Too Much Iron

As the saying goes, everything when in excess is bad, so is excessive iron. In medical terminology, too much iron in the body is referred as hemochromatosis. Although, presence of iron is important for a healthy living, excess iron in the body is definitely not good for health. It is a known fact that digestion takes place in the intestine. The small intestine does the job of absorbing nutrients from the ingested food. Hemochromatosis occurs when the small intestines absorb iron in large amounts. The iron absorption capability of small intestine is significantly greater than normal in patients diagnosed with hemochromatosis. The surplus iron absorbed, usually gets deposited in the heart, liver and the pancreas. Over time, these iron deposits may interfere with the normal functioning of these organs.

Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disorder, which means the fault lies in the chromosomes or genes. A person affected with hemochromatosis is likely to pass this disorder to his child. Although, it is uncommon to hear hemochromatosis running in families, one cannot deny that this condition is a genetic disorder.

Symptoms

As aforementioned, iron levels going up beyond the normal range cannot be tolerated by the body. Initially the symptoms are not worrisome but as the iron levels keep on increasing, symptoms become serious. Some of the most common symptoms associated with iron overload are given below.

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Abdominal cramps
• Nausea
• Skin rash
• Muscle weakness
• Impotence

Side Effects

In hemochromatosis, concentration of iron is more in the liver, heart and the pancreas, so these organs are predisposed to damage. It is explained below:

Liver Problems
Abnormally high levels of iron cannot be tolerated by the liver. Elevated blood iron levels predisposes a person to liver problems. Excessive iron in the blood is likely to damage the liver and cause jaundice. An enlarged liver has been associated with high blood iron levels. Liver damage due to iron build up can also manifest in the form of cirrhosis. In liver disorders, skin discoloration occurs and is often accompanied by ankle swelling.

Heart Ailments
As the blood iron level shoots up, one cannot expect a healthy heart. Abnormal heart beats or irregular heart palpitations is an indication of abnormally high levels of iron in blood. Studies show that too much iron in blood for prolonged periods can tighten and contract the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. This may cause a sudden heart attack. Arteries becoming hard and stiff, eventually causing atherosclerosis, is yet another side effect of abnormally high iron levels in blood. Experts are of the firm opinion that people with elevated blood iron levels are susceptible to heart problems.

Pancreatic Ailments
In the presence of abnormal accumulation of iron, the pancreas may no longer be able to perform its assigned task. Problems in the pancreas are detected when the person suffers from diabetes. As we all know, the pancreas are responsible for manufacturing insulin, a hormone that keeps blood sugar in the normal range. However, excess accumulation of iron makes the pancreas inefficient in performing its designated function. As a result, the organ is unable to produce insulin that is enough to control blood sugar levels. Persistent elevated sugar levels in the blood gives rise to a condition, known as diabetes.

High Blood Pressure
This side effect is commonly observed in pregnant women, who take iron supplements in high doses to prevent iron deficiency anemia. During pregnancy, women are at increased risk of low blood iron levels. Therefore, pregnant women are often advised to take iron pills but an iron overdose can lead to elevated blood pressure levels.

Although hemochromatosis is categorized as a hereditary condition, it does not mean that the symptoms will be noticed soon after birth. It may take years before the person starts showing symptoms. Usually, the symptoms of this condition manifests when the person is in his 30s. It is very unlikely to experience too much iron symptoms in the early stages of life. Also, depending upon individual health and the severity of the condition, symptoms may differ. There have been cases, wherein this hereditary condition was accidentally detected in blood test but surprisingly the person had never complained about any high blood iron symptoms.

Moderate consumption of iron rich foods, staying away from iron supplements as well as extraction of blood in small amounts on a regular basis can help to alleviate the side effects associated with the presence of iron overload. In some patients blood removal is not a feasible option and so in such cases, medications are prescribed to encourage elimination of iron through urine.