Hey there viewers and welcome back to bestie.
Have you ever thought about the iron content in your body?
It does help with blood production but that doesn’t mean, the more the merrier.
Hemochromatosis is a condition that develops if there is too much iron.
Normally, the intestines are responsible for absorbing this mineral from the foods you
eat.
But in Hemochromatosis it absorbs too much and there is no way to get rid of it.
Often hereditary, Iron overload causes extreme fatigue, abdomen and joint pain.
Is there a way to tell your body is absorbing more iron than needed?
Sure there is!
Liver problems?
General weakness?
Joint pain?
We’re talking all this and much more, so stay tuned to learn everything about iron
overload.
Signs and Symptoms
Excessive accumulation of iron takes time, generally years.
The symptoms become clearer between 40 to 60 years of age.
The severity of symptoms vary depending on the organ affected.
Some people may have undetected symptoms while others may suffer from serious complications,
including the risk of organ failure.
Either way it is important to know what hemochromatosis looks and feels like:
Common Early Signs The common signs of early iron overload may
seem similar to any other disease.
In the case where it is hereditary, you may have joint inflammation focussed in the small
joints of the fingers, commonly known as arthritis.
All this is accompanied with bouts of fatigue, weakness and unintentional weight loss.
Enlarged liver and spleen is another severe, early sign.
Additional symptoms occur depending on the organ affected which include liver, pancreas,
heart and skin.
If left untreated this could lead to some serious health complications.
Have you ever gone through any liver issues?
What were the early signs?
Share it with us in the comments section below.
Liver Problems The fact that too much iron is a hereditary
disease, should not be taken lightly.
Liver abnormalities like an enlarged or scarred liver are classic signs of hemochromatosis.
These symptoms alone can potentially lead to other chronic diseases.
The earlier stages of liver issues will cause abnormal functioning of the organ with the
absence of any clinical signs.
People who have hereditary iron overload problems will be more likely to develop liver cancer
in the later stages of their lives.
Joint Pain This is one of the most common symptoms and
a recurrent sign in most cases of iron overload.
This is sort of a chronic, indolent pain sometimes accompanied with joint stiffness, bone enlargement
and almost no sign of inflammation.
Few acute episodes of joint inflammation may occur in the writs, knees, shoulders and feet.
These kinds of pain occur because too much iron is stored in the joints and other organs
after absorption.
It is always advisable to get yourself checked out in case of joint pain.
Darkening Of Skin Too much iron is not only a problem for organs
like the pancreas and heart, it also affects the largest organ on the body...the skin.
Also referred to as ‘bronzing’, patches of darker skin is considered another classic
symptom of hemochromatosis.
This is due to increased skin pigmentation, or too much melanin, in the skin.
Excessive skin pigmentation is also an advanced progression of a variety of diseases but is
most common with iron overload.
Heart Problems The symptoms of iron overload can be hereditary
or developed.
In some cases, people suffering from this underlying disease can remain asymptomatic.
Unprecedented amount of iron deposits in the heart leads to heart disease.
However, once these problems develop, there is a rapid depletion of overall health.
The accumulation of iron over a certain amount leads to unexplained heart failure.
This begins with irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia which should be detected in its early stages
followed by preventive measures to nip the problem in the bud.
Why is too much iron bad?
Iron overload is the gradual build up of iron because the body is unable to regulate healthy
levels.
For many, this is not a big deal, but when it is passed on as a genetic condition it
can cause some serious problems.
With too much iron accumulation over time, it gets easier for the body to develop certain
diseases.
Here is why too much of iron is bad for anyone:
Cancer Risk High iron content is directly linked to the
risk of cancer.
If this condition is hereditary, then you will be at higher risk.
This happens because too much iron is toxic to the cells and tissues.
If left untreated for a long time, this will develop into a tumor.
Sure, iron is crucial for smooth bodily functions but too much of anything is not good.
Risk Of Developing Infection Iron is a tricky element in humans.
Too much or too little can cause problems.
This happens for 2 reasons:
First, some amount of iron is needed in the body to kill off harmful bacteria.
Second, elevated iron levels cause growth in bacteria increasing the risk of infection.
Too much of it is the reason behind bacterial skin infections.
This happens when the bacteria affects the lower skin layer.
Iron Toxicity Iron toxicity can occur gradually or suddenly.
It is a condition where too much iron increases the number of ‘free’ iron in the blood.
Normally very little free iron is present in the blood.
A gradual increase will lead to chronic iron overload disorder.
Some early signs of toxicity include nausea, vomiting and stomach pain.
People taking iron supplements should also keep track of their intake.
Remember to always balance it out.
Diabetes Hemochromatosis leads to secondary diabetes,
which is caused by an underlying disease.
One of the main indicators is the natural bronzing of the skin.
The main reason behind the development of diabetes is the storage of extra iron in the
pancreas .This hinders the proper pumping of insulin in the blood leading to a rise
in blood glucose levels.
If you notice any symptoms such as unintentional weight loss, blurred vision and feeling more
tired than usual then you should get yourself checked for diabetes.
Have you been diagnosed with diabetes?
Looking for a good diet plan?
Here are some superfoods for diabetics.
Now back to the signs of too much iron and how it can be potentially harmful!
Heart Failure Once iron overload has reached dangerous levels,
without any medical help, it can lead to the dysfunction or toxicity of any organ.
In the past, heart failure caused by iron overload was overlooked, but it has now become
one of the reasons behind congestive heart failure.
It is mainly deposited in the muscles, tissues and bones and this is where the heart comes
into play.
If not detected in the early stages, toxic iron overload will also lead to additional
heart disease.
Now that you know the symptoms and the risks that come with too much iron it's now time
to look at treatment:
Therapeutic Phlebotomy This is a procedure that helps separate iron
from the blood.
It involves taking blood, similar to a regular blood donation procedure.
This will be done once or twice every week where blood will be removed in order to lower
iron levels.
This is one of the most fruitful ways of getting your iron levels back to normal.
Iron Chelation Treatment This therapy uses a special kind of medicine
to improve your iron situation.
This is a great way of lowering iron levels for people who cannot get their blood removed
regularly.
It involves an injection or swallowing medicine.
It is one of the most convenient options for busy individuals but it’s also very important
to keep an eye on the blood iron levels by getting regular blood tests done after this
treatment.
Dietary Changes The first step would be to limit or completely
eliminate iron supplements or foods that cause a spike in iron levels.
Foods containing Vitamin C should be avoided at all costs.
This is because Vitamin C helps the absorption of iron from food.
Fish and shellfish are another thing that should be eliminated from your diet.
Some fish contain bacteria that aggravate or cause infection in people suffering from
elevated iron levels.
Lastly, alcohol, the liver's arch nemesis, should be avoided at all costs.
Ongoing Care Once diagnosed with iron overload it is important
for you to continue therapeutic treatments.
Regular follow ups with your doctor and notifying them of worsening or new symptoms will be
the perfect route to take.
Another ideal way of controlling it is to keep a log of your everyday iron consumption.
Do not skip any medication, either.
If you do all this then your iron troubles will be a thing of the past!
Here are some foods you can eat to manage iron overload:
Fresh fruit and Vegetables High antioxidant foods are the key to managing
iron levels.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are packed with natural, essential, vitamins and minerals.
It is not necessary for you to cut back on foods high in iron content.
Reason being that leafy greens like spinach are high in easily absorbable iron which is
required by the body for normal functioning.
Grains and Legumes Grains and legumes are another healthy and
nutrient rich source of food.
They contain certain substances that stop the absorption of iron in the body.
A high grain diet is not recommended for people who are at a high risk of developing mineral
deficiency.
However people diagnosed with hemochromatosis can benefit from these food groups as it would
maintain blood iron levels.
Eggs Eggs are rich in all sorts of nutrients and
they are packed with highly soluble iron.
Other than that, the yolk also contains certain minerals that stop the body from absorbing
more iron.
When compared to soy protein, egg yolks work the best towards inhibition of iron absorption.
It is an ideal choice for hemochromatosis patients.
Tea And Coffee Both tea and coffee contain a substance called
tannin which has several health benefits.
It works wonderfully towards stopping the body from absorbing more iron than required.
All coffee and tea lovers should rejoice!
The tannic acid present also inhibits proper absorption of iron from food.
What does a healthy lifestyle mean for you?
Which diet do you follow?
Tell us all about it in the comments section below.