Symptoms of Too Much Iron

As mentioned, in clinical terms, the condition of too much iron in blood is known as hemochromatosis. It causes the body to absorb too much of iron from the food that is consumed. Iron, as we are aware, is one of the most essential nutrients required by the body for its daily functioning. However, there is a limit in the amount of iron that should be in the body. But when this disease strikes, iron keeps on accumulating in the body. So the excess of iron that is absorbed, find organs like the liver, heart, and pancreas as the storehouses. And with time, this store of iron damages all such organs. Hemochromatosis exists in many forms, the most common being the hereditary hemochromatosis. The other types could be caused by frequent blood transfusions, certain blood disorders, disease of the liver, alcohol abuse, or overdose of iron pills.

What Indicates Elevated Iron Levels in Blood?

As the process of iron accumulation tends to develop gradually over years, symptoms of too much iron appear late in life, usually after age 40. And the early symptoms, whatever they are, are vague, and are mistaken for another medical condition. The symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• The upper right portion of the abdomen might be painful
• Low sex drive
• Joint pain
• Skin gets darker with time
• Weight loss
• One important symptom of hemochromatosis in women is lack of normal menstruation.

One important aspect to know is, men are more vulnerable to develop this condition than women. This is because, women, during menstruation, are able to get rid of the excess iron through blood.

The condition is diagnosed with the help of blood tests. As I have mentioned above, most of the time, this condition is hereditary. The gene that causes it can be detected in an early stage, if one goes for medical help. In this way, parents may avoid their children from developing the same disease which they might already have.

Treatment

Treatment of high iron levels in blood is necessary to manage its unpleasant symptoms, and to avoid complications such as :

• Chest pain
• Cirrhosis
• Diabetes
• Congestive heart failure
• Damage to organs like pancreas, liver, and heart.
• Cancer of the liver
• Discoloration of the skin

As far as the treatment goes, the method is known as phlebotomy. It is opposite to blood donation. Here the doctor removes blood from the body, on a regular basis. The condition may be so severe in some cases that, people may have to go for this removal process for the rest of their lives. Once the iron levels get stabilized, the phlebotomy can be done for 4-6 times a year.

Phlebotomy does not suit all patients, especially for those who have some kind of heart complications. So for them, their doctors might prescribe medicines called chelating agents. These drugs function by gathering the excess iron and getting rid of it through the urine or stool.

Patients should not make use of vitamin C supplements. This is because, it enhances the body's ability to absorb iron. However, natural sources of vitamin C like fruits, and fruit juices be taken.

Medications when combined with a few self-care measures, do well in dealing with the symptoms of the condition. Patients are advised not to take iron supplements. Alcohol must be avoided as it increases the risk of the complication such as liver damage. Shellfish must also be avoided as this is one of the rich sources of iron.