Do you often feel tired and have joint pain? Sometimes we think these are normal and ignore them. But these things can also be symptoms of too much iron in our body. Today we are talking about one such condition, "Hemochromatosis". Although this is a bit of an unfamiliar name, it is very important to know about it.
Simply put, what is hemochromatosis?
Hemochromatosis is
a condition in which your body accumulates too much iron. Some people also call it "iron overload." Normally, our intestines absorb only the amount of iron our body needs from the foods we eat. But in people with hemochromatosis, the body absorbs more iron than it needs. The problem is that there is no way to get rid of this excess iron. So the body stores this excess iron in your joints and in vital organs like the liver, heart, and pancreas.
Just like a water tank overflows after it is full, when our body has too much iron , it starts to accumulate in our organs. When this happens over time, it can damage those organs. If left untreated, it can even cause those organs to stop working.
There are two main types of this condition.
This condition can be divided into two main types. 1.
Primary Hemochromatosis: This is
a hereditary condition. That is, it is passed down through family members through genes. To be precise, in order to develop this disease, you must receive the defective gene from both your mother and father. 2.
Secondary Hemochromatosis: This occurs due to other reasons. For example, this condition can occur in people who have a medical condition that requires frequent blood transfusions (e.g., thalassemia) or in people with other liver diseases.
What are the causes of hemochromatosis?
Hereditary causes
The HFE gene controls how much iron our body absorbs from food. Two mutations in the HFE gene, C282Y and H63D, are responsible for the majority of hereditary hemochromatosis cases. Other genes can also cause a small number of cases (about 10%-15%). These are called non-HFE hemochromatosis. If there are mutations in genes such as HJV or HAMP, symptoms usually appear at a young age. Sometimes, liver damage
and cirrhosis can occur as early as a young child.The situation is likely to arise.
Other external causes (Secondary Causes)
This type usually occurs when a person has a condition such as severe anemia and requires frequent blood transfusions. This is because the red blood cells that are given to them from outside contain a lot of iron. Since the body has no way to remove this iron, it starts to accumulate. Iron accumulation can also increase when the liver is damaged by diseases such as cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis B or C.
Who is most at risk for this?
If you have the following factors, you are at higher risk of developing hemochromatosis. Let's look at a table to understand this clearly.
| Risk factor | Description |
|---|
| Having two defective HFE genes | This is the main risk factor. The gene must be inherited from both the mother and the father. |
| Family history | If one of your parents or siblings has this condition, you are also at risk. |
| Being a man | Men are five times more likely to develop this disease than women. |
| Menopause | Women lose a significant amount of iron from their bodies through monthly bleeding. This stops after menopause or after a hysterectomy, which increases the risk of iron overload. |
What are the symptoms of hemochromatosis?
About half of people with hemochromatosis do not experience any symptoms. For men, symptoms usually begin to appear between the ages of 30 and 50. For women, symptoms often appear after age 50, or after menopause. Here are some of the main symptoms:
- Joint pain , especially in the joints and knees.
- Chronic fatigue for no reason.
- Weight loss without reason.
- Skin turning bronze or gray .
- Abdominal pain .
- Decreased sexual desire .
- Body hair loss.
- Changes in heart rate (Heart flutter).
- A foggy memory feels a bit confused, like a foggy brain.
Importantly, this condition can be made worse if you take vitamin C pills or eat more foods rich in vitamin C. This is because vitamin C increases the body's absorption of iron from food.
Sometimes, the disease does not manifest these symptoms, but instead presents as other complications. For example:
- Liver problems, especially cirrhosis
- Diabetes
- Heartbeat abnormalities
- Arthritis
- Erectile dysfunction
How do you find this, Doctor?
Because these symptoms can be seen in other diseases, sometimes the diagnosis can be a little complicated. But if you have symptoms, risk factors, or a family member has the disease, your doctor will check for it. Here are some of the main ways to diagnose the disease:
- Asking about your and your family's medical history: The doctor will ask if anyone in your family has this disease, liver disease, or arthritis.
- Physical examination: Your body will be examined.
- Blood tests: Two main tests are performed.
1.
Transferrin saturation: This shows how much iron is bound to transferrin, a protein that transports iron in the blood. 2.
Serum ferritin: This measures the level of ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. If these tests show high iron levels, your doctor may refer you for genetic testing to determine if you have the gene that causes hemochromatosis.- Liver biopsy: A very small piece of the liver is taken and examined under a microscope to see if there is any damage to the liver.
- MRI scan: Uses magnets and radio waves to make clear images of your organs.
What are the treatments?
If you have hereditary hemochromatosis, the main treatment is phlebotomy . Simply put, this is the removal of blood from your body at regular intervals . It is similar to how we donate blood in Sri Lanka. A doctor or trained nurse inserts a needle into a vein in your arm and removes a certain amount of blood. The main goal of this is to bring the iron levels in your blood back to normal. This happens in two parts:- Initial treatment: You will need to go to the hospital or clinic once or twice a week to have blood drawn until your iron levels return to normal. This may take a year or more.
- Maintenance treatment: Once iron levels have returned to normal, the frequency of blood transfusions is reduced. This is usually done two to four times a year.
If you have secondary hemochromatosis, or if your veins are not strong enough to remove the blood, your doctor may recommend a treatment called chelation therapy . This involves giving you medications that help your body eliminate excess iron through your urine and stool. What changes can be made at home and in your lifestyle?
If you are undergoing phlebotomy, you usually don't need to follow a strict diet because it helps control your iron levels. However, you can do the following to reduce your risk of complications:- Avoid alcohol completely. Alcohol can increase liver damage.
- Avoid eating raw fish or shellfish. They may contain bacteria that can cause infections in people with high iron levels.
- Avoid taking vitamin C supplements. However, there is no problem in consuming natural foods containing vitamin C (e.g. oranges, tangerines).
- Avoid taking iron supplements or multivitamins that contain iron.
- Avoid breakfast cereals that have iron added (fortified).
- Reduce your intake of iron-rich foods (e.g., oysters, duck, spinach). Ask your doctor about this.Listen and find out more.
Take-Home Message
- Hemochromatosis is a condition in which too much iron accumulates in the body. It is mainly a genetic condition that is passed down through generations.
- Symptoms may include fatigue, joint pain, and skin discoloration. Some people may have no symptoms at all.
- If you have symptoms or someone in your family has this disease, see your doctor immediately for advice.
- Early diagnosis and treatment (Phlebotomy) can control iron levels in the body and prevent organ damage.
- This is not a condition to be feared. With proper medical treatment and advice, you can live a normal, healthy life.
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