The healing power of yogurt and kefir

May 1, 2009

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If someone suggested that you swallow a spoonful of live organisms, you’d probably think Fear factor auditions had come to town…but what if they told you that every spoonful would provide extraordinary improvements in your health?
Well, billions of people willingly eat billions of live organisms every day when they eat yogurt or drink kefir! Both are absolutely brimming with bacteria, the live and active cultures you read about on the label. And that’s a really good thing, because research has shown that these “friendly” bacteria can provide an abundance of benefits such as:
· Strengthen your immune system.
· Help ulcers heal more quickly.
· Help prevent recurrent yeast infections.
· Aid in weight loss, belly fat in particular.
· Reduce several risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
· Reduce several risk factors for intestinal cancers.
· Alleviate microbe-induced traveler’s diarrhea.
· Reduce the rate of childhood respiratory infections.
· Help prevent tooth decay.
Even if you took out the bacteria, it’s still an excellent source of calcium. Yogurt can be especially important for people who lack the enzyme lactase that’s needed to digest the lactose, or sugar, in milk. Even though yogurt does contain lactose, the live bacteria in yogurt help your body break lactose down so it’s less likely to cause discomfort. One cup of plain low-fat yogurt provides 40 percent of the Daily Value.
Kefir, if you’re not familiar, is a fermented, probiotic milk drink that means “good feeling” when translated from the Russian language spoken in the mountains where it originated. It has a distinctive mild but tangy taste. Best-selling author and world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone has named kefir as one of his top 10 superfoods. Dr. Perricone’s research has uncovered that hospitals in the former Soviet Union used kefir “to treat conditions ranging from atherosclerosis, allergic disease, metabolic and digestive disorders, and tuberculosis to cancer and gastrointestinal disorders.” Dr. Perricone points out that scientists have discovered that many inflammatory diseases (including some types of heart disease) can be triggered by bacteria. “That provides all the more reason to enjoy kefir as part of your daily diet.” Dr. Perricone recommends Helios or Lifeway kefir.
Top tips for getting the most
Eat it cold
The bacteria in yogurt or kefir are destroyed by heat. When using them in recipes, add after the dish is finished cooking and removed from the heat.
Eat it first
Dr. Perricone suggests starting each day by making a quick smoothie made with two tablespoons of POM Wonderful pomegranate juice (pure pomegranate extract) and a glass of unsweetened whole-milk kefir. I’ve been drinking this breakfast brew for years, mixing either Sambazon acai or pomegranate juice into kefir and I credit it for making huge improvements in my own health.
A lower carb alternative to pomegranate juice is Jarrow Formulas Pomegranate Juice Concentrate, which has only 9 grams of carbs per serving.
Buy it fresh, and organic
Fresh yogurt contains about 100 million bacteria per gram. However, after a few weeks on the shelf, that number quickly dwindles. Therefore, it’s best to buy it from health food stores since these stores usually sell a lot of yogurt and you have a much better chance of getting it fresh. I like Seven Stars Farm low-fat organic yogurt. Stonyfield Farm yogurt is widely available in most grocery stores.
Avoid yogurt that contains added sugars, sweetened fruit or things you can’t pronounce like stabilizers and thickeners. These ingredients will actually detract from the live cultures by disturbing the balance that enables the cultures to thrive.
If you’re not a yogurt fan, and the idea of eating plain yogurt doesn’t thrill you, try mixing it in with cold soups or in to smoothies blended with fresh fruit to mask the taste. It’s a great substitute for sour cream too.

 http://www.examiner.com/article/the-healing-power-of-yogurt-and-kefir

 

Walmart bans 10 toxins from personal care, cosmetics and baby products

 

September 12, 2013

Walmart is on a detox plan. The world's largest retailer, Walmart, announced today (Sept. 12, 2013) it would begin disclosing chemicals in many product categories, while phasing out approximately ten chemicals from products they sell in favor of safer alternatives. Walmart declined to say which specific chemicals would be phased out but has confirmed they all appear on the list of chemicals that Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families published in April as part of its Mind the Store campaign. The campaign asked the top ten retailers to a phase-out the "Hazardous Hundred+" in the products they sell.
“This is an unusually substantive announcement and Walmart deserves credit for that. We're encouraged that they've described this is as just the beginning of action on chemicals rather than an end,” said Andy Igrejas, executive director of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families.
“Clearly, the problem is much bigger, but Walmart's announcement today appears to be a meaningful down payment on an enhanced chemical policy. We urge other the other retailers to both learn from and improve upon it," said Igrejas.
Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, is the world's biggest multinational retailer, with 2011 U.S. retail sales of over $316 million—the highest in the country. The decision many lead to other large retailers following suit. In April 2013, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, sent a letter to Walmart requesting that they begin take steps to remove hazardous chemicals from the products that pose a health risk to customers.
“While the number of chemicals is limited, the action is meaningful. They are not just moving away from several known toxic chemicals but are going deeper, using their position to make sure the alternatives are safer,” Igrejas said. “That's progress that can ripple across the marketplace.”
Walmart also announced that it will pursue EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) imprimatur for it's private label products. The disclosure practices will begin in 2015 and apply to cleaners, personal care products, cosmetics and baby care.

http://www.examiner.com/article/walmart-bans-ten-toxins-from-personal-care-cosmetics-and-baby-products

People with Mental Illness

by Gary Cordner

The Problem of People with Mental Illness

Problems associated with people with mental illness pose a significant challenge for modern policing. [1] This guide begins by describing the problem and reviewing factors that increase the challenges that police face in relation to the mentally ill. It then identifies a series of questions that might help you analyze your local policing problems associated with people with mental illness. Finally, it reviews responses to the problems and what we know about these from evaluative research and police practice.
Police officers frequently encounter people with mental illness—approximately 5 percent of U.S. residents have a serious mental illness,^§ and 10 to 15 percent of jailed people have severe mental illness. [2] An estimated 7 percent of police contacts in jurisdictions with 100,000 or more people involve the mentally ill.[3] A three-city study found that 92 percent of patrol officers had at least one encounter with a mentally ill person in crisis in the previous month,[4] and officers averaged six such encounters per month. The Lincoln (Nebraska) Police Department found that it handled over 1,500 mental health investigation cases in 2002, and that it spent more time on these cases than on injury traffic accidents, burglaries, or felony assaults. [5] The New York City Police Department responds to about 150,000 “emotionally disturbed persons” calls per year.[6]
It is important to recognize at the outset that mental illness is not, in and of itself, a police problem. Obviously, it is a medical and social services problem. However, a number of the problems caused by or associated with people with mental illness often do become police problems. These include crimes, suicides, disorder, and a variety of calls for service. Moreover, the traditional police response to people with mental illness has often been ineffective, and sometimes tragic.

§ Unfortunately there is not one standard definition of mental illness. Medical doctors, research scientists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers define it differently depending on whether their focus is more on organic conditions, personality, or behavior. One working consensus definition designed for policy makers is “Mental illness is a biopsychosocial brain disorder characterized by dysfunctional thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors that meet DSMIV diagnostic criteria” (Kelly, 2002). The same report identifies the main examples of serious mental illness as:

• All cases of schizophrenia (a psychotic disorder)
• Severe cases of major depression and bipolar disorder (mood disorders)
• Severe cases of panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (anxiety disorders)
• Severe cases of attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (typically, a childhood disorder)
• Severe cases of anorexia nervosa (an eating disorder).

Timothy A. Kelly (2002) “A Policymaker’s Guide to Mental Illness.” Washington, DC: The Heritage Foundation.

Over the last decade, many police agencies have sought to improve their response to incidents involving people with mental illness, especially emergency mental health situations. These new developments, however, have been targeted almost exclusively at improved handling of individual incidents. Little attention has been devoted to developing or implementing a comprehensive and preventive approach to the issue.

Common Situations

Police officers encounter people with mental illness in many different types of situations, in roles that include criminal offenders, disorderly persons, missing persons, complainants, victims, and persons in need of care (see table). According to one Texas study,[7] the five most frequent scenarios are as follows:

• A family member, friend, or other concerned person calls the police for help during a psychiatric emergency.
• A person with mental illness feels suicidal and calls the police as a cry for help.
• Police officers encounter a person with mental illness behaving inappropriately in public.
• Citizens call the police because they feel threatened by the unusual behavior or the mere presence of a person with mental illness.
• A person with mental illness calls the police for help because of imagined threats.

Of these typical situations, ones involving the threat of suicide were rated as the most difficult to handle. Each of the others listed above was rated as somewhat difficult to handle. The two behaviors that were rated as most problematic overall were threatening suicide and nuisance behaviors.

Roles of People with Mental Illness and Examples
Role	Examples
Offender	A person with mental illness commits a personal or property crime. A person with mental illness commits a drug crime. A person with mental illness threatens to commit suicide. A person with mental illness threatens to injure someone else in the delusional belief that that person poses a threat to him or her. A person with mental illness threatens to injure police as a means of forcing police to kill him (commonly called “suicide by cop”).
Disorderly person	A family or community member reports annoying or disruptive behavior by a person with mental illness. A hospital, group home, or mental health facility calls for police assistance in controlling a person with mental illness. A police officer on patrol encounters a person with mental illness behaving in a disorderly manner.
Missing person	A family member reports that a person with mental illness is missing. A group home or mental health institution reports that a person with mental illness walked away and/or is missing.
Complainant	A person with mental illness calls the police to report real or imagined conditions or phenomena. A person with mental illness calls the police to complain about care received from family members or caretakers.
Victim	A person with mental illness is the victim of a personal or property crime. A family member, caretaker, or service provider neglects or abuses a person with mental illness.
Person in need of care	Police are asked to transport a person with mental illness to or from a hospital or mental health facility. Police encounter a person with mental illness who is neglecting his or her own basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, medication, etc.).

These are the most common situations in which police encounter people with mental illness. It is important to realize, though, that when police officers handle some of these situations they do not always realize that mental illness is involved (such as a shoplifting or a disorderly person). Officers may try to handle the situation as usual (by giving directions, issuing commands, or making an arrest, for example) but not get the cooperation or compliance expected, sometimes leading to escalating tension. This highlights the importance of training in mental illness recognition as well as crisis management techniques.

Dangerousness

A fairly common perception is that people with mental illness are disproportionately involved in violent crime. This is true in one respect but not in another. A small subset of people with mental illness, those who are actively experiencing serious psychotic symptoms, are more violent than the general population. Research suggests several factors associated with this group’s violent behavior, including drug and alcohol abuse, noncompliance with medication requirements, and biological or biochemical disorders.[8] In general, however, “violent and criminal acts directly attributable to mental illness account for a very small proportion of all such acts in the United States. Most persons with mental illness are not criminals, and of those who are, most are not violent.” [9]
Police interactions with people with mental illness can be dangerous, but usually are not. In the United States, 982 of 58,066 police officers assaulted in 2002, and 15 of 636 police officers feloniously killed from 1993 to 2002, had “mentally deranged” assailants. [10] These represent one out of every 59 assaults on officers and one out of every 42 officers feloniously killed—relatively small portions of all officers assaulted and killed.
Encounters with police are more likely to be dangerous for people with mental illness than for the police. An early study found that an average of nine New York City police shootings per year between 1971 and 1975 involved emotionally disturbed people. [11] Between 1994 and 1999, Los Angeles officers shot 37 people during encounters with people with mental illness, killing 25. [12] A review of shootings by the police from 1998 to 2001 in the United Kingdom indicated that almost half (11 out of 24) involved someone with a known history of mental health problems. [13] It is estimated that people with severe mental illness are four times more likely to be killed by police. [14] Serious injury and death of people with mental illness at the hands of the police are especially tragic, for obvious reasons. Reduction of such injuries and deaths should be a high-priority objective for every police agency.

Harms

The harms associated with the police handling of people with mental illness are implicit in the situations and examples the table provides, but deserve some discussion. A person with mental illness may harm other citizens by committing personal or property crimes or engaging in disorderly and disruptive behavior. Alternatively, a person with mental illness may be harmed as a crime victim, as an abused family member or patient, as a person who suffers through self-neglect, or as a person whose mental health problem has left him or her erroneously subjected to criminal charges and jail confinement. Society in general may be harmed if excessive police, criminal justice, and/or medical resources are consumed by problems associated with people with mental illness.
It is important to keep the concept of harm in mind when addressing this particular problem, because there is a tendency to simply define people with mental illness as the problem, and getting them out of sight as the solution. In contrast to most police problems, however, this is not one that involves wholly voluntary behavior— rather, it involves behavior that medical conditions cause or compound. Consequently, police have to be careful not to blame people with mental illness, but instead focus on behavior that causes harm to self or others.

Related Problems

The police problem of people with mental illness is closely connected to three other problems noted below. This guide does not specifically address these problems, but addressing people with mental illness in your jurisdiction may require that you take on these problems, as well:

• homelessness
• drug abuse
• alcohol abuse

The people the police encounter who have mental health problems or emergencies are also frequently homeless. For example, a Honolulu study found that 74 percent of law violators who the police believed to have a mental disorder were also homeless.[15] In London, about 30 percent of minor offenders referred for admission to a station-house diversion program for the “mentally disordered” were living on the streets. [16]
Similarly, the people with mental illness the police encounter are likely to have substance abuse problems. About three-quarters of jail and prison inmates with mental illness also have a substance abuse problem. [17] Current substance abuse was identified for about half of psychiatric emergency room referrals in New York State, [18] and nearly two-thirds of psychiatric emergency patients evaluated by a police-mental health outreach team in Los Angeles were known to be serious substance abusers.[19]

  http://www.popcenter.org/problems/mental_illness/

11 Intelligence Killing Foods You Need To Avoid

11 Intelligence Killing Foods You Need To Avoid

 

When it comes to nutrition, it must be mentioned that there are all sorts of foods: some super-foods are your greatest allies against extra pounds, while others stimulate your cognitive function and improve your memory. On the other hand, some foods are known to have a devastating effect on your brain functioning, and nutritionists advise us to consume them moderately in order to limit their negative impact. Having said that, here are the top 11 foods that kill your intelligence, slowly but surely:

1. Sugary Products

Sugar and sugary products are bad not only for your waistline, but for your brain function as well. Long-term consumption of sugar can create a wealth of neurological problems, and it can also interfere with your memory. On the other hand, sugar can also interfere with your ability to learn, this is why it is recommended to avoid pre-baked goods, sugar, corn syrup and products that are high in fructose.

2. Alcohol

Alcohol is known to harm your liver in the long run, and it also causes what is known as “brain fog”. Like the name suggests, the term of brain fog refers to a feeling of mental confusion, it acts like a cloud that impacts your ability to think clearly, as well as your memory. Have you ever noticed that you cannot remember common item names, or you cannot recall certain events or you are not sure whether they were dreams or they actually happened? This might be influenced by the high alcohol intake which impacts the balance of the brain. Fortunately, these symptoms are reversible provided that you stop consuming alcohol, or you limit your intake to one or two drinks per week.

3. Junk Food

A recent study that was performed at the University of Montreal has revealed that junk food can change the chemicals in the brains, thus leading to symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. Besides, foods that are high in fat can also trigger some symptoms that are similar to the signs of withdrawal when you stop consuming them. These foods affect the production of dopamine, an important chemical that promotes happiness and an overall feeling of well-being. Moreover, dopamine also supports the cognitive function, the learning capacity, alertness, motivation and memory. This is why it is important to avoid all foods that contain excessive fat.

4. Fried Foods

Almost all processed foods contain chemicals, dyes, additives, artificial flavors, preservatives and such – these can affect the behavior and the cognitive functioning due to the chemical that causes hyperactivity, both in children and in adults. Fried or processed foods slowly destroy the nerve cells located in the brain. However, some oils are more dangerous than others – sunflower oil is considered to be among the most toxic ones.

5. Processed Or Pre-Cooked Foods

Just like fried foods, processed or pre-cooked foods also impact your central nervous system and they also increase the risk of developing a degenerative brain disorder later in live (such as Alzheimer’s disease).

6. Very Salty Foods

Everybody knows that salty foods affect your blood pressure and they are very hard on your heart. However, as research suggests, foods that contain high amounts of salt (sodium) can affect your cognitive function and impair your ability to think. Otherwise stated, salty foods affect your intelligence!

As a matter of fact, the consumption of salty foods and nicotine have been shown to have the same effects as drugs, as they cause harsh withdrawal symptoms and cravings for salty foods.

7. Grains, Except 100% Whole Grain

All sorts of grains have an impact on your brain functioning and your overall health, except for 100% whole grain which is very rich and fiber and it is known to prevent arterial aging. If you consume regular grains, your body risks to age quicker than it is supposed to and you can also experience memory loss and brain fog. Having said that, try swapping the regular carbs for the complex carbohydrates – all you need to do is to opt for whole grain bread!

8. Processed Proteins

Proteins are the building blocks of muscles and they are very important for the proper functioning of your body. Meat is the richest source of high-quality protein, but avoid overly processed protein such as hot dogs, salami, sausages and such. Unlike the natural proteins that help your body insulate the nervous system, processed proteins do exactly the opposite. Opt for natural fish (especially tuna and salmon), dairy, walnuts and seeds as these are natural, high-quality protein sources.

9. Avoid Trans Fats At All Costs

Trans fats cause a series of problems, from heart-related issues to elevated cholesterol and obesity. However, they are bad for your brain as well, as they make your brain more sluggish, they affect your reflexes and the quality of your brain response – not to mention that they increase the risk of stroke!

Trans fats can also have other effects on your brain: if consumed for too long, they can result in a sort of brain shrinkage that is somewhat similar to the shrinkage caused by Alzheimer’s disease. This brain shrinkage takes place due to the fact that trans fats slowly damage the arteries – you can prevent this and lower the stroke risk by simply limiting your intake of trans fats.

10. Artificial Sweeteners

When people try to lose weight, they tend to think that they will become slim overnight by simply replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners. It is true that artificial sweeteners do contain less calories, but they can actually do more harm than good! If used for an extended period of time, artificial sweeteners can cause brain damage and interfere with your cognitive capacity, especially if you use high amounts of sweetener.

11. Nicotine

Despite the fact that nicotine is not really a food product, it still wreaks havoc on your brain by restricting the blood flow to this important organ, along with the regular flow of glucose and oxygen. Nicotine not only causes premature aging, bad breath and poses an increased risk for lung cancer, but it also affects the production and the function of neurotransmitters by tightening the capillaries, the tiny blood vessels that play a pivotal role when it comes to your brain function.

 http://www.fitnea.com/11-intelligence-killing-foods-you-need-to-avoid/4/

Scientific Explanation of Halal / Kosher Meat

 Scientific Explanation of Halal  / Kosher Meat

Amazing Onion.

Now let us read about the Amazing Onion. A friend of mine told me a story about when he was a kid he was in the hospital & nearly dying. His grandmother came to the hospital & told a family member to go buy her a large onion & a new pair of white cotton socks. She sliced the onion open then put a slice on the bottom of each of his feet & put the white cotton socks on him. In the morning when he awoke they removed the socks. The slices of onion were black & his fever was gone. The following story that someone sent to me might have some truth in it & we are going to try it this winter.  In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu. Many of the farmers and their family had contracted it and many died.  The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was very healthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.  Now, I heard this story from my hairdresser in AZ. She said that several years ago many of her employees were coming down with the flu and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work.. (And no, she is not in the onion business.)  The moral of the story is, buy some onions and place them in bowls around your home. If you work at a desk, place one or two in your office or under your desk or even on top somewhere. Try it and see what happens. We did it last year and we never got the flu.  For flu cure: Cut both ends off an onion put one end on a fork and then place the forked end into an empty jar... Placing the jar next to the sick patient at night. It said the onion would be black in the morning from the germs... Sure enough it happened just like that... The onion was a mess and I began to feel better.  Onions and garlic placed around the room saved many from the black plague years ago. They have powerful antibacterial, antiseptic properties.  One more thing, never store cut onions and consume the next day.

What You Need to Know about Hepatitis C

Living with Hepatitis C: Personal Stories

Wanda:

"I need to stay healthy, because I have two little girls and they keep me busy! I had a biopsy and my doctor says my liver is doing okay. So far, so good..." "... but I worry about my family. Sometimes I let my kids drink from my glass, or I forget to cover my mouth when I cough. Could that give them hepatitis C? And what about my partner? Can you get hepatitis C through sex?"
Hepatitis C is not spread through casual contact like coughing, sharing cups or eating utensils, hugging, or kissing. Hepatitis C is only spread through contact with infected blood. The most common ways that hepatitis C is spread are:

• sharing needles and other equipment (" works") used to inject drugs or other substances
• mother to baby during birth
• accidental needle-stick injuries, mainly to health care workers on the job
• sex without using a condom (this is a rare way to get hepatitis C, but it does happen)

It may also be possible to spread hepatitis C through:

• sharing razors, toothbrushes, or nail clippers with a person who has hepatitis C (because these items may have traces of blood on them)
• tattoos or piercing, especially if it is not done by a professional with sterile equipment

A woman can pass hepatitis C to her baby during birth. About 5 out of 100 babies born to women with hepatitis C will be infected. Talk to your child's doctor about when to test your child for hepatitis C.
Before 1992, people also got hepatitis C through infected blood transfusions and organ transplants. Now, all blood and organ donations are tested for hepatitis C, so it is safe to get blood or organs.
It is possible to spread hepatitis C during sex, but this is rare. On the other hand, HIV and other STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) are easily spread during sex. Always use condoms to protect yourself and your partners.

Keeping your loved ones safe

Hepatitis C is spread through blood. To avoid giving hepatitis C to others:

• do not share needles, syringes, or other injection equipment (" works")
• do not share razors, toothbrushes, nail clippers, or other household items that could have blood on them
• clean up blood spills right away with bleach
• keep cuts or sores covered with a bandage

Carlos:

"When I found out that I had hepatitis C, I was really angry. I worked so hard to get off drugs and was just starting to get my life together. Then they told me I had this disease. I couldn't believe it. I didn't go back to the doctor for a while - I didn't want to deal with it.
Later I realized it wasn't going to just go away. I want to stay as healthy as I can. Is there is a treatment for hepatitis C?"
You are not alone. Dealing with recovery and hepatitis C can be stressful. It may help to know that there are many other people in the same situation. Ask your doctor, counselor, or case manager about support groups for people in recovery who have hepatitis C.
There is a treatment for hepatitis C, but it does not work for everybody. The treatment is a combination of two medicines: pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Pegylated interferon is injected under the skin (like a shot) once a week. Ribavirin is a pill that you swallow. Treatment usually lasts for 12 months; sometimes it is shorter.
Hepatitis C treatment does not work for everyone:

• About half of people treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin have healthier livers and no hepatitis C in their bodies at the end of treatment.
• Some people's livers get healthier during treatment, but the hepatitis C is not completely removed from their bodies. They may still have liver damage from hepatitis C in the future.

"I'm also in a methadone program. Will I have to stop taking methadone if I want treatment for hepatitis C?"

No. You can be treated for hepatitis C while you are on methadone.

Michael:

"My doctor says I should think about getting pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment for my hep C. She says it has a good chance of helping my liver.
But I've heard that interferon has side effects that really mess you up. I have HIV, and when I started taking HIV medicines, I felt sick all day long. My doctor changed my HIV treatment, and I feel okay now, but I don't know if I want to deal with side effects like that again.

What are the side effects of hepatitis C treatment? Do most people get them?"

Pegylated interferon and ribavirin are strong drugs. Many people treated with them get side effects like:

• flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, headache, muscle pain)
• feeling very tired (fatigue)
• mood changes (depression, bad temper)
• temporary hair loss
• anemia (reduced red blood cells)

Some people have mild or no side effects. Some people have very severe side effects. For many people, the side effects become less severe over time.

"I don't know if I'm ready for all that. Do I have to start treatment for hepatitis C right away?"

This is not an easy question. There are good reasons to delay treatment - and good reasons to start treatment sooner:

Reasons to delay hepatitis C treatment

• Side effects from interferon and ribavirin could make you sick.
• Better treatments may be available in the future.
• Your hepatitis might not get worse— some people never have serious liver problems.

Reasons to start hepatitis C treatment sooner

• Treatment might not work as well later.
• Your hepatitis C could get worse very fast.
• If your liver gets too badly damaged, you might need a liver transplant.

When and how to treat your hepatitis C is a hard decision. Family needs, side effects, work, substance use, health issues, and many other parts of your life will affect your choice. Your doctor or nurse can help you look at all of the factors to decide what is best for you.

Depression is a common side effect

Severe depression can happen to anyone who is taking interferon. It is more likely in people who have a history of depression or other mental illness. If you have a history of any mental illness or substance use/abuse, tell your doctor before you begin treatment with any type of interferon. Your doctor may suggest that you start anti-depressant medicine or see a psychiatrist before you begin your hepatitis C treatment. Your doctor can also refer you to support services like hotlines or counseling so that if you do have mood changes, you can get help right away.

 http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1801/stories.htm