I found a comment today from someone who suffers from hemochromatosis (toxic iron overload) who said a chemist friend recommended eating cabbage. He said the results were so drastic in reducing his iron load that his doctor retested him …got no idea if this is true but wtf…cabbage is good for ya.

PS. Are you drinking plenty of water
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Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HH) is the most common genetic disorderof persons of northern European extraction. Approximately 1 in 200 to 300 persons of northern European extraction has the disorder.

Hemochromatosis has beenfound in virtually all populations. There are different forms of the disorder but here we will consider northern Europeans.

The incidence of HH in persons of Irish extraction is higher than the average rate for northern Europeans. A rate exceeding 1 in 100 has been found in Ireland. Most cases of HH occur in patients who have two copies of the mutation known as C282Y which is found on the HFE gene.

A smaller percentage of patients may carry one copy of C282Y and one copy of another mutation known as H63D. These patients are known as compound heterozygotes. Other less common combinations occur such as C282Y heterozygotes where the patient only has one copy of C282Y but has hemochromatosis.

In these cases another gene or genes is present. Sometimes this gene or genes can be identified. Identification of such genes is currently the source of
much research into hemochromatosis.

HH is characterized by excessive absorption of dietary iron and a consequent progressive increase in total body iron stores. Of interest it is non-heme iron or the iron contained in sources such as vegetables which is excessively absorbed in HH. Iron accumulates in the parenchymal cells of the liver, the heart, pancreas, anterior pituitary and skin.

This accumulation of iron in body tissues causes disease. The body needs iron to function and has an ability to store large amounts especially in the liver. However when this storage capacity is exceeded disease occurs.

In severe HH the disorder manifests as potentially life threatening conditions such as septicemia, cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, diabetes, heart failure and heart arrhythmias.

Arthritis is common and a severe arthritis involving numerous joints may occur. Ovarian and testicular failure secondary to iron deposition in the anterior pituitary and possibly the hypothalamus may occur.
Rarely hypothyroidism may occur.

If HH is not treated liver disease may be fatal. The morbidity and mortality of HH can be reduced by early diagnosis and treatment by phlebotomy or blood letting. If a patient with HH is treated before cirrhosis of the liver develops liver functioning can be improved
and fibrosis of the liver may be reversed.

There is frequently a delay between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis. This is because early symptoms such as fatigue and arthralgia are nonspecific. A high degree of suspicion is needed to make the diagnosis of HH in a patient if the initial symptoms are vague. Because of the inherited nature of hemochromatosis relatives
of those with HH are at increased risk.

Here it is easier to make the diagnosis because an initial case
has been identified. It is very important to make an early
diagnosis of Hereditary Hemochromatosis because patients who have
not developed cirrhosis and are treated by phlebotomy have a normal
life expectancy. Treatment is life long.

If you Suffer from Hemochromatosis, have a Relative with the
disease or Just wish for more information You must Purchase
“Ironic Health”.

An insightful look at how hemochromatosis affects so many different
people. Very readable and interesting. Is a ‘must read’ for both
patients and their doctors. Make it a point to read this one from
cover to cover. Just click the below link
http://www.ironoverload.info/ironichealth

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Hemochromatosis Symptoms

Probably the greatest difficulty in diagnosing early
hemochromatosis is that it is nonspecific and symptoms are vague.
Many sufferers are often diagnosed with the “flu” or “chronic
fatigue syndrome”. Some have suffered years where they have been
suspected of malingering. Paradoxically anemia may firstly be
suspected because of decreased energy.

If the correct tests are not done sufferers may even be given iron
tablets which further worsen their symptoms. Iron overload is
insidious and usually takes many years to develop. Women may begin
to load iron at menopause as the phlebotomy effect of menstruation
has ceased. If this possibility is not suspected the symptoms may
be written off as being due to “hormonal changes”.

The earliest symptoms of hemochromatosis are fatigue and arthralgia
or aching joints. Once iron has begun to accumulate in body tissues
the liver may be affected. In the past it has not been uncommon for
sufferers to be suspected or being secret drinkers when abnormal
liver function tests are found.

As iron continues to accumulate the condition of the liver may
worsen and other organs may be affected.
Other organs which may be involved include the skin, pancreas,
ovaries, testes, heart, digestive system, thyroid and joints.

Annoying skin rashes, palpitations, impotence and diabetes may be a
consequence of too much iron. Many patients suffer from recurrent
infections and may decide to take “immune boosters” which are
metabolized by the liver. This can make their condition worse.

Patients with severe hemochromatosis may present with septicemia or
blood poisoning, heart failure, failure of the reproductive organs
and severe arthritis where joint replacement is necessary. In the
worst cases liver transplant may be necessary. Those cases that
require liver transplant have a 50% mortality within the year after
transplant.

This mortality is often due to heart problems or septicemia. Men
over 55 years of age with severe hemochromatosis have 200 times the
chance of developing liver cancer.

It is important to have a high index of suspicion for the
possibility of hemochromatosis as the disorder is a great mimicker
of other disorders. With the rapidly advancing knowledge on the
disorder it is becoming more common for doctors to order
transferrin (transferrin-iron) saturations (TS) on their patients
and unsuspected cases of hemochromatosis are being found more
frequently.

Elevation of TS values is a big clue as to the diagnosis. However
if only ferritin levels are ordered an early case of
hemochromatosis or even a person with hemochromatosis who has been
a blood donor may be missed. Testing for iron studies is not
expensive. Taken together the TS value and ferritin level will
detect most cases of hemochromatosis.

It is important to diagnose hemochromatosis early as it can be
treated easily. Fortunately with increased awareness this is now
happening. While the patient with end stage hemochromatosis may
save the lives of others as he (usually but sometimes she) has
alerted the doctor and relatives that others may have
hemochromatosis, this represents an unnecessary tragedy that
fortunately is becoming rarer.

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