There are a number of different problems that can be diagnosed by the symptom of the body producing too much blood. The most common diagnosis of this iron overload is Hemochromatosis. This disease causes the body to absorb and store too much iron. This extra iron will then build up in the body’s organs and damage them. If Hemochromatosis is not treated it can cause the liver, heart and pancreas to fail. A healthy person typically absorbs about 10 percent of the iron that is contained in the food that they eat. If you are suffering with Hemochromatosis then you will absorb over 30 per cent of this iron. Over time, people with the diseases will retain between five and twenty times more iron than the body needs. As the body does not have a natural way to get rid of excess iron it becomes stored in body tissues, more specifically the liver, heart and pancreas.
Hemochromatosis can be both primary and secondary. Primary cases of the disease, also known as herditerary hemochromatosis, are inherited. Secondary hemochromatosis is caused by anaemia, alcoholism and other disorders. Primary cases of the disease are mainly caused by a defect in the gene called HFE, this is one that helps regulate the amount of iron that is absorbed from food. If the mutation is inherited from both parents, then it is likely that hemochromatosis will become prominent. It is possible that the disease will not develop in those who inherit the defective gene from only one parent. These individuals will still be a carrier of the disease and may still have a higher absorption of iron.
Symptoms of the disease are recognisable most obviously by joint pain but also by fatigue, lack of energy, abdominal pain, loss of sex drive and heart problems. Quite often people will not have any symptoms.
For more information about Hemochromatosis, its symptoms, causes and treatments try looking at digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hemochromatosis/
Hemochromatosis can be both primary and secondary. Primary cases of the disease, also known as herditerary hemochromatosis, are inherited. Secondary hemochromatosis is caused by anaemia, alcoholism and other disorders. Primary cases of the disease are mainly caused by a defect in the gene called HFE, this is one that helps regulate the amount of iron that is absorbed from food. If the mutation is inherited from both parents, then it is likely that hemochromatosis will become prominent. It is possible that the disease will not develop in those who inherit the defective gene from only one parent. These individuals will still be a carrier of the disease and may still have a higher absorption of iron.
Symptoms of the disease are recognisable most obviously by joint pain but also by fatigue, lack of energy, abdominal pain, loss of sex drive and heart problems. Quite often people will not have any symptoms.
For more information about Hemochromatosis, its symptoms, causes and treatments try looking at digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hemochromatosis/
