Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disease that causes iron overload in the body. It is caused by a defect in the gene that regulates the absorption of iron from foods. People with hemochromatosis absorb up to four times as much iron as people without the disease. The body has no way of ridding itself of iron, so the iron builds up and can cause damage to the liver, heart and pancreas. Treatment of hemochromatosis includes regular therapeutic phlebotomy, or removing blood much like blood donations, and controlling iron absorption through diet...
Hemochromatosis means too much iron in your bloodstream, either from an inherited disorder or consuming too much iron-rich food or iron supplements. Most of the excess iron is stored in your organs where it eventually causes da...
Hemochromatosis is a condition characterized by high iron in the blood. Excessive iron can be dangerous and damage organs. Hemochromatosis cannot be cured and requires lifelong dietary measures, along with regular blood treatme...
While there is no true way to prevent Hemochromatosis, a step that you can take to dramatically reduce the risk of developing excess iron in the blood is receiving a genetic screening. Hemochromatosis is an inherited disease, a...
Phlebotomies are the primary way in which those with hemochromatosis can manage excess iron in the blood. A phlebotomy is a procedure in which blood with excess iron is removed from your body and replaced with blood that has no...
...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...
People can suffer from hemochromatosis for years and not even know it. Symptoms are typically not identified until the sufferer is between 40 and 60 years of age, although excess iron may be present in the blood for years prior...
