Chronic Fatigue
Fatigue is a common symptom of many chronic diseases, including liver disease. Although fatigue can sometimes be a side effect of medication or may be caused by depression, it’s important to mention any symptoms that have lasted or increased over time to your doctor. Chronic fatigue can be debilitating and keep you from doing what you enjoy.
The biggest cause of fatigue is anemia, which happens when your red blood cells are damaged or don’t have enough hemoglobin. If red blood cells aren’t carrying enough oxygen throughout the body, you will feel tired and short of breath. Anemia can also cause headaches.
Another common cause of fatigue is chronic inflammation due to damage to the liver, which won’t be able to fight off infections effectively. This can lead to muscle aches and joint pain.
Fatigue is also a symptom of hepatitis C infection. This virus causes inflammation of the liver and damages the organ’s ability to function properly. The main symptoms of hepatitis C are jaundice (yellowing of the skin) and itching skin or eyes.
