Even though people are often reminded of their special need of iron in the body, sometimes having high amounts of nutrients can have dire consequences on the health. Due to the constant nutritionists claims that food nowadays is rather poor in nutrients, consumers are strongly advised to take supplements to compensate and bridge the gap of the daily necessary vitamins and minerals.
However, this guide would like to point out that nutritional supplements cannot be taken randomly and especially without undergoing a physical exam and talking with a doctor. The reason for this is that certain individuals suffer from a genetic mutation that permits an excessive intake of iron, which in time can lead to hemochromatosis. The bottom line is that iron or other nutritional supplements must be taken only with the doctors recommendation. In addition, while taking the supplements, patients must constantly visit the physician to monitor the levels of hemoglobin and iron present in the blood.
Early symptoms of hemochromatosis
Despite the fact that there is no set of distinct signs of iron overdose, a few symptoms can help people acknowledge they may have a problem and present to the doctors office. In general, the early signs that should be taken seriously include:
- Chronic fatigue and overall weakness
- Constant joint and abdominal pain
- Unusual weight loss
If neglected, these symptoms will, in time, lead to serious complications such as heart failure, liver cancer, cirrhosis, diabetes, arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, arthritis, glucose intolerance, hypopituitarism, etc.
The importance of the expertise of a phlebotomy specialist
It is important to note that excessive iron in the blood and body are not often revealed during routine medical exams. However, if there is a reason to suspect the patient might have this condition, then the doctor will work closely with a phlebotomy specialist and perform several tests, such as the elevated serum iron, the elevated ferritin, the elevated transferrin saturation or the TIBC test. In general, having a family member diagnosed with hemochromatosis significantly increases the chances of other family members developing the condition. Consequently, even though at the time of the medical exams the levels of iron in the blood are normal, regular visits to the doctors office for regular checkups are essential, as this can quickly change.
The typical hemochromatosis treatment options
The most common treatment option most patients select is therapeutic phlebotomy. As the name of the therapy suggests, the technique consists of removing blood over-saturated with iron from the patients system and, therefore, preventing further damage to the organs and tissues. Patients diagnosed with high levels of iron will need to see a phlebotomist in order to remove a whole unit of blood, once or twice per week. The duration of the treatment varies depending on the excessive iron found present in the body and the therapy stops immediately after the iron levels become normal.
However, in order to maintain the levels of the nutrient within normal parameters, patients will need to repeat the therapeutic phlebotomy procedure three or four times per year. Overall, the technique shows vastly positive results, given that patients who have already suffered damage to tissues and organs are expected to have a normal life afterwards.
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