What disease is caused by too much iron?
Hereditary hemochromatosis (he-moe-kroe-muh-TOE-sis) causes your body to absorb too much iron from the food you eat. Excess iron is stored in your organs, especially your liver, heart and pancreas. Too much iron can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as liver disease, heart problems and diabetes.
What are the symptoms of too much iron in the blood?
Symptoms
- tiredness or fatigue.
- weakness.
- weight loss.
- abdominal pain.
- high blood sugar levels.
- hyperpigmentation, or the skin turning a bronze color.
- a loss of libido, or sex drive.
- in males, reduction in the size of the testicles.
Can hemochromatosis be cured?
There’s currently no cure for haemochromatosis, but there are treatments that can reduce the amount of iron in your body. This can help relieve some of the symptoms and reduce the risk of damage to organs such as the heart, liver and pancreas.
What foods to avoid if you have hemochromatosis?
Foods to avoid when you have hemochromatosis
- Excess red meat. Red meat can be a healthy part of a well-rounded diet if eaten in moderation.
- Raw seafood.
- Foods rich in vitamins A and C.
- Fortified foods.
- Excess alcohol.
- Supplements.
What is the best treatment for hemochromatosis?
The most common treatment of hereditary hemochromatosis is removal of blood (phlebotomy), which lowers the iron level. Blood removal is similar to the process of donating blood. It is usually done once per week until the iron levels are normal. This may require 9 to 12 months of weekly blood removal.
Can too much iron make you tired?
Too much iron (not too little) can cause serious health problems like fatigue, joint pain, diabetes and liver disease.
How does high iron make you feel?
High blood iron usually affects the liver, where an overabundance of iron can result in liver swelling and damage. Symptoms of high blood iron include generalized abdominal symptoms, fatigue and lethargy, darkening of the skin, weight loss, and weakness.
Does hemochromatosis shorten life expectancy?
Hemochromatosis may shorten life expectancy. It can be fatal. If hemochromatosis is diagnosed after organ damage has already occurred, there may be permanent scarring of the liver, which in turn may lead to liver cancer.
Is too much iron in the blood dangerous to health?
Excess iron is stored in your organs, especially your liver, heart and pancreas. Too much iron can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as liver disease, heart problems and diabetes. The genes that cause hemochromatosis are inherited, but only a minority of people who have the genes ever develop serious problems.
What are symptoms of too high iron?
There are many causes of high iron in the blood. Some symptoms of too much iron are fatigue, weakness and unexplained weight loss.
What are the side effects of too much iron?
Gastrointestinal Side Effects. Consuming too much iron may produce gastrointestinal side effects such as heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, discomfort, nausea, liver damage, vomiting blood, black and bloody stools and metallic taste in your mouth.
What are the symptoms of high iron in blood?
The symptoms of high iron levels in the blood are: Fatigue, weakness. Unexplained weight loss. Hair loss. Shortness of breath. Dizziness. Headaches.