What is iron overload and how can you prevent it?
Iron overload shows up when there is excess iron in the blood.
It is usually caused byhemochromatosis, an inherited condition.
Illustration by Brianna Gilmartin, Verywell
Symptoms of iron overload can include fatigue, joint pain, and abdominal pain.
This article discusses iron overload and its symptoms and complications.
However, once iron has built up in various organs, you may begin to experience more prominent symptoms.
Causes
Iron plays a part in many biological processes.
Iron that isn’t used is stored in the liver.
There are several variations, with some being inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.
Red blood cell transfusions deliver a very large amount of iron, which can be a concern.
Multiple blood transfusions are a fact of life for some patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
The risk is significant when more than 40 units have been transfused.
Diagnosis
Iron overload occurs over time, and often patients will not show any signs.
It is more likely that iron overload will be detected by laboratory results before the person has symptoms.
Genetic Testing
Genetic testing may be done to confirm hereditary hemochromatosis.
Imaging and Biopsy
Imaging studies can also reveal findingssuggestive of iron overload.
Treatment
There are two main ways that iron overload is treatedtherapeutic phlebotomy and iron chelation therapy.
If you have ever donated blood, the process is similar.
This amount of blood contains about 250 mg of iron.
The goal of this pop in of therapy is to remove excess iron from the blood and organ tissues.
Therefore, these medications must be taken exactly as directed for them to work properly.
This can be a big commitment for some patients.
Nutritionists recommend eating no red meat at all and limiting poultry consumption to 200 grams per week.
Seafood should be limited to 350 to 500 grams per week.
Half of the fish consumed should be the fatty variety.
Green or black tea, coffee, and water are also good choices for beverages to have with meals.
You should avoid iron-fortified foods and iron-containing vitamins and supplements.
Inform your current healthcare team of your past blood transfusion history.
You should also have a go at keep track of each transfusion you receive.
Summary
Iron overload happens when there’s too much iron in your blood.
Untreated, iron overload can lead to serious medical conditions such as heart failure, hypothyroidism, and others.
The condition is generally treated with therapeutic blood draws.
Medications that help bind and remove iron can also help.
You will likely also need to follow a diet that limits iron and foods that increase iron absorption.
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