What is high iron in the blood?
High iron in the blood is most commonly caused by hemochromatosis, a common genetic disorder. Symptoms of high iron in the blood include fatigue, weakness and pain in the abdomen near the liver. This condition is manageable through prescribed treatments and drugs, but these can cause severe damage to the internal organs if not managed properly. If you have high iron levels, avoid alcohol, shellfish and nutritional supplements containing iron.
Facts
Increased iron levels can be a symptom of a wide
variety of problems, including genetic disorders such as hereditary
hemochromatosis, hemolytic anemia, multiple blood transfusions, a high dietary
intake of iron and even alcoholism. According to the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC), high iron in the blood is usually caused by a genetic disorder
where a person inherits a defective gene from both parents. The Mayo Clinic
adds that middle-aged men of northern European descent are the most likely
group to present symptoms of inherited disease causing
high iron in the blood.
Symptoms
Fatigue is the complaint that brings most people who
have high iron in the blood to the doctor. A person experiencing iron overload
feels extremely tired all the time, has muscle weakness, may experience
unhealthy weight loss, and will experience pain in the abdomen near the liver
and in the joints. Since the symptoms for both high and low iron in the blood
are similar, your doctor must perform laboratory tests to determine which
extreme is causing your complaints.
Solutions
High iron in the blood can be treated to make you
more comfortable, but hemochromatosis is typically genetic in origin--so the
disease will not go away. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that patients are often treated by
removing blood from the body periodically to induce mild anemia. Some chelation
therapies have been used with success, as well as eliminating iron supplements
and reducing the patient's intake of iron-rich foods.
Warning
Patients who suffer from iron overload store the
extra iron in their livers. Over time, this extra iron can cause liver
damage--including cirrhosis. It is important to treat hemochromatosis as early
as possible to avoid serious organ damage.
Home Remedies
Multivitamins typically contain an iron component,
so ensure you know what yours provides. In addition, Vitamin C supplements are
known to increase the body's absorption of iron, so both should be avoided.
It is recommended the hemochromatosis sufferers avoid alcohol because
alcohol can damage the liver, creating a very dangerous combination. Raw
shellfish should also be avoided to reduce the possibility of infections
sometimes caused by consuming them.
