Iron plays an integral role in the transfer of oxygen throughout the body, but it also supports healthy immune function and helps enzymes facilitate chemical reactions within the cells. However, too much iron can cause serious health problems in some, a condition which is known as hemochromatosis.
Treating hemochromatosis usually entails special diets and therapies, including taking medication to decrease how much iron is stored in your body and therapeutic blood removal. People with hemochromatosis are also encouraged to learn more about the condition, which can help you dispel a few common myths.
Most people with hemochromatosis have the primary form, meaning that an inherited genetic abnormality is the cause of the disorder. There’s also secondary hemochromatosis, which is associated with certain health conditions or treatments. For instance, long-term kidney dialysis, blood transfusions, liver disease, and anaemia can all cause problems with iron accumulation in the body.
Hemochromatosis is associated with symptoms like heart palpitations, weakness, fatigue, and joint pain, but not all people with this condition experience these effects. Some people have elevated iron levels in their body but experience no ill-effects. Others can develop severe complications, such as damage to the liver and heart and an increased risk of health problems like diabetes and arthritis. Even when symptoms do occur, they may not cause issues until a person is middle-aged, as it can take time for iron toxicity to take effect.
It is true that liver cirrhosis, which is a complication of hemochromatosis, most often affects men. This is likely due to the loss of iron in women that occurs during menstruation and pregnancy, which can prevent toxic levels from accumulating. However, that does not mean that women are completely immune to this disorder. When it comes to the hereditary form of hemochromatosis, men and women are equally impacted.