Hemochromatosis

Hereditary Hemochromatosis Linked to Stroke

2009-08-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

People with a specific type of hemochromatosis, an inherited disorder that causes the body to absorb and store too much iron, have more than twice the risk of stroke, according to a report published in Neurology.

Hemochromatosis Diet Help

2009-07-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

The condition itself [hemochromatosis] can be greatly aggravated by excessive alcohol consumption, Vitamin C intake, infections and other environmental factors.

As with most other conditions, one of the best ways to treat it naturally is to abide by a strict and healthy diet. While it is essential that you visit your licensed doctor and stringently follow any recommended medication, a healthy diet will help significantly reduce the amount of time taken to recover.

First off, you should avoid any iron supplements, including multivitamins that contain iron. Since vitamin C helps increase the human body’s ability to absorb iron, it is essential that you stay away from it as well.

A high intake of foods like beans, rice, nuts and grain is highly recommended as they do not contain any non-heme irons. One should also stay away from any food that contains sugar, as sugar greatly stimulates iron absorption in the human body. Foods rich in fiber content, eggs and supplemental calcium will help significantly in reducing the iron content of the body.

Health Care Tips - http://healthcaretipforyou.blogspot.com

Hemochromatosis - Recap Of Things I Have Learned

2009-07-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

I borrowed this article from The Stephen Cobb Blog
http://cobbsblog.com/blog/?p=611
Fresh perspective, forward thinking, informed by the past.

And the Damage Done: Hemochromatosis recap
by scobb on July 20, 2009

The following is a recap of things I have learned from my partner’s experience with hemochromatosis, a.k.a iron overload. I wrote this up for a support forum which is private, but I thought it would be helpful to make it available to anyone looking for information on this insidious condition. BTW, the circle+arrow symbol on the left is the alchemical symbol for iron, and yes, it is the same symbol that is used for the planet Mars and for the male of the species (I’m not going to touch that one, I have a hard enough time avoiding “ironic” puns when writing about this stuff).

[Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. Seek medical advice before acting on, or drawing conclusions from, anything I say here. By all means Google this stuff, but do so sensibly (check the bona fides of the folks writing what you read, distrust any site that is selling a cure, and look for the HONcode which is a good sign).]

When blogs or online forums mention hemochromatosis, also known as iron overload, they often leave you with more questions than answers. This is not surprising because hemochromatosis is widely misunderstood (and widely under-diagnosed e.g. if you know someone who has been diagnosed with chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia you really should check out hemochromatosis–if untreated it can kill).

You often hear “hemochromatosis can be treated” as though that was the end of the story. Not so… It is true that blood-letting or phlebotomy can reduce the amount of excess iron in the body (which gives the condition its name). However, most hemochromatosis is hereditary and cannot be cured. A person who has hereditary hemochromatosis today has had it since birth. The presence of excess iron in the body over the years may have done irreversible damage before the condition is diagnosed or treated. And getting treatment is seldom as easy as it should.

I know this, because my partner has hemochromatosis which is being treated with phlebotomy, but she nearly died from, and has been disabled by, the effects that the iron overload had on her all those years that it went undiagnosed.

So how does hemochromatosis disable a person if not treated? Let me count the ways. It leads to iron build-up in the joints, the heart, the liver, the gall bladder, and glands like the adrenals, thyroid, and pituitary. (More in a moment on what those things means to one’s health).

Untreated hemochromatosis leads to cirrhosis of the liver even in people who don’t drink, and hastens cirrhosis in those who do drink). It can eventually lead to liver cancer and contributes to heart disease. Have you got any family members who have liver problems but swear they don’t drink? They may be telling the truth. Pay particular attention if you have Irish ancestry–hemochromatosis is more prevalent in Celtic genes (see “Celtic Curse“).

Remember I said hemochromatosis was hereditary and often incorrectly diagnosed? My partner had surgery on both shoulders then had her gall bladder removed way before any doctors connected the dots. Looking back, her mother died relatively young, of a massive stroke. Her mother’s sister died very young from liver cancer. Her father had a triple bypass at 50, then disabling and mis-diagnosed liver disease at 60. Serious heart problems contributed to his death at 70 and that of his son at 40 (ages approximated in the interests of privacy).

An uncle still living has been disabled (and hammered financially) by severe heart problems. Hemochromatosis was at work in all those people but never diagnosed.

So what happens when the adrenals, thyroid, and pituitary fail or malfunction due to hemochromatosis? The list of consequences is long, but worth noting, so here goes:

Adrenal insufficiency or failure: Muscle weakness and fatigue; Weight loss and decreased appetite; Darkening of your skin (hyperpigmentation); Low blood pressure, even fainting and loss of consciousness; Salt craving; Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia); Muscle or joint pains; Irritability; Depression; Pain in your lower back, abdomen or legs; Severe vomiting and diarrhea, leading to dehydration. (Note: there are variations on adrenal issues, c.f. chronic adrenal insufficiency, hypocortisolism, hypocorticism, Addison’s disease.)

Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency: Weakened heart muscle contraction and heart rate; Increased arterial plaque and blood pressure; Elevated lipids or fats in the blood (cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides); Decreased exercise capacity due to decreased cardiac output and decreased metabolic rate; Abnormal body composition (increased abdominal obesity–waist to hip ratio); Decreased bone density due to decreased synthesis of bone; Increase in fractures and osteoporosis; Decreased muscle strength and muscle size; Decreased lean body mass; Increased fat mass; Low blood sugar (dizziness or fainting weakness or tiredness, headaches); Poor concentration or memory; Decreased sexual desire; Sleep problems; Shyness and withdrawal from others; Nervousness or anxiety and decreased social contact; Sadness or depression.

Hypothyroidism: Fatigue; Weakness; Weight gain or increased difficulty losing weight; Coarse, dry hair; Dry, rough pale skin; Hair loss; Cold intolerance (you can’t tolerate cold temperatures like those around you); Muscle cramps and frequent muscle aches; Constipation; Depression; Irritability; Memory loss; Abnormal menstrual cycles; Decreased libido.

Now, I can honestly say that in the past 5 years my partner has experienced all of the above except for the darkening for the skin. And in fact, I left one out. At the end of the list of symptoms of adult growth hormone deficiency cited by the Human Growth Foundation is this one: Feelings of hopelessness. When I read that I thought to myself: “Surely it would be a miracle if you experienced all the other symptoms and didn’t have feelings of hopelessness.”

I know my partner has feelings of hopelessness, even though she is an amazingly strong person. She is taking supplements to cope with the 3 deficiencies she suffers (thyroid pills, cortisol pills, and daily growth hormone injections). Although the side effects of these can be very unpleasant, and it’s very tricky to get the mix right, she is making enough progress to fend off the worst of the depression (she is also taking pills for that of course).

All of which could have been prevented! Let me repeat: It was all preventable. A simple and relatively affordable genetic test is conclusive for hereditary hemochromatosis. Monitoring iron levels in the blood can indicate when phlebotomy is required. Unfortunately, due to a bizarre set of circumstances the iron tests that are vital in dealing with hemochromatosis are not routinely performed in America and, iron-ically, phlebotomies for hemochromatosis are a lot harder to get than you might think.

Would you believe that blood iron saturation tests were the subject of massive fraud cases settled in 1996, causing the tests to be dropped from “standard” panels. That single twist of fate kissed goodbye one of the best screening tools for hemochromatosis in the very same year that doctors discovered most hemochromatosis was genetic. Which was also the year that many clinics started to refuse blood donations from people who had lived in Europe (due to mad cow disease).

Guess who had lived in Europe? My partner and I. Guess who were big blood donors until 1996? My partner and I. And 1996 is when her health started to decline. Very slowly at first, but then accelerated by menopause (monthly blood loss due to periods tends to fend off the effects of hemochromatosis in women so they are often diagnosed later than men, but with more damage done).

And guess why many U.S. clinics won’t take hemochromatosis blood? Because they have no code for it in the system. (That’s what I heard and I’d love to be proven wrong, but it took our local health system four months to give my wife her first phlebotomy after her hemochromatosis was confirmed).

So there you have it, more than you ever wanted to know about hemochromatosis, from how you spell it to what it may do to you if not properly diagnosed and treated.

Of course, I should remind you I AM NOT A DOCTOR, so please seek medical opinion on this stuff if you suspect it is present in your life or that of your loved ones. But DO NOT ASSUME that your doctor, however kind and/or dedicated he or she may be, knows as much about hemochromatosis as you do, now that you have read this.

Started New Hemochromatosis Blog

2009-01-03T15:35:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone.

I have decided to build a much better blog on Wordpress.
Videos and great information to help you live a better life.

Please check it out here

Don't be shy, make a post.
Let other hh sufferers know what's up with you.

Pat

Finally Somebody Has Answers

2008-05-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

Hi.

Sure hope you are doing okay with your Hemochromatosis. [HH]
I got my phlebotomy this morning. It went well.

While I was there I asked a couple nurses what they knew about HH.
Thier answers were both the same...hardly nothing.

Well I just learned a ton of stuff from a great book I read.
I now have so many questions to ask my doctor. I will try and get her to get her own copy of the book. Maybe I should print it out and just give her a copy. At least then she will have a much better understanding of the disease. Sometimes I think she is trying to kill me. But I'm pretty sure she is just ignorant when it comes to HH.

Anyhoo...I was lucky enough for the author to sell me resell rights to the book. So now you have a chance to learn more about HH than
anyone else in the whole world could teach you.

Ironic Health is a book authored by Dr Chris Whittington regarding her experiences studing hemochromatosis cases with Professor Lawrie Powell, probably the foremost authority on Hereditary Hemochromatosis in the world. It was he who convinced the world that Hereditary Hemochromatosis was a genetic disease in 1989 and provided the impetus for the work that was to lead to the cloning of the HFE gene in 1996.

Let a Doctor explain this misunderstood Genetic Disease.

Besides being the HH Bible, it is also a very interesting read.
I will also give you some bonus articles that are packed with technical stuff that you may be interested in.

Dr. Chris Whittington is a recognized authority on hemochromatosis and has practiced medicine in Australia, New Zealand and Canada and has lived in Canada since 1985.

She Currently practices in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
is a Clinical Associate Professor of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia.

is a Past President of the British Columbia College of Family Physicians.

has published and presented a number of papers on hemochromatosis
is currently engaged in ongoing research into hereditary hemochromatosis.

Dr Whittington's mother has hemochromatosis so she has a personal interest in seeing that patients are helped.

What Dr Whittington's Peers have Said:

"Chris Whittington's comprehensive review of hemochromatosis in the real world - Ironic Health - is a 'must read' for both patients and their doctors. Make it a point to read this one from cover to cover".

This really is the best stuff I've read on HH.

I really, really, hope that you will go here:

Ironic Health

and buy this absolutely awesome book.

If you don't think this book delivers, just let me know...
I will refund every cent. And you can keep the book.

So I hope you will do yourself a giant favor and pickup a copy.
Delivered over the internet so you can be reading it in about 30 seconds.

Sincerily,

W. Pat Peters

Keep on keepin on.

Cirrhosis of the liver

2008-04-04T12:19:00.000-07:00

If you’re fortunate enough to get treated for hemochromatosis before it damages your organs, then you can prevent the serious complications we’ve talked about. If you already have some of these conditions, treatment may slow the progression of these health concerns. In some cases, you may even find some of these conditions may be improved.

If you already have cirrhosis of the liver, your physician may – in addition to treating your iron overload – monitor you for cancer of the liver through an abdominal ultrasound as well as an alpha-fetoprotein blood test every six months.

Some individuals find, though, that they must endure literally years of this procedure before enough iron has been removed from their system. According to Raymond J. Bergeron and his colleagues at the University of Florida treatments as they exist now, remove only tiny amounts of iron from the most sensitive organs, like the heart.

In response to this problem according to the American Chemical Society, they report the synthesis and the early testing on laboratory animals of what could be a new generation of iron-chelating drugs. These compounds may be able to remove excess iron from the body in a more efficient manner than is currently done. These compounds work by targeting specific, iron-sensitive organs, especially the liver, the heart and the pancreas. The research is still in its infancy but may prove to help many who now undergo prolonged treatment.

Hemochromatosis

We Got More Hemochromatosis Videos

2008-01-19T21:27:00.000-08:00

Check em out HERE

If clicking on HERE isn't working for you, just copy and paste this:

http://www.freedom-biz.com/hemochromatosis

into your browser.

Pat

Hemochromatosis Tips To Live By

2007-12-26T17:13:00.001-08:00

Hemochromatosis is the number one killer of genetic diseases.

But not to worry. You don't have to become a statistic.
Just take the following suggestions to heart and you will
most likely be okay. Tannin can be a big help in reducing
the amount of iron your body takes in.

Most herbal teas do not contain tannin.
Dark teas such as oolong and 'Green Tea' do have it.

Personally I like to make a bunch of green tea, decaf
of course, put it in the fridge, and drink a bit with every meal.

If it wasn't decaf I would be up all night. The tea with the tannin
will slow down your iron absorbtion and is all around good for ya.

Watch your vitamin C intake. Vitamin C will help move the iron around
to your organs and we don't want that.

I have also heard that calcium slows down iron absorbtion too.
So a little cottage cheese with meals may help.

Make sure your vitamins don't have iron or vitamin C.

You should not drink any high vitamin C juices at least 3 hours
before or after a meal.

Hemochromatosis sufferers are 32% more likely to have a stroke.
I don't know who came up with that number. But I like to take Omega3
fatty acids. A little stroke and heart attack prevention can't hurt.

Drink lots of water to help keep your blood thin.

If you go for a phlebotomy and your blood is too thick
and keeps coagulating in the tube, the nurse may try to
give you heparin, a powerful agent that interferes with
the bodys normal clotting process. Not good. I just say no.

I come back after drinking a ton of water. Seems to work.
Alfalfa sprouts and onions are good blood thinners too.

I take it everyday.

Milk thistle extract [silymarin] might still be controversial
by some medical pros. I have no doubt about the powerful liver
protecting benefits of milk thistle. My results have been real good.
The old liver seems to be doing its job again.

Alcohol is one of the most harmful liver toxins on the planet.
Milk thistle extract can have a dramatic effect limiting alcohol damage.
Good stuff.

I use basic common sense and never indulge in any food or snack that
has been fortified with iron or vitamin C.

I have been using the same vein for nearly 10 years. It is getting a
bit scarred and not delivering the blood too well now. When switching
veins I have discovered that the closer the needle gets to your wrist,
the more painful it is.

I try to stay as high up the arm as possible. Seems to be less nerves
up there and is not nearly as painful.

One more quick tip: Never eat food that has been cooked in cast iron.
Iron from the pan will soak into the food and do more damage to your body.

Hemochromatosis

New Medications Found For Hemochromatosis

2007-12-22T16:27:00.000-08:00

This post is dedicated in loving memory to Josephine Bogie Thomas, a founding board member of the American Hemochromatosis Society. Seventeen years after a late stage diagnosis, she died of liver cancer due to HFE-associated hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) on May 13, 1999 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

New Medications Found For Hemochromatosis
and other Diseases involving iron overload.

Hemochromatosis is basically a genetic disease characterized by improper processing by the body of dietary iron which causes iron to build up in a number of body parts, eventually causing organ dysfunction. It is the main iron overload disorder.

The study which has been explained in a recent issue of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry has Raymond Bergeron and colleagues at the University of Florida explain that current treatments remove only small amounts of iron from sensitive organs such as the heart. Treatment sometimes must continue for years to remove enough iron to prevent organ damage.

Now the researchers report the synthesis and early testing in laboratory animals of a possible new generation of iron chelating drugs; compounds that remove excess iron from the body. Apart form working more efficiently than existing medications, the new compounds target specific organs such as the liver, heart and pancreas that are most vulnerable to iron-overload damage.

I will put any new findings about this procedure on the blog as soon as I hear about it.

Iron Has It's Deadly Side

2007-12-09T11:00:00.000-08:00

Iron is something that is important to the overall functioning of the body. Iron works with the red blood cells in order to deliver the proper amount of oxygen that is required for normal functioning in the body. Iron is a necessity to the human body. It is necessary to have iron in the body so that the rest of your body can receive the oxygen that is necessary. You cannot live without iron in your body. In this article, we will review the deadly side of iron.

It has recently been found that if there is too much or too little iron in the body it can prove to be very damaging and even fatal. If you have too little iron, your body lacks the oxygen that is required to live. If you have too much iron in your body, it can interfere with the normal functioning of important organs in the body like the liver and heart. Additionally, too much iron can cause damage to the joints in the body. Having too much iron in the body can also lead to certain types of cancers.

If a person has too little iron in their body, this is often referred to as anemia. If a person has too much iron in their body this is often referred to as Hemochromatosis. Both of these conditions can be very harmful to the body and can result in death. There are many symptoms associated with an abundance of iron and too little iron. It is important to understand that you cannot simply diagnose yourself. If you suspect that you have too little iron or too much iron, you should discuss your concerns with your doctor. The doctor will be able to perform a complete blood test and various other types of testing to determine if you have an issue. Once it has been confirmed that you have an issue with the iron in your body, the doctor will assign a treatment that is specifically for you.

Hemochromatosi. Strive To Stay Alive

Joint Pain Causes Can Be Divided Into Several Categories

2007-11-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

Infections such as viruses (in particular, parvovirus) can cause a type of arthritis. Bacteria such as gonococcus (the bug that causes gonorrhea) and Borrelia, the organism that causes Lyme disease, are well known infectious causes for joint pain.

Trauma is an obvious cause. This can range from an athletic injury occurring more than 30 years ago leading to osteoarthritis in the knee to a whiplash injury that happened yesterday accounting for total body stiffness and pain today!

Disorders of the blood are an uncommon but important cause of joint pain. Leukemia and lymphoma can present as aches and pains. Often fever, sweats, and weight loss accompany the pains… but not always. Multiple myeloma- a malignancy that affects the plasma cells in the blood- causes ill-defined joint pains. Sickle-cell anemia and hemophilia both are associated with arthritis. A blood disorder due to excess iron in the blood- hemochromatosis- is responsible for causing both cirrhosis of the liver as well as an unusual type of arthritis.

Endocrine problems can cause aches and pains. For example, growth hormone excess is called acromegaly. This is a cause of terrible arthritis. Thyroid hormone deficiency also causes aches and pains that mimic the symptoms of fibromyalgia

Closely related to endocrine causes are the metabolic disease like gout and pseudogout which cause inflammatory types of arthritis.

The largest category of causes of aches and pains is arthritis. Wear and tear arthritis- termed osteoarthritis- is the most common form of arthritis. This arthritis is due to premature wearing away of cartilage, the gristly that protects the end of long bones. Osteoarthritis most often affects weight bearing areas such as the neck, low back, hips, and knees. It also affects the hands and feet. More autoimmune types of arthritis such as systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, polymyalgia rheumatica, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis can cause severe total body aches and pains in the joints. These autoimmune diseases have more inflammation associated with them. In addition, constitutional symptoms such as low grade fever, weight loss, sweats, and fatigue are common.

Finally soft tissue rheumatism – termed fibromyalgia- is a very common reason for a person to have "total body joint pain". While not a life-threatening disorder, fibromyalgia, which is often accompanied by fatigue, short term memory loss, "fibro fog", and bladder and bowel disturbance is can be debilitating.

Dr. Wei (pronounced "way") is a board-certified rheumatologist and Clinical Director of the nationally respected Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland (http://www.aocm.org). He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and has served as a consultant to the Arthritis Branch of the National Institutes of Health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians. For more information on arthritis and related conditions, go to: Types of Arthritis

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_Wei

Genetic Hemochromatosis

My Doctor Is Horrible. Is Yours?

2007-09-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

I decided to check up on my doctor.

I asked a nurse that I am tight with to go get 5 months worth of my records.
I discovered that my doc was telling me I didn't need a phlebotomy when
the records indicated that I did need one. According to the records,
she has done this repeatedly. She is actually killing me. That really pissed me off.

She doesn't seem to believe in maintenance. She makes me wait until irreversable
damage is done before she will order the phlebotomy. She just refuses to drain a
little blood periodically to keep my counts down. I have to wait til the damage is
done before she will do anything.

Remember... A complete physical must include: Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)
and Serum Iron (SI). Divide the SI by TIBC for percentage of Transferrin Saturation TS.
Normal range: 12-45%. The same blood may be used to measure Serum Ferritin.
Normal range: 5 to 150.

4. If TS is elevated, the individual should begin treatment. Some literature suggests
treatment when ferritin alone is elevated. Giving blood does no harm, and instead is
beneficial to health. About one-fourth of patients have iron-loading anemia (low hemoglobin).
Treatment is the same unless the anemia is so severe that blood transfusions are required.
Maintaining a hemoglobin of 10 or hematocrit of 30 percent makes the patient treatable
with bloodletting. Severely anemic patients require iron removal by an iron chelator, Desferal.
All anemic patients benefit with B complex supplements, including folic acid, B12 and B6.

Know what your counts should be. Ask someone to get copies of your records.
If you see that your doc is messing with your well being, jump in his/her face and
let them know you are not gonna put up with any bs. Or else!

Genetic Hemochromatosis

Revealing Hemochromatosis Video

2007-09-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

Get the firsthand scoop on Hemochromatosis from me.
I actually have the disease and know what I'm yakkin about.

A blunt and to the point video.

Don't let hemochromatosis kill you.

Genetic Hemochromatosis Video.

Low Iron Foods Are Important

2007-09-12T21:06:00.000-07:00

People who have a high amount of iron in their blood are best to stay away from foods that are high in iron unless directed by a physician. People who have a high amount of iron in their blood can develop conditions like Hemochromatosis. Hemochromatosis can be a serious condition that can lead to organ failure and even death. If you have this condition, it is vital that you seek the care of a physician and stick to the diet that is prescribed to you.

One of the best forms of iron rich foods are meats that are red. If you are trying to keep your weight down, or are concerned about gaining weight, you may want to consume red meats that are classified as ?extra lean?. One of the best sources of meat in the area of iron is liver.

If you do not eat meat for personal reasons, but wish to reap the benefits of additional iron, you may want to consider eating foods that contain high levels of Vitamin C. This vitamin helps the body to absorb the iron that it needs more quickly. If you do not eat meat and wish to implement more iron into your diet, you should ensure that you are eating a lot of beans, dried fruit, and grains.

Don't Let Genetic Hemochromatosis Kill You

Living With Hemochromatosis

2007-07-11T15:30:00.000-07:00

It is a good idea to drink lots of water before going for your bloodletting. [phlebotomy]

I start really hittin the water a few days before and keep on drinking til I leave for the doctor or blood bank. This really helps thin the blood, keeping it from coagulating in the drain tube.

And I don't mean sodas and beer. We are talkin pure unadultrated H20.

Any kind of chlorophyll will also help. Onions, sprouts, any living plants etc.

Green tea contains tannin. Tannin will slow down your iron absorbtion too. Very good.

Don't take vitamin C for a few hours after you eat. Or just before eating. The vitamin C will move the iron to all the cells in your body. Bad.

I also take 'Milk Thistle'. This will really help rid your body of the poisons that kill your liver. In turn, killing you.

Check out more great tips here.

Hemochromatosis

Too Much Iron Is A Killer

2007-06-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

Genetic Hemochromatosis Caution Foods

2007-04-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

Iron Rich Foods

Many foods are iron rich foods. Eating these foods will increase the iron levels in your blood almost instantly. Consuming foods that are iron rich can be very beneficial for many people. However, for some people, iron rich foods can be detrimental. For example, if a person has Hemochromatosis, eating iron rich foods can cause more harm than good. In this article, we will review some of the iron rich foods that are out there.

If you are trying to add iron to your diet, or you wish to avoid foods with excessive levels of iron for medical reasons, you should consult your doctor for an appropriate diet for your circumstances.

One thing to remember when dealing with hemochromatosis is thatyou can still enjoy iron rich vegetables because our bodies don't extract much iron from vegetables. Liver is by far the highest meat in iron.

Raw shellfish can have an adverse affect on the bodies of sufferers of this disease. Seeing as how hemochromatosis is hard on the immune system, raw seafood should be avoided because of the chance of digesting bad bacteria.

More:Genetic Hemochromatosis

Hereditary Hemochromatosis

2007-04-13T16:55:00.000-07:00

Hereditary Hemochromatosis Linked to Stroke - Insider Medicine

-Mar 30, 2007Hereditary hemochromatosis is a disorder caused by mutations in the hemochromatosis gene, which regulates the amount of iron absorbed from food. Both. ...starfoxadventure.nbadunks.org - http://starfoxadventure.nbadunks.org/index.php

Suicide By Iron Overdose

2007-04-10T18:14:00.000-07:00

Iron Deficiency Symptoms Outlined.

If a person does not have enough iron in their diet, or their body does not absorb iron properly, they may experience an iron deficiency. If a person has a loss of blood, they may also experience an iron deficiency.

Children may experience an iron deficiency for the same reasons, including lead poisoning. Iron deficiency can occur anytime that the body experiences a loss of iron. This normally occurs when the loss is bigger than the overall consumption of iron. This is a very common condition among people in the United States.

Iron is very important to the overall functioning of the body. It is found in red blood cells in a substance that is called hemoglobin. The main task of hemoglobin is to carry oxygen throughout the entire body. If a person experiences an iron deficiency, their body suffers from less oxygen and this, in turn, makes the body experience fatigue from the lack of energy.

More Suicide By Iron Overdose

Symptoms of An Iron Overdose

2007-03-15T11:52:00.000-07:00

Hemochromatosis.The Deadly Side of Iron

2007-03-11T17:45:00.000-07:00

Symptoms of An Iron Overdose

2007-03-09T10:28:00.000-08:00

When a person takes iron supplements without a prescription, they stand a chance of experiencing an iron overdose. An iron overdose is a form of poisoning to the body that occurs when a person has an excessive amount of iron in their body because of taking too much of an iron supplement. There are many symptoms that are present when a person overdoses on iron. In this article, we will review many of the common symptoms that a person may experience if they are experiencing an iron overdose.

If you feel that you or someone that you know is experiencing an overdose of iron, you should contact the National Poison Control Center for the proper instructions. You may call them by dialing the following number: 1-800-222-1222. If you feel that a trip to the emergency room is necessary or are directed to go there by the Poison Control Center, you should ensure that you take the bottle that the iron supplements came from. This will ensure that the doctor understands the exact iron supplement that you took. If you are alone and are experiencing serious symptoms, you should call 911 immediately.

If you have any of the following symptoms, you may be experiencing an iron overdose: *If you are dehydrated and cannot seem to quench your thirst *You start to cough or hear fluid moving around in your lungs when you breathe *You develop a fever *You start to feel extremely tired.

*You start to experience weakness in any area of the body *You develop a general sense of apathy *You start to develop a headache *Your skin starts to become pale and flushed *You develop a cold sweat *You start to develop a metallic taste in the mouth *You start to vomit or cough up blood *You experience severe diarrhea.

*You start to experience nausea *You start to experience chills *You develop all the classic symptoms of shock *You start having seizures and/or convulsions *You notice that your blood pressure is dropping at a rapid rate *Your pulse starts to feel very fast or you start to experience a very slow and weak pulse *You experience a drop in the body?s blood sugar level *Your lips and fingernails start to become discolored, specifically bluish in color.

It is important to understand that these symptoms are among the most popular and common symptoms of an iron overdose. A person may experience other symptoms not listed here. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms after ingesting iron do not wait to see if the symptoms will resolve, get to a doctor as soon as possible.

If you find that you must go to the hospital, you can expect to receive some tests. They will check the iron level by performing various types of blood tests on you. Additionally, they may issue you medicine that you cause you to vomit so that you can get the iron out of your body as soon as possible.

Genetic Hemochromatosis

Cures For Hemochromatosis

2007-03-04T17:09:00.000-08:00

Things to Consider Prior to Taking Iron Supplements.

If you feel that you have a need to consume iron supplements, you should discuss this with your doctor. A licensed medical professional will be able to prescribe iron supplements that are appropriate for you and your situation if deemed necessary. If you choose to take over-the-counter iron supplements, there are many things that you should consider before doing so. In this article, we will review some of the most common things that you should consider prior to taking iron supplements.

One of the first things that you should do prior to taking iron supplements is carefully read the label on the medication. Many people do not realize how potentially dangerous taking an iron supplement is and may choose to overlook this valuable information.

You should ensure that you completely understand what kind of dosage you should be taking and if there are any situations, in which you should not take iron supplements. Once you have read the label on the medication, use it only as directed. If you do not use the medication as directed, it may not help your low iron. Additionally, not following the medication as directed could result in having too much iron. Too much iron can damage the important organs of the body and even result in death.

Prior to taking iron supplements, you should carefully consider and evaluate any allergies that you have. You must also consider any allergies experienced previously. This is particularly important if you experienced an allergy to something that included iron or certain types of dyes and paints. If allergies like this have been experienced, to these forms of items in the past, you may have the same type of reaction to iron supplements.

If breastfeeding, you should carefully consider this prior to taking iron supplements. If you experience low iron while you are pregnant, it is best to take the prescription that your doctor issues to you to ensure that you do not cause any issues to the developing fetus. If you are pregnant and take iron supplements you could not only cause damage to the developing fetus, but you can also cause damage to yourself that can be potentially life threatening.

There are many types of medications that should be avoided while taking iron supplements. If you are considering taking iron supplements, you should take into consideration whether the medicines that you take now will conflict with the iron supplements. The following medications should not be taken at the same time that you take iron supplements:

*If taking antacids, you should avoid taking them at the same time that you take iron supplements. They should be taken at least three hours apart. Taking these two medicines too close together will cause both to be ineffective. * Dimercaprol *Fluoroquinolones If you have questions about any other medication that you are taking, you should consult your physician as to whether it is safe to take or not.

Genetic Hemochromatosis

Body Iron Overload Article

2007-02-23T11:55:00.000-08:00

Symptoms of An Iron Overdose.

When a person takes iron supplements without a prescription, they stand a chance of experiencing an iron overdose. An iron overdose is a form of poisoning to the body that occurs when a person has an excessive amount of iron in their body because of taking too much of an iron supplement. There are many symptoms that are present when a person overdoses on iron. In this article, we will review many of the common symptoms that a person may experience if they are experiencing an iron overdose.
If you feel that you or someone that you know is experiencing an overdose of iron, you should contact the National Poison Control Center for the proper instructions. You may call them by dialing the following number: 1-800-222-1222. If you feel that a trip to the emergency room is necessary or are directed to go there by the Poison Control Center, you should ensure that you take the bottle that the iron supplements came from. This will ensure that the doctor understands the exact iron supplement that you took. If you are alone and are experiencing serious symptoms, you should call 911 immediately.
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Hemochromatosis

Hemochromatosis Defined

2007-02-21T17:35:00.000-08:00

Hemochromatosis Defined

When a person experiences too much iron in the body on a consistent basis that is referred to as “Hemochromatosis”. Hemochromatosis can be an extremely dangerous condition, which can lead to organ failure and death in people that experience it. Most people who experience this condition do so because of heredity. In this article, we will expound on what Hemochromatosis is and how it can affect the person who suffers from it.

Genetic hemochromatosis
Hereditary hemochromatosis

People are generally born with Hemochromatosis; however, symptoms generally show up once a person is an adult. There is usually a defect in a gene, more specifically, “HFE”, that leads to the development of Hemochromatosis. This particular gene is responsible for controlling the iron that is released into the body from various types’ food and beverages that are ingested. There are a few cases of Hemochromatosis that does not result from a defective gene, but simply from a large amount of iron in the body.

Hemochromatosis can affect just about anyone, but research has found that men are more likely to develop this condition. Various ethnic backgrounds have a history of Hemochromatosis, but certain groups carry less of a risk in developing it. Some of these groups include those of African Americans, Indians, Asians, and Hispanics. Please keep in mind that although it is rare for one of these groups to experience this, it is still possible that it can occur.

There are many symptoms of Hemochromatosis. Among the most complained symptoms is joint pain. Many people experience numerous symptoms all at once with this condition. Some of the other symptoms include extreme fatigue, problems with various organs, and pain in the abdomen and other areas of the body. Hemochromatosis can result in extreme and even fatal problems if it is not dealt with in a timely manner. Some of the problems that may arise are as follows:
* Issues with the liver, including complete failure
* Arthritis may occur
* The adrenal gland may suffer from irreversible damage
* Women may go into menopause early
* Men may experience impotence
* Men and women alike may experience problems and deficiencies in the thyroid
* Pancreas problems may occur. Many people may even end up with diabetes.
* People may even experience heart problems with Hemochromatosis.

If the condition is caught in the early stages, success is probable. If treatment is left for an excessive amount of time, then it can be harmful to the organs of the body and possibly even fatal.

More Genetic Hemochromatosis facts

Free Treatment For Hemochromatosis

2007-02-19T17:48:00.000-08:00