Hepatitis C affects more than 4 million Americans, and in many cases, shows no signs or symptoms for years.

Gastroenterologist Asif Choudhury explains that it's called the silent epidemic because many people have it and don't even know it. That's why doctors say educating yourself about the facts of Hepatitis C and the activities that could put you at risk are essential. "Any kind of tattooing or piercing or any kind of laser treatment that people does outside has to be certified area, otherwise high chance of Hepatitis C is a possibility."

Hepatitis C is a chronic illness and only 25% of the people who contract the illness show symptoms at first. Oftentimes, patients discover they have it during a doctor's visit for minor complications like fever, headache or changes in their skin color. Medical assistant Linda Garced says, "When they have symptoms like jaundice, yellowing of the skin, they believe that there could be something wrong so they will go to their primary care physician and their primary care physician will refer them to us."

Dr. Choudhury says that Hepatitis C is primarily spread through bodily fluids and blood but what's most important is early diagnosis so that you can be properly treated as soon as possible. "Usually if it can be suppressed they can be prevented from liver cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure."

Doctors say Hepatitis C can be fatal, but doesn't have to be if you know your facts.

Transfusion-associated cases of Hepatitis C occurred prior to blood donor screening (in 1992); and now occurs in less than one case per million transfused units of blood.