1. Receive Regular Phlebotomies
A phlebotomy is a procedure in which blood is removed from your body, thereby reducing the amount of iron-overloaded blood in your system. Phlebotomies are typically conducted with great frequency at the beginning of treatment, sometimes two to three times each week. Those with serious hemochromatosis may need between 20 and 30 successive treatments before iron levels in the blood are lowered to a manageable level. After the blood has been successfully treated, patients are typically required to receive phlebotomies every two or three months. Each phlebotomy removes approximately 500 milliliters of blood, roughly the same amount that is taken when one donates blood. The procedure can leave patients dizzy and feeling faint, but there are no other discernible side effects.
2. Undergo Chelation Therapy
Chelation therapy involves removing toxic chemicals, mainly metals, from the blood. It is most often used to treat elevated lead levels, but it is also used for excess iron removal. Chelation simply involves receiving an injection of a chelating agent. The chelating agent bonds with the targeted metal (in this case, iron), which is then excreted from the system through urine. The main drawback of chelation is that it removes not just the harmful metals, but also those metals that the body requires to function. This makes chelation therapy a little more problematic since it will require additional supplements and often a dietary change to ensure proper metal levels are maintained while lowering iron levels. Chelation can, however be used in combination with phlebotomy treatment.
3. Make Lifestyle Changes
The main lifestyle change people can undertake to treat and manage hemochromatosis is to change their diet. It is wise to avoid liver, clams, oysters, mussels, shrimp and other shellfish. Other iron rich foods include some types of beans (lentils, kidney beans, black beans), molasses and even asparagus. In addition, there are foods that have been enriched to include higher levels of vitamins and minerals like fortified cereals and some types of pasta.
