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Signs of Iron Excess

Having too much iron in your blood is a dangerous condition known as iron overload. The most common form of iron overload is hemochromatosis. Primary hemochromatosis is hereditary, and secondary hemochromatosis is caused by other health problems like anemia and alcoholism. If the condition goes untreated it can lead to arthritis, liver problems, severe fatigue, and heart problems. It's important to recognize the early signs of iron overload and get it taken care of before these very serious complications occur.

  1. Joint Pain

    • According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, the most common symptom of iron overload is joint pain. Unfortunately, joint pain can also be a symptom of main other diseases, including arthritis, which may occur on its own outside of an iron overload disorder.

    Fatigue

    • Another common early sign of an iron overload disorder is fatigue or extreme tiredness. This symptom is also very hard to place because it can indicate many different diseases. However, doctors sometimes request a simple blood test to diagnose unexplained fatigue, so this symptom can can help them diagnose an iron overload disorder relatively early.

    Abdominal Pain

    • The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says abdominal pain is also an early symptom of an iron overload disorder. Abdominal pain includes any pain in the stomach or colon areas.

    Weight Loss

    • Although many people would be happy to lose weight, losing too much weight too fast can be an indication of an iron overload disorder. Weight loss can also be a symptom if the patient continues to lose weight despite having a healthy appetite.

    Weakness

    • Having too much iron can also cause extreme weakness. The good news about this symptom is that it can also indicate anemia, which is not having enough iron in the blood. Doctors testing for anemia may instead discover iron overload disorder.

    Long-term Symptoms

    • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that as excess iron builds up in the body over time, patients may also experience early menopause, loss of impotence or sex drive, loss of body hair, and shortness of breath. These symptoms are more serious than the early signs of an iron overload disorder, but less serious than the complications caused by letting the condition go untreated.

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