Haemochromatosis is a disease caused by excess iron in the body. Iron is needed in the diet to maintain good health, particularly for making red blood cells that carry oxygen around the body. These red blood cells contain large amounts of iron. Lack of iron can cause anaemia but excessive iron is toxic. The body has few ways of disposing of unwanted iron, so it builds up in tissues causing damage and disease.
More and more people are being diagnosed with hereditary haemochromatosis without showing any symptoms. Symptoms can be difficult to spot, as they are often mild initially, with many potential causes. Fatigue and lethargy are common, and joint pain or arthritis may occur. Sexual problems, particularly impotence in men or loss of menstruation in women, may be an important early sign.
As the iron overload increases, sufferers may experience the following diseases:
Liver disease: the liver is the main site of excessive iron build up. The disease causes scarring or liver fibrosis leading to cirrhosis. Symptoms include abdominal pain, jaundice, swelling of the ankles or abdomen and enlargement of the liver or spleen. In severe cases bleeding from the gut or coma can occur.
Heart disease: excess iron deposits may lead to one of two heart conditions. These are heart failure (indicated by tiredness, lack of energy, shortness of breath and ankle swelling) and abnormal heart rhythms. Patients may experience extra heart beats known as ectopics or disorders where the heart goes either too fast (tachycardia) or too slow (bradycardia).
Pancreatic disease: sugar diabetes (diabetes mellitus) may be an early sign of haemochromatosis and develops in up to half of all patients with advanced disease. Diabetes is due to excess iron in the pancreas gland damaging the insulin producing cells. This complication together with the dark skin pigmentation that can occur has led to haemochromatosis sometimes being called 'bronze diabetes'.
Other rare symptoms: endocrine gland problems particularly with pituitary, thyroid or sex hormones can occur, as can skin and neurological disease.
2007-08-01 02:35:03
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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>>blood letting does not cause but rather it is one among the treatments.
>>it is occuring mostly in men though both men and women can inherit the gene defect. Men are diagnosed earlier - men (between 30 to 50 years of age) while women (at about 50).It could be due to effects of menstruation and chldbirth in women.
>>no haem defeciency but rather an excess.
>>Yes, it is caused by iron overload.
2007-07-31 22:45:44
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answer #2
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answered by ♥ lani s 7
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2017-02-09 19:21:03
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answer #3
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answered by ? 3
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haemochromatosis is a inherited disorder where there is excessive absorption and storage of iron.
the symptoms are bronze colour of skin, diabetes and liver failure
blood letting helps remove the iron
2007-07-31 21:46:50
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answer #4
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answered by freezerfairy 1
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As appose to an invisible man within the sky you mean, i'd say to them do not be fearful of science, if your faith is robust we won't alternate you, Science gives solutions upon purpose, if it are not able to it'll appear for them, we aren't conceited, we all know we shouldn't have all the answers, however we're inclined to admit that and check out and find out as so much as we can recognize, that will not be as frightening for them as it seems to be from their questions, faith is belief with out proof (through it is definition, it does not need proof, or it could be a science) and so can not ever be disproved to the actual believer, so why fear. There had been just a few religious persons whom were involved in a number of of the sciences too, as they consider a God gave them science to raised recognize his/her construction, as a minimum they have been open to other ideas, as science could be to a God if it could show it can be existence
2016-08-04 08:09:38
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answer #5
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answered by angier 4
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Caused by iron overload.
2007-07-31 21:46:24
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answer #6
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answered by J.SWAMY I ఇ జ స్వామి 7
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Treated by blood-letting.
Affects males more commonly than females.
Includes a hemoglobin excess.
Are caused by iron overload.
Now go back and finish your homework, and try actually to learn the subject.
2007-08-01 07:26:25
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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