What iron overload means?

What iron overload means?

Listen to pronunciation. (I-urn OH-ver-lode) A condition in which the body takes up and stores more iron than it needs. The extra iron is stored in the liver, heart, and pancreas, which may cause liver disease, heart problems, organ failure, and cancer.

What does iron overload mean in medical terms?

Iron overload (also known as haemochromatosis or hemochromatosis) indicates accumulation of iron in the body from any cause.

Are there symptoms of hereditary hemochromatosis or iron overload?

While the symptoms are often silent in the early stages of hereditary hemochromatosis or iron overload, as it progresses it can lead to: *High bilirubin, and elevated liver enzymes on lab tests can also hint at iron overload. [5] How common is hereditary hemochromatosis or iron overload?

What causes the accumulation of iron in the body?

Human disease. Iron overload (also known as haemochromatosis or hemochromatosis) indicates accumulation of iron in the body from any cause. The most important causes are hereditary haemochromatosis (HHC), a genetic disorder, and transfusional iron overload, which can result from repeated blood transfusions.

Is it true that hemochromatosis is a genetic disorder?

Hemochromatosis is a metabolic disorder that affects over 1 million Americans. It’s real. It’s common. It’s genetic. Interested in getting tested for an iron disorder?

What are the dangers of iron overload?

With prolonged use, intravenous iron may lead to iron overload in the tissues, which is a dangerous condition. Iron overload can be toxic to all body systems. Signs and symptoms of iron overload include tiredness, irregular heartbeat and heart failure, joint pain, loss of fertility, erectile dysfunction and change in skin color.

Can you die from hemochromatosis?

Treatment may help prevent, delay, or sometimes reverse complications of the disease. Treatment also may lead to better quality of life. For people who are diagnosed and treated early, a normal lifespan is possible. If left untreated, hemochromatosis can lead to severe organ damage and even death.

Can hemochromatosis be cured?

No, haemochromatosis is a genetic condition and cannot be cured. It can be successfully managed by venesection (blood removal) to reduce the level of iron in your body or chelation therapies, which allow excess iron to be excreted through the urine.

What are the symptoms of excess iron?

Symptoms of Too Much Iron in Blood. The general symptoms associated with too much iron in blood include (but are not limited to) the following: fatigue, joint pain, abnormal heart rate, faintness or weakness, and decreased libido.