Iron Excess - Causes and Signs of Iron Excess

The classification division into types of hemochromatosis is based on the principle of causality of this pathology. There are:

• Primary iron excess, which is caused by heredity - this deviation in the genes is passed on from parents. A specific subtype of primary hemochromatosis depends on the gene due to which this kind of failure occurred. On the other hand, primary hemochromatosis is also called bronze diabetes.
• Secondary iron excess appears not as a consequence of internal, but due to external causes of iron excess, for example, with too frequent blood transfusions or long-term use of iron-containing drugs.

With an excess of iron, this element accumulates in the joints, skin, spleen, heart, pancreas, liver. The consequences of the gradual deposition of iron in these systems of the body acquire external expressions in primary hemochromatosis at about 50 years of age or a little earlier; in secondary hemochromatosis - already before 30.

Causes

Iron, which comes from food, is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and settles in one or another system of human organs, be it the liver or joints. The cause of this process can be either the action of a gene that provokes increased absorption of iron, or a long-term excessive intake of this element into the body along with chemicals or transfused blood.

Degradation of organs affected by excess iron does not occur immediately, but over time the symptoms only progress.

Symptoms

Excess iron provokes various kinds of degenerative processes that occur in those human organ systems that were affected by excess iron. Symptoms of hemochromatosis are:

• apathy, general depression and loss of strength;
• skin turning grey, sometimes grey-brown;
• weight loss of the patient;
• loss of sexual desire;
• joint pain and swelling;
• decreased blood pressure;
• general weakness of the body.

At the same time, iron, when excessively accumulated in individual organs of the patient's body, not only causes certain independent destruction, but also, as a consequence of the degenerative processes that occurred in these organs, can cause the development of a number of serious and dangerous diseases. With excess iron in the liver, its enlargement is diagnosed, liver failure may occur, as well as replacement of the liver tissue itself with stroma or connective tissue (this is liver cirrhosis). When iron is deposited in the heart, a heart attack, heart failure, and arrhythmia are provoked. In the most advanced cases, hemochromatitis provokes the appearance of diabetes mellitus and liver cancer.

Diagnostics

Excess iron in the body is diagnosed by an endocrinologist both symptomatically and with the help of examinations, which include a classic laboratory blood test. To determine where exactly the accumulated iron settles, ultrasound and X-ray examination of the abdominal cavity are used.

Treatment

Hemochromacy does not occur on its own, but is provoked by certain risks that the patient should be aware of, be it heredity or frequent blood transfusions. When the first symptoms are detected, you should consult an endocrinologist, since delaying treatment leads to a worsening of the body's condition.

During treatment, the endocrinologist prescribes a special diet for the patient, which excludes iron-rich foods from the diet, including apples, beets, buckwheat, red meat, red grapes, and pomegranates. Any alcoholic beverages are excluded, moreover, alcoholism itself causes hemochromacy.

Excess blood is treated through the use of drug therapy, which is prescribed by a doctor. Another effective way to combat this disease is periodic bloodletting, which also needs to be done under close medical supervision, since the hematocrit and hemoglobin levels in the blood should be monitored.

Prevention

Knowing that hemochromia can occur due to long-term blood transfusion, it is necessary to follow a diet during this procedure that will reduce the intake of iron into the body. Reducing the amount of alcohol consumed also reduces the risk of excess iron in the body. If there is a risk of hemochromia associated with heredity or certain circumstances, you should undergo preventive diagnostics with an endocrinologist approximately once every three months.