Hepatitis C is viral liver inflammation. The main way the disease spreads is by contaminated blood. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) shows very mild symptoms in the beginning and that is why most people do not know that they have this condition. In fact, the earlier the condition is identified, the easier it will be to treat it. For some people, diagnosis happens only decades after they have been affected. Here are some early warning signs of hepatitis C that you should be aware of:

• Sore muscles
  Though 70% to 80% of people with hepatitis C do not show any significant symptoms, most of them have stated that they have sore muscles and a feeling of general tiredness. This is one of the most common early warning signs of hepatitis C that people ignore as a lifestyle issue. If you constantly suffer from sore muscles and tiredness, get screened for HCV.
• A yellow tint in the eyes or skin
  This is another one of the telltale early warning signs of hepatitis C. A person’s skin turns yellow if there is a problem with the liver’s functioning. You can stand under bright sunlight to get your eyes and skin checked. If they are abnormally yellow, definitely schedule a screening right away.
• Darker urine
  When you are affected by HCV, another change you can see is the color of your urine. Urine generally is pale in color. When there is a liver problem, there is excess bilirubin present in the urine and this makes it darker in color. If the color of your urine has turned from pale to light or dark brown, it is time to check why with an HCV screening.
• Fever
  Unexplained fever that doesn’t get better with usual medications is an early warning sign of hepatitis C.
  
• Poor appetite
  For patients with chronic HCV, a common early warning symptom can be loss of appetite. Many studies have shown that people with HCV experience taste alterations and this makes them stay away from foods that they usually like. Poor appetite will eventually lead to weight loss.
• Stomach or abdomen pain
  Unexplained stomach pain is also a common early warning sign of hepatitis C. When you have HCV, your liver will not be able to produce bile. Bile is necessary for the digestion of fatty foods. Without bile, you will start having difficulties in digestion and you might experience pain because of liquid buildup in the abdomen.
• Bleeding disorders
  Bleeding easily or difficulty in stopping bleeding can both be considered one of the warning signs of HCV that people miss out on. If you notice an abnormality in your bleeding pattern, check with your doctor.

Having an idea of these early warning signs of hepatitis C will help save your liver from getting permanently damaged. Listen to your body to identify abnormal symptoms. Talk to your doctor about these symptoms that you have been experiencing. Early diagnosis will help treat this condition quickly.