Too Much Iron in Your Blood?

Iron Overload, also called hemochromatosis, is a condition in which you have too much iron in your body. Your body absorbs iron from the foods you eat every day and most people get the right amount of iron they need. With hemochromatosis, you absorb too much iron and your body can’t get rid of the extra iron. Too much iron in the body can cause serious health problems, such as liver damage, heart disease and diabetes.

What Causes Iron Overload?

Most of the time, hemochromatosis is an inherited condition. This means that you get the condition from your parents. If both your parents have the hemochromatosis gene then there is a 25% chance you will develop hemochromatosis.

What are the symptoms of hemochromatosis?

Many people with hemochromatosis don’t have symptoms at first. Symptoms usually start when you’re in your middle ages. For men, this is usually between the ages of 30 and 50 years. For women, symptoms often start after menopause. Symptoms of hemochromatosis can include:

- Weakness and fatigue

- Joint pain, including pain in your hips and knees

- Dark urine

- Stomach pain and nausea

- Weight loss and loss of appetite

- Diabetes

- Liver disease, such as cirrhosis

- Skin rashes or changes

- Heart failure

- Liver cancer

How is Hemochromatosis diagnosed?

Several blood tests can diagnose hemochromatosis. The most common blood test used is a serum iron test. This test measures the amount of iron in your blood. A high iron level may be a sign of hemochromatosis.

Other tests that may be used to diagnose hemochromatosis include:

- Liver biopsy : This test involves taking a small piece of liver tissue and examining it under a microscope. A liver biopsy can show signs of iron overload damage, such as scarring and inflammation.

How is Hemochromatosis treated?

The most effective treatment for hemochromatosis is regular blood removal through phlebotomy. This is a procedure where blood is drawn from your body through a needle in your arm. This helps remove excess iron from your body. You will need phlebotomy on a regular basis, possibly every week or month, until your iron levels are back to normal.

Other treatments for hemochromatosis may include:

- Diet changes: You may need to make changes to your diet to avoid foods that are high in iron.

- Medications: You may need to take medication to help remove excess iron from your body.

- Liver transplant: In some cases, a liver transplant may be necessary if your liver has suffered severe damage from hemochromatosis.

What are the complications of Hemochromatosis?

If hemochromatosis is left untreated, it can lead to various complications including:

- Liver Damage (Cirrhosis):

Too much iron in the liver affects the organ's ability to function. Cirrhosis can develop, especially if the iron overload remains untreated. Cirrhosis is a serious and advanced form of liver damage. It involves the formation of scar tissues in the liver that gradually replaces the healthy liver tissue. This disrupts the liver's normal functions, including the metabolism of nutrients, detoxification of harmful substances, and production of bile, among others. Liver cirrhosis is irreversible, but early diagnosis and treatment of hemochromatosis can prevent its development or slow its progression.

- Heart Failure:

As iron builds up in the heart muscle, it eventually weakens and becomes enlarged. This can disrupt its pumping function, increasing pressure in the heart and leading to heart failure. The reduced pumping capacity of the heart can cause inadequate blood flow to various organs and tissues, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and lower limb swelling.

- Diabetes:

Iron overload has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes. Excess iron appears to have adverse effects on insulin sensitivity, leading to type 2 diabetes. This type of diabetes is a metabolic condition characterized by elevated levels of blood sugar (glucose) due to insulin resistance and impaired insulin production.

- Skin Changes:

Hemochromatosis can cause various changes in skin color and appearance, including:

Hyperpigmentation: the skin color may darken, especially in the face and other exposed areas. This type of skin discoloration is more common in people with advanced iron overload.

Bronze skin: The skin may develop a bronze-like or gray discoloration, particularly on the face and neck.

Xerosis: Hemochromatosis can cause the skin to become excessively dry and itchy, a condition known as xerosis.

- Joint Pain:

Excess iron can accumulate in the joints, causing pain and stiffness. This is particularly noticeable in the joints of the hands, wrists, knees, and ankles. The discomfort can range from mild to severe, sometimes affecting mobility and causing a decrease in the quality of life.

- Hypothyroidism:

Hemochromatosis can affect the thyroid gland, disrupting the production of thyroid hormones. This can lead to hypothyroidism, a condition characterized by low levels of thyroid hormones, which can cause various symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, constipation, and impaired memory, among others.