Patient guide
Living well with hepatitis B
Small, steady habits keep your liver healthy — and keep the people you love protected.
Caring for your liver
- Protect your liver. Limit or avoid alcohol, which adds stress to the liver.
- Check before new medicines. Some over-the-counter drugs, supplements, and herbal products can affect the liver — ask your pharmacist or provider first.
- Stay up to date. Vaccination against hepatitis A is often recommended, to protect your liver from another virus.
- Keep healthy habits. A balanced diet, regular activity, and a healthy weight all support liver health.
- Keep your appointments. Ongoing monitoring is the single most important step.
Hepatitis B does not have to limit your work, relationships, travel, or having children. With good care, people with hepatitis B live long, full lives.
Protecting the people around you
Hepatitis B is preventable with a safe, effective vaccine. The most helpful step you can take is to let close contacts know, so they can be protected:
- Encourage household members and sexual partners to be tested and vaccinated.
- Don't share items that may carry blood, such as razors, nail clippers, or toothbrushes.
- Cover any cuts and scrapes.
- If you are pregnant, tell your care team — the steps taken during pregnancy and at birth are highly effective at protecting your baby.