How do I know if I have iron overload?
How do I know if I have iron overload?
The two key tests to detect iron overload are:
- Serum transferrin saturation. This test measures the amount of iron bound to a protein (transferrin) that carries iron in your blood.
- Serum ferritin. This test measures the amount of iron stored in your liver.
How do you feel if your iron is high?
High blood iron usually affects the liver, where an overabundance of iron can result in liver swelling and damage. Symptoms of high blood iron include generalized abdominal symptoms, fatigue and lethargy, darkening of the skin, weight loss, and weakness.
What is the most common cause of iron overload?
Iron overload occurs when there are excess stores of iron in the body. Primary iron overload is often inherited. Secondary iron overload usually arises from causes such as transfusion, hemolysis, or excessive parenteral and/or dietary consumption of iron.
What happens if you have iron overload?
Excess iron builds up the heart, liver, joints, pancreas, and pituitary gland. If untreated, it can cause organ damage, and lead to a heart attack, diabetes, cirrhosis of the liver, arthritis, depression, and premature death. The mutated gene for hemochromatosis can be passed on to your offspring.
How do you flush iron out of your body?
The body has no easy way to dispose of extra iron. The most effective way to get rid of excess iron is blood loss. Therefore, menstruating women are less likely to experience iron overload. Likewise, those who donate blood frequently are at lower risk.
What are warning signs of hemochromatosis?
Symptoms of hemochromatosis include:
- Pain in your joints, especially your knuckles.
- Feeling tired.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Skin that has a bronze or gray color.
- Pain in your belly.
- Loss of sex drive.
- Loss of body hair.
- Heart flutter.
How can I lower my iron levels quickly?
Dietary changes can include:
- avoiding supplements that contain iron.
- avoiding supplements that contain vitamin C, as this vitamin increases iron absorption.
- reducing iron-rich and iron-fortified foods.
- avoiding uncooked fish and shellfish.
- limiting alcohol intake, as this can damage the liver.
Can turmeric lower iron levels?
Turmeric is one of the BEST nutritional supplements shown by clinical research to reduce iron build-up in the body. Most significantly, turmeric can lower ferritin by chelating iron from the body.
What removes iron from the body?
Drugs called iron chelators remove extra iron from your body. There are two iron chelators approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the U.S.
What can I drink to lower my iron?
Tea and coffee contain tannins, which are types of polyphenol plant compounds. The tannins in tea and coffee may reduce iron absorption. Drinking these beverages is another way for people with hemochromatosis to manage their iron levels.
What foods to avoid if iron is high?
All grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts contain phytic acid, or phytate, which reduces iron absorption. Eating foods high in phytates, such as beans, nuts, and whole grains, reduces the absorption of nonheme iron from plant foods. As a result, it may reduce total iron levels in the body.