HWN Suggests

The Iron in Our Blood That Keeps and Kills Us

As elements go, iron is a fickle and mischievous companion. Essential to life, yet impulsive, promiscuous, and destructive when allowed to roam unescorted, it poses a tremendous engineering challenge to human tissues.

Iron readily exchanges electrons with other elements. Indispensable to oxygen transport and metabolism, this property may also cause disease if iron participates in unsanctioned electron exchanges that produce free radicals -- an evanescent and particularly hot-blooded family of compounds that damage cells and DNA. As a result, all organisms dependent on iron -- from primitive bacteria to mammals -- go to great lengths to safely transport and store this potentially poisonous…

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Articles of Interest

Hemochromatosis (a.k.a. Iron Overload)

Though its penetrance is low (manifesting symptoms in only 10-30% of homozygotes), hemochromatosis is the most common genetic disease in Caucasians. •Common initial symptoms are fatigue and arthralgias. •Screening is a two step process. If the ferritin is elevated, check for an elevated iron saturation. •For patients with a high ferritin and iron saturation, testing for the C282Y mutation of the HFE gene is recommended. Results may benefit family screening. •Therapeutic phlebotomy is the most effective treatment for hemochromatosis. It should be commenced when the ferritin is above normal and continued weekly until the ferritin decreases to 50 ng/mL.

Current applications of therapeutic phlebotomy

One of the main indications for therapeutic phlebotomy is haemochromatosis, but it should be noted that haemochromatosis can be divided into primary or secondary forms.

Death by Ignorance: Millions of Americans at risk from hemochromatosis, but few doctors know much about it

Hemochromatosis is the biggest genetic killer in North America. Did you know that? Do you know what hereditary hemochromatosis is? Sadly, ignorance of hereditary hemochromatosis, often referred to as HH, is rampant among doctors as well as mere mortals like you and me, leading to countless thousands of preventable deaths every year. Most of those deaths don’t come with “hemochromatosis” on the death certificate, but HH is the culprit in many cases of death from liver cancer, heart failure, lung disease, diabetes, and suicide.

Hemingway’s Death and Hemochromatosis Awareness

Ernest Hemingway, one of America’s greatest writers, died from hereditary hemochromatosis on July 2, 1961. He was one of many Hemingways who succumbed to America’s most prevalent genetic killer, a condition that is treatable if detected early. Yes, you were probably taught that Hemingway died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, but hereditary hemochromatosis–also known as HHC, iron overload, bronze diabetes and Celtic Curse–was undoubtedly the underlying cause of his death.

Iron: The Double-Edged Mineral

Iron stores are known to rise with age, and for many years were considered harmless. But a landmark study in Finland published in the early 90s in the journal Circulation suggested that excessive iron stores in men rank right behind smoking as the most prevalent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. While more recent studies have found this theory to be inconclusive, the jury is still out.

My Silent Killer – Hemochromatosis

Years after my first visit to the doctor, the results were in. No, I did not have hepatitis, but I did test positive for Genetic Hemochromatosis.

Why Mental Illness Is As Serious As This Life-Threatening Disease

Though anxiety disorders and Hemochromatosis are not the same as Cancer, they are both afflictions that affect lives in a traumatic way. It would be considered heartless to tell a person with Cancer to get over themselves, and I think that it's time for the same to apply to all other life-affecting disorders.

Resources

Fighting Celtic Curse

The purpose of CelticCurse.org is to save lives by raising awareness of hemochromatosis or iron overload, particularly hereditary hemochromatosis, also called genetic haemochromatosis.

Haemochromatosis International.

On this site you will find information about haemochromatosis (hemochromatosis), links to support organisations around the world and information about the services that they provide.

Haemochromatosis UK

We act as the voice for change and improvement in the diagnosis and care of those affected by genetic haemochromatosis.

Hemochromatosis Help

As a husband and father with hemochromatosis, I live it, learn it, and try to help it. And to a certain extent, I can walk in your shoes. I know the pain and fatigue that too much iron brings. I’ve experienced changes in my emotions, the up-and-down moods, foggy thinking, and inability to relax or sleep due to elevated iron. Fortunately, I’ve benefited tremendously from the recommendations that I will share with you on this site. I don’t want Hemochromatosis to stop me and I don’t want it to stop you either!

Hemochromatosis Information Society

The mission of the Hemochromatosis Information Society is to promote public awareness about the genetic disorder hereditary hemochromatosis. The organization strives to meet the needs of those individuals, their families and friends diagnosed with hereditary hemochromatosis.

Hemochromatosis Support Group

Free, anonymous support from people just like you.

Hemochromatosis.org

Hemochromatosis.org is a digital education and awareness effort provided by Iron Disorders Institute.

American Hemochromatosis Society

Prevention through genetic testing.

Canadian Hemochromatosis Society

The Canadian Hemochromatosis Society (CHS) promotes the early diagnosis of hemochromatosis by raising public awareness, informing the medical community, and encouraging early screening of at-risk populations. The CHS provides support and information to individuals and families affected by iron overload.

European Federation of Associations of Patients with Haemochromatosis

EFAPH is a European patients’ organisation currently comprising 12 national associations representing patients with haemochromatosis – a genetic disease causing iron overload in the body.

Haemochromatosis Australia

We are the support and advocacy group for people affected by haemochromatosis, their families and loved ones. We aim to provide support for people with the disorder and to increase awareness of haemochromatosis in the general public and the medical and health professions.

Irish Haemochromatosis Association

The Irish Haemochromatosis Association aims to provide support and information for those suffering with haemochromatosis and related disorders, to facilitate networking among members, and to encourage screening of members' extended families

MayoClinic

Hereditary hemochromatosis is present at birth. But, most people don't experience signs and symptoms until later in life — usually between the ages of 50 and 60 in men and after age 60 in women. Women are more likely to develop symptoms after menopause, when they no longer lose iron with menstruation and pregnancy.