Most Americans receive an adequate amount of iron from diet alone, but it is possible to get too much iron whether it's from diet or taking iron supplements. Your body needs a certain amount of iron to function properly. Iron overload occurs from iron building up in your body over the course of years.
Iron Overload Symptoms
The symptoms of iron overload can vary from person to person so there are no specific symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You could feel tired, suffer from constipation, nausea, upset stomach and have heart palpitations or experience pain in your joints. Unfortunately, the symptoms associated with iron overload mimic the symptoms of countless other conditions because they are so generic. Iron toxicity can lead to bloody diarrhea, vomiting and eventually death, if left untreated.
Iron Overload Signs
Since there aren't many tell-tale symptoms of iron overload, you or your doctor can look for different signs in addition to some of the symptoms you may experience. Iron overload can cause organ damage, which can be permanent, if not fatal, if left untreated for an extended period. Signs could include liver damage, developing other conditions from organ failure such as renal or colon problems, diabetes or jaundice, states the University of Maryland Medical Center.
What Causes Iron Buildup?
Your body can store iron since it is fat-soluble. Iron can buildup within your organs over an extended period of time, such as many years. You can also develop iron toxicity from taking iron supplements, especially if your diet is already rich in iron, notes the UMMC. You may also suffer from an inherited condition called hemochromatosis. In hemochromatosis, your body will begin to store excess iron for no reason. With this condition, there is no specific age at which you can develop iron overload and just because you have hemochromatosis doesn't mean that you will one day develop iron overload, notes the CDC. If you know you have hemochromatosis, or have family members who've been diagnosed, it's important to have your iron levels checked regularly.
Types of Organ Damage and Treatment
If left untreated, iron overload can impact almost every organ in your body. You can develop a wide array of conditions such as cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, impotence, loss of fertility, heart disease, liver cancer, bronze skin and loss of periods for women. The only way to cure iron overload is to have your blood drawn; without having a phlebotomy, you can die, states the CDC. Your health care provider will draw a pint of blood periodically to remove iron from your blood until your iron levels revert to a normal level. The frequency at which you will have to have your blood drawn will depend upon your iron levels; your health care provider will make this determination. If you suffer from hemochromatosis, this will become a life-long procedure, but the frequency will taper off to about once or twice per year as long as your iron levels are safe.
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