We all have those days where the alarm goes off and hitting snooze feels like a basic survival instinct. Between demanding jobs, running a household, and trying to maintain some semblance of a social life, feeling tired just feels like part of life. But what if that constant, heavy exhaustion is actually your body trying to tell you something a little more serious?
According to a new survey released this September, the vast majority of us are missing a crucial warning sign for a rare liver condition. It is called Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), and it is flying completely under the radar for most people, especially women.
More Than Just A Bad Night’s Sleep
When you feel deeply tired day after day, it is incredibly easy to blame the most obvious culprits. New research commissioned by Ipsen Australia found that 69 per cent of people quickly point the finger at a simple lack of sleep. Another 60 per cent blame general life stress, while 53 per cent say modern work-life pressures are draining their energy reserves.
It makes total sense. We live in a fast-paced world, and being tired is expected. However, the data shows a major blind spot: only 11 per cent of Australians realise that persistent fatigue could actually be linked to a liver condition.
What Exactly is PBC?
If you are sitting there thinking you have never heard of Primary Biliary Cholangitis, you are definitely not alone. The recent survey revealed that 72 per cent of people have never even heard the name. Even among the few who had heard of it, nearly half admitted they had absolutely no idea what it actually does to the body.
In simple terms, PBC is a rare, chronic autoimmune disease. It causes inflammation and damage to the small bile ducts in the liver. Over time, if left unchecked, this can lead to severe liver damage. It is estimated to affect around 5,000 Australians, and here is the most striking statistic of all: 95 per cent of the people living with this condition are women.
The Healthcare Gender Gap
Because PBC overwhelmingly affects women, that persistent tiredness can be dangerously easy to brush off as just another normal part of life. Hormonal changes, family stress, and busy daily routines are often used as convenient excuses for why a woman might be feeling so exhausted.
This lines up with a much larger conversation happening right now about women’s health. The Australian Government’s recent #EndGenderBias initiative highlighted a frustrating reality. Two-thirds of participating women stated they had experienced gender bias or discrimination in the healthcare system. Many reported feeling dismissed, disbelieved, or having their very real physical symptoms wrongly attributed to other, less serious causes.
When we combine a healthcare system that sometimes fails to listen with a rare disease that hides behind a very common symptom like fatigue, it creates a perfect storm for a delayed diagnosis.
Listen To Your Body
September is officially PBC Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to check in with your own health. Being tired after a long week is completely normal. Being persistently exhausted, to the point where a good night of sleep does not fix it, is a sign to dig deeper.
If you have been feeling constantly drained and cannot seem to shake it, it might be time to stop blaming your busy schedule. Pay attention to those ongoing, unexplained symptoms and make an appointment to speak with a healthcare professional. You know your body best, so do not be afraid to advocate for yourself.
To learn more about PBC and to understand your liver health better, you can visit the Liver Foundation Australia at liver.org.au.
