through contact with other
body fluids. Close to 40% of people with hepatitis B or C
never learn how they were infected. You are at high risk
for hepatitis B or C if you:
* had a blood transfusion before 1990
* have been a hemodialysis patient
* had a job that exposed you to human blood
* have been in contact with the blood of someone who
has hepatitis B or C
* have ever injected or snorted drugs using shared
paraphernalia
* had sex with someone with hepatitis B (*The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] has
identified sexual contact as a potential risk factor for
transmission of hepatitis C. The risk does appear to
increase in people who have more than one sexual
partner).
* have tattoos or body piercing
65

Maple Grove/Chaska Patient Handbook 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maple Grove/Chaska Patient Handbook 2023