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Buildup of iron -

Hemochromatosis, otherwise known as ‘iron overload,’ is a condition where too much iron builds up in the body.

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How it usually works -

People without this condition have intestines that absorb exactly the right amount of iron from the food they consume.

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Over-absorption of iron - People who suffer from iron overload have intestines that absorb too much iron, which their body then has no way of getting rid of.

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Is it serious? -

Hemochromatosis is an unpleasant condition and, if left untreated, can cause serious complications, including damage to the liver, joints, pancreas, and heart.

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Symptoms -

The onset of hemochromatosis symptoms usually occurs between the ages of 30 and 60, and there are a number of things to look out for.

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Most common symptoms -

The most common symptoms of this condition include fatigue, weight loss, weakness, joint pain, erectile dysfunction, and absent or irregular periods.

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Asymptomatic -

While there are a number of possible symptoms of iron overload, it is estimated that up to 50% of people with this condition do not experience any symptoms.

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Women vs. men -

Women (who are five times less likely to develop hemochromatosis than men) often do not show symptoms until over the age of 50 or until they are past menopause.

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Hypothesis -

This may well be due to the fact that women lose iron when they menstruate and when they give birth.

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Difficult to diagnose -

Coupled with the fact that these symptoms are common and could be an indication of various conditions, iron overload is quite tricky to diagnose.

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When to see a doctor -

If you have persistent or worrying symptoms that could be caused by hemochromatosis, you should see your doctor.

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Northern European -

This goes especially for white people who have a Northern European family background. This is because the condition disproportionately affects people from countries with a Celtic history.

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Also see a doctor if... -

You should also ask your doctor about a hemochromatosis test even if you don’t have symptoms yourself, but someone in your family suffers from the condition.

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Hereditary condition -

This is because hemochromatosis (or at least the primary type) is hereditary. It is caused by a faulty gene that affects how your body absorbs iron.

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When you are at risk -

If both your parents have this faulty gene and you inherit one copy from both, you are at risk of developing the condition.

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When you are not at risk -

If you only inherit one copy of the gene, you cannot develop the condition (although you could pass it on). And even if you inherit both, it is not a hard fact that you will develop it.

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Secondary hemochromatosis -

There is also a second type of hemochromatosis, secondary hemochromatosis, which develops due to other conditions, such as liver disease or certain types of anemia.

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Diagnosing hemochromatosis - If your doctor does think you may have hemochromatosis, there are a number of methods they can use to work out whether you do in fact have it.

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Techniques -

They will probably ask about your family history, and order a physical examination and blood tests. They may also biopsy your liver or conduct an MRI.

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Treatment -

Currently there is no cure for iron overload, although there are treatments that can reduce iron in the body and limit the risk of damage to your organs.

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Blood removal -

The first treatment is phlebotomy, which involves removing blood to reduce the levels of iron in the body. This may be done as regularly as once per week during the initial treatment stage.

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Blood removal -

Once your blood iron levels have gone back to normal, you will go into the maintenance stage. This means you’ll still have your blood taken, but not as often.

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Building back up -

How often the doctor needs to remove your blood will depend on how fast the iron builds back up in your body.

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Chelation therapy -

Another treatment is chelation therapy, which involves taking medicine to reduce iron levels in the body. This is normally only used if removing blood is not an option.

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Lifestyle changes -

Generally, people do not need to make any dramatic changes to their lifestyle while they are undergoing treatment for hemochromatosis.

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Foods to avoid -

However, you may be asked to avoid breakfast cereals containing added iron, iron or vitamin C supplements, and drinking too much alcohol.

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The importance of early diagnosis -

If hemochromatosis is caught and treated early, it's unlikely to cause sufferers any serious problems further down the road.

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Complications -

However, if hemochromatosis is not diagnosed and treated until it is more advanced, it can cause serious damage to certain parts of the body.

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Complications -

This damage can have potentially serious complications such as liver problems (including cirrhosis or cancer), diabetes, arthritis, and heart failure.

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Available support -

If you or someone in your family is suffering from hemochromatosis, there are charities that can offer support.

Sources: (NHS) (WebMD)

See also: Learn more about Parkinson's disease

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