More than half of people with hepatitis C will never have any health problems from it. The disease generally progresses slowly, over the course of 10 to 40 years. Here is a snapshot of the long-term effects of hepatitis C. Out of 100 people who get hepatitis C: - 15 will get rid of the virus without any treatment
- 85 will develop a chronic infection
Of those 85 who have a chronic infection, only 30 to 40 will ever develop a lot of liver scarring and be at risk for health problems from hepatitis C. It is not clear who will develop serious liver disease from hepatitis C, but how you take care of yourself and your liver plays an important role in how slowly (or how quickly) hepatitis C progresses. You can help keep your liver healthy by eating well, drinking lots of water, and avoiding substances that can harm your liver (such as alcohol and illegal drugs). | 
