Do you have too much iron in your body? Let's learn everything about hemochromatosis (iron overload)!

We have all heard of iron deficiency, which means anemia, right? We often hear advice to eat spinach, eat spinach, and take iron tablets. But have you ever thought about what happens if there is too much iron in the body? Yes, that can also be a serious problem. That is what we medically call Hemochromatosis, or simply Iron Overload. Today, we will talk about this in detail, very simply.

Simply put, what is Hemochromatosis?

Think of your body as a warehouse. We absorb the nutrients we need from the food we eat and drink. Iron is one such essential nutrient. Iron is very important for making red blood cells in our blood and giving our body energy. But like everything else, too much iron can be a problem if it is taken in excess.

Hemochromatosis is the problem. In this condition, your body absorbs much more iron than it needs from food. The problem is, our body has no way to get rid of this excess iron. So what does the body do? This excess iron starts to accumulate in vital organs like the liver, heart, and pancreas. It's like storing things we don't use in a closet. Over time, this accumulated iron starts to damage those organs and impair their function. If left untreated, it can be life-threatening. But the good news is that if it's detected early, it's a disease that can be almost completely controlled.

What are the symptoms? When do these appear?

One of the unique features of this disease is that it takes a long time for symptoms to appear. Although this condition is usually congenital, symptoms only appear when iron accumulates in the body and begins to damage organs. This can take years. Most people do not develop symptoms until they are 40-50 years old. Some people have a very mild form of the disease and may not show symptoms for their entire lives.

Let's see what the main symptoms are.

Why is this happening? What are the reasons?

There are two main categories of reasons for this.

1. Main cause: Hereditary Hemochromatosis

Most people develop this disease because of a genetic defect, that is, a small change in the genes inherited from both parents.

Simply think of it this way. There is a special gene that controls the absorption of iron in our body. We call it the `(HFE gene)`. Every child gets one copy of this gene from their mother and one copy from their father. In order to develop hemochromatosis, there must be a defect in both the copy of the gene from their mother and the copy of the gene from their father.

Therefore, even if both parents are carriers of this defective gene, they may not have symptoms. However, if a child born to them receives both copies of this defective gene, the child is likely to develop the disease. The two main types of defects seen in the `(HFE gene)` are `(C282Y)` and `(H63D)`.

In addition, there is a rare type called ``Juvenile Hemochromatosis`` that appears at a young age, that is, between the ages of 15-30. It is caused by mutations in other genes ``(HJV, HAMP)``.

2. Caused by other medical conditions (Secondary Hemochromatosis)

Sometimes, iron overload can be caused by another medical condition or treatment. This is not hereditary.

• Frequent blood transfusions: People with certain blood disorders (such as anemias such as thalassemia) often need to have blood transfusions. When blood is given in this way for a long time, the iron in that blood can build up in the body, causing this condition.
• Severe liver disease: The liver is the main organ that controls iron metabolism in our body. If the liver is severely damaged (e.g. cirrhosis), it may not be able to properly handle iron and it may accumulate in the body.
• Excessive alcohol consumption: Alcohol not only damages the liver, but also increases the body's absorption of iron.

What harm can excess iron do to the body?

As we mentioned earlier, too much iron is like poison to the body. This iron gradually builds up in the organs and starts to damage them. This can lead to serious complications.

How do you find this, Doctor?

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above or if someone in your family has this condition, be sure to see a doctor. The doctor will first ask you a few questions and examine you.

• Ask if your parents or anyone in your family has iron overload or liver disease.
• They ask if you are taking iron pills or vitamin C supplements (vitamin C increases iron absorption).
• They ask about the amount of alcohol you drink.

After that, several tests are performed to confirm the disease.

• Blood tests: This is the most basic test. Your blood will be tested for iron levels (Serum Iron), a protein that stores iron (Serum Ferritin), and how full the iron-transporting protein is (Transferrin Saturation). If these levels are elevated, hemochromatosis may be suspected.
• Genetic testing: A blood sample can be taken to check for defects in the HFE gene. This can help determine if you have the inherited form.
• MRI scan: This can painlessly measure how much iron is deposited in the liver and heart.
• Liver biopsy: In some cases, to determine the exact extent of liver damage, a small piece of tissue is taken from the liver using a small needle and examined under a microscope.

What is the treatment? Can this be cured?

Yes, there are effective treatments for this. The main goal of treatment is to reduce the amount of excess iron in the body, maintain it at a normal level, and prevent further damage to the organs.

There are several main treatment methods.