Hemochromatosis is a genetic disorder involving iron in the body. The genetic mutation effects the way the body deals with iron storage. Iron is an essential element used by your red blood cells to transport oxygen to the various tissues in the body. Too much iron can cause a wide range of disorders. Fortunately, there are treatments available for hereditary hemochromatosis. As mentioned, hemochromatosis is a genetic disorder. Specifically, it is an autosomal recessive disease. This means that it can effect both men and women equally, and you do not automatically pass it on to your children if you have it yourself. Scientists have identified the specific gene which is involved in the development of this disease. For the purposes of treating hemochromatosis, it is not particularly important which gene is involved.Most people do not experience symptoms of hemochromatosis until they are in their 50’s. Symptoms may often be seen ealier in men than in women. Symptoms are often very non-specific and vague in the early stages. People will sometimes experience a darkening of the skin to due excess iron deposits. Vague evidence of liver damage is seen.Okay, all that is fantastic, but what can be done to treat hemochromatosis?As with many diseases, the best way to treat it is to prevent it from getting bad in the first place. But how do you prevent a genetic disorder? You don’t. But you can limit the damage.Hemochromatosis involves the body storing too much iron. As such, you should limit your dietary iron intake. Avoid red meat. Alcohol, vitamin C, and some shellfish can make the problem worse.Aside from prevention, there are some active treatments for hemochromatosis. Back in Medieval times, many diseases were treated by bleeding the patient. Bleeding a patient intentionally was a Universal Cure. Did you have a cold? Bleed it. Did you have diarrhea? Bleed it. Chronic headaches? More bleeding. Anemic and tired all the time. Bleed those demons away! Ironically, bleeding is the treatment of choice for hemochromatosis. Sometimes we haven’t progressed as much as you’d think, eh?Today, bleeding a patient intentionally is called phlebotomy. Patients with hemocromatosis are bleed weekly. Each bleeding session can reduce the iron content in the body by about 250mg. Iron is stored very efficiently by the body, so this treatment may need to be kept up for two or three years. Iron levels can be periodically tested to ensure a person is staying at an appropriate level, and that the phlebotomy isn’t causing any other harm. After stable levels of iron are achieved, phlebotomy can be cut back (no pun intended) to a schedule of three or four sessions per year.There are some people who are not able to tolerate phlebotomy, or for whom phlebotomy would present unacceptable risk. For these people, there is another treatment. A medication called deferoxamine is used. This drug binds to iron and allows it to be cleared from the body. Deferoxamine treatment is very time consuming and can be painful for the patient. It is definitely NOT the treatment of choice for hemochromatosis. Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society
