July 15, 2007
Too much of a good thing?
by Spruce Lynch, Health Education Coordinator
Too much of a good thing is often bad. While minerals, vitamins and nutrients benefit our bodies, if we get too much of them we can get very sick. That is what happens to many people who have a condition known as "hemochromatosis." July is "Hemochromatosis Awareness Month" in the United States and this brief article is to let you know what it is.
This condition results when the body has too much iron and cannot get rid of it. Sometimes, people are born with it because it is basically a genetic disease. However, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIGH), this condition can be brought on by other diseases such as alcoholism (June, 2007). It affects mainly Caucasians, but is sometimes found among other ethnic groups, including Native Americans.
People with this illness frequently have symptoms similar to other diseases; fatigue, joint pains, and lack of energy are some of the complaints. Health Care providers arrive at a diagnosis after a series of tests including a specific blood test. Sometimes, a liver biopsy is done. A complete history is also reviewed to assure that all aspects of the patient's health have been covered.
Once a diagnosis of hemochromatosis has been determined, treatment begins. The treatment is simple. Blood is taken from the patient in order to reduce the iron level in the system. How much blood is taken is determined by the physicians and other health care providers. The patient is then advised on lifestyle changes.
As with most people who have genetic diseases, life can still be lived to the fullest by following the recommendations of doctors, and other health care professionals involved in their care. All people with lifelong health issues need to keep a positive and upbeat attitude in response to the challenges facing them.
Hemochromatosis is rare in the Delta. So you may never meet anyone who has it. We are honoring those people in our Nation who do suffer from this disease by joining with the hospitals and clinics across the U.S. in the month of July in getting information out.
Additionally, it is important to realize that people on the YK Delta frequently have just the opposite problem of too LITTLE iron in their diet. Too little iron can cause symptoms similar to too much iron such as lack of energy and fatigue, and can be easily diagnosed by bloodwork.
Reference: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=hemochromatosis