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 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 those should be avoided as well.
Hemochromatosis sufferers must avoid alcohol because alcohol can damage your liver, creating a very dangerous combination. Raw shellfish should also be avoided to reduce the possibility of infections sometimes caused by consuming them.
