Living With Hemochromatosis
Iron is one of the most important minerals needed for our survival. Iron is needed for the synthesis of hemoglobin in the red blood cells. Hemoglobin carries oxygen to all parts of the body, helping us to lead a healthy life. We are aware about the adverse effects of iron deficiency in the body. However, there is a sizable global population who suffer from the problem of excess iron in the body, which threatens their existence. This condition is known as hemochromatosis.
Hemochromatosis causes
Normally, our bodies absorb only 8 to 10 percent iron from food. On the other hand, people suffering from hemochromatosis absorb four times the amount of iron absorbed by a normal human body. The excess iron is stored in the liver, pancreas and heart, developing a life-threatening condition. Hemochromatosis usually occurs during midlife.
Hemochromatosis is a genetic condition. Since women lose a significant amount of iron during periods and pregnancy, hemochromatosis is less likely to occur in women during the childbearing age. Men and women after menopause have higher risk to develop this condition. People with a family history of hemochromatosis have a higher risk of developing it.
Symptoms of hemochromatosis
The early symptoms of hemochromatosis include joint pain, abdominal pain, fatigue, diabetes, hypothyroidism, poor liver function, loss in libido and absence of menstruation in women. If left untreated at the early stage of the disease, hemochromatosis leads to cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer, heart failure, diabetes and skin discoloration or darkening of the skin.
Hemochromatosis treatment
Being a hereditary condition, hemochromatosis could not be cured. Treatment of the disease usually consists of reducing the iron level in the blood, by phlebotomy or regularly removing certain amount of blood from your body. Often modification in the diet is recommended to lower the iron overload.
Iron supplements, vitamin C supplements and multivitamin supplements containing iron should be avoided. To reduce complications, alcohol intake is prohibited. To reduce iron overload, intake of red meat should be limited. You should also limit consumption of fish, shellfish and poultry. Regular intake of milk thistle could help to reduce the iron overload in the liver.
