What is hemochromatosis?

Hemochromatosis happens when too much iron builds up in the body. Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin, the part of your blood that carries oxygen to all of your cells. But when there is too much iron, it can damage the liver and heart.

The most common type of hemochromatosis runs in families. But people sometimes get it from having a lot of blood transfusions, certain blood problems, liver disease, or alcoholism, or from taking too many iron pills.

Men are much more likely than women to have too much iron built up. Women get rid of extra iron through blood from their menstrual cycles and during pregnancy.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms often don't appear until a person is 40 or older. This is because extra iron builds up slowly throughout the person’s life.

The early symptoms are somewhat vague or subtle. So this disease is sometimes mistaken for another condition. Early symptoms include:

• Tiredness.
• Weakness.
• Pain in the joints.
• Weight loss.
• Pain in the belly.
• Decreased sex drive.
• A change in skin color (it gets darker).
• Urinating more often.

How is hemochromatosis diagnosed?

Your doctor will do a physical exam and ask about your medical history. If the doctor suspects hemochromatosis, you will have blood tests to see if you have too much iron in your body.

Most of the time hemochromatosis is caused by a gene that runs in families. It can be found early with a blood test. If you have this disease, you may want to have your children tested to see if they have it. Other family members may also want to be tested. Talking to a genetic counselor will help you decide whether genetic testing is a good idea for you and your family.

How is it treated?

Treatment can reverse most symptoms and prevent damage to the liver, heart, and other organs. It involves getting rid of the extra iron in your body, usually by having blood taken out of your body on a regular schedule. Most people need to do this for the rest of their lives.

Sometimes medicines called chelating agents are used. These medicines gather up excess iron and remove it through the urine.

Don't take extra vitamin C pills if you have hemochromatosis. Taking too much vitamin C can cause your body to absorb more of the iron you eat. But it’s okay to eat and drink foods that naturally contain vitamin C.

Can hemochromatosis be prevented?

Having hemochromatosis in your family doesn't mean that you will automatically get it. If you find out that you have inherited a gene that causes hemochromatosis, early treatment can sometimes keep you from getting it.

And if you do get it, treating it early can reverse most symptoms and prevent future problems.

Getting this disease by eating too much iron in your food is rare. But it’s always good to pay attention to how much iron you are getting in vitamins and the foods you eat.

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