Question 1

i understand that you cannot drink alcohol when blood iron levels are elevated, but what is the impact of marijuana use on hemochromatosis patients?

Accepted Answer

Brain damage: Marijuana is a psychoactive drug and will mess with your brain with or without hemochromatosis.
Wish you good health! - Have a diet rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, milk and milk products, nuts, beans, legumes, lentils and small amounts of lean meats. Avoid saturated fats. Drink enough water daily, so that your urine is mostly colorless. Exercise at least 150 minutes/week and increase the intensity of exercise gradually. Do not use tobacco, alcohol, weed or street drugs in any form. 
Practice safe sex, if you have sex.

Question 2

what is iron overload, hemochromatosis?

Accepted Answer

Too much bodily iron: As a result of the inability to increase iron loss, iron overload is an inevitable response to increased iron entry into the body. This can occur by one of three mechanisms - nutritional intake, increased absorption, parenteral sources (i.e. Transfusions). Hemochromatosis is abnormally high absorption of iron as result of a genetic defect. Extra iron can be toxic.

Question 3

what iron levels are considered "suspicious" for iron overload/hemochromatosis?

Accepted Answer

Hemachromatosis: A number of tests are available to check iron levels, and a hematologist or blood disease specialist, will check multiple tests for  iron overload.  The specialist may also suggest a liver biopsy to check for iron overload.

Question 4

i have hemochromatosis but my iron levels are ferritin 8 iron 7 transferrin 2.1 transferrin sat 13?

Accepted Answer

Being treated?: The goal of management of hemochromatosis is to reduce one's body iron load as reflected in numbers such as these. Hemochromatosis is deadly if untreated, but easier than any other very serious illness to treat effectively. I'm glad the diagnosis was made.

Question 5

every time my son donates blood they tell him his iron is too high . this time it was 51.  my uncle has hemochromatosis , should i be concerned .

Accepted Answer

YES: Son must be screen and evaluated, preferably by a hematologist.

Question 6

how common is iron overload/hemochromatosis?

Accepted Answer

Hard to say: It is impossible to say as there are many causes for iron overlaid and even hhc.  For the  common c282y homozygotes it has been approximated to be 0.44% in caucasian populations.

Question 7

how serious is iron overload, hemochromatosis?

Accepted Answer

Can be deadly: Over time, excesses of iron build up in major organs such as the heart, liver, pancreas, joints and pituitary. If the extra iron is not removed, these organs can become diseased, causing  conditions like diabetes mellitus, irregular heart beat or heart attack, arthritis, cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer, gall bladder disease, depression, impotence, infertility, hypothyroidism, hypogonadism.

Question 8

who is affected by iron overload/hemochromatosis?

Accepted Answer

C282Y Homozygous: Most commonly seen in those with 2 copies of the c282y genetic mutation of the hfe gene. However there are other defects that may result in hhc.  Hemochromatosis may result in iron overload, however not all iron overload is from hemochromatosis.

Question 9

what are the symptoms of iron overload, hemochromatosis?

Accepted Answer

Fatigue, aches: A person absorbs iron from foods and oral iron supplements because human bodies require iron. If he has plenty of iron, his body won't absorb as much iron, but he will not stop absorbing iron. That means he can get iron overload by taking too high a dose of iron supplements. Iron overload damages the liver, and causes symptoms of fatigue, weakness, joint pains, abdominal pains, etc...

Question 10

how is a diagnosis for iron overload/hemochromatosis confirmed?

Accepted Answer

Labs and Bx: Labs that include ferritin and transferrin saturation. All patients being evaluated for hhc should have c282y and h63d mutation analysis. This may help in determine risk for hhc but is not always diagnostic by itself. Lastly a liver biopsy with a iron index or MRI may help to confirm suspected cases.

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Doctor answers about:

Does iron build up in hemochromatosis impact the lungs

A member asked:

I understand that you cannot drink alcohol when blood iron levels are elevated, but what is the impact of marijuana use on hemochromatosis patients?

A member asked:

What is iron overload, hemochromatosis?

A member asked:

What iron levels are considered "suspicious" for iron overload/hemochromatosis?

A member asked:

I have hemochromatosis but my iron levels are ferritin 8 iron 7 transferrin 2.1 transferrin sat 13?

A member asked:

Every time my son donates blood they tell him his iron is too high . this time it was 51. my uncle has hemochromatosis , should i be concerned .

A member asked:

How common is iron overload/hemochromatosis?

A member asked:

How serious is iron overload, hemochromatosis?

A member asked:

Who is affected by iron overload/hemochromatosis?

A member asked:

What are the symptoms of iron overload, hemochromatosis?

A member asked:

How is a diagnosis for iron overload/hemochromatosis confirmed?

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