This episode is one I hope many women will listen to for hints that they might have one or two of the genes responsible for this blood disorder. Why? Hemochromatosis can silently rob you of your health. You can also spend years trying to manage or rid yourself of symptoms that sound like so many others. I know firsthand, but was lucky to have a doctor 20 years ago who decided to test my iron levels when nothing worked to relieve my fatigue and joint pain.
The levels were high so he ordered the genetic test to confirm and bingo, heterozygous or two genes worth of the "Celtic Curse" as it's sometimes called because I was so happy to come across naturopathic doctor Eric Lewis about hemochromatosis, a genetic condition that causes the body to absorb too much iron from food.
Dr. Lewis explains that hemochromatosis is a "genetic metabolic disorder of excessive iron absorption from our meals" that affects approximately 1 in 9 people of Northwestern European ancestry (with one gene variation) and about 1 in 200-250 people (with two gene variations).
The conversation covers:
- Common symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, anxiety, brain fog, and insomnia
- Why women often discover the condition after menopause
- The potential health consequences of untreated iron overload include arthritis, liver disease, diabetes, and heart problems
- A possible link to an always-on parasympathetic nervous system
- How therapeutic phlebotomy (blood donation) helps manage the condition
- Dietary strategies to reduce iron absorption, including which foods inhibit or enhance iron uptake
- Surprising facts about spinach, red wine, and other foods that affect iron levels
- Resources available at hemochromatosishelp.com include newsletters, books and a cookbook by Dr. Lewis and his wife
"When you look out over the years, the decades, over a lifetime, it can start to accumulate and can lead to iron overload, where the storage of iron in your body exceeds what is normal. And this can lead to problems." - Dr. Eric Lewis
Dr. Lewis emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis through proper blood testing and explains how this common genetic condition is often underdiagnosed or misattributed to other causes. People with hemochromatosis can effectively manage their iron levels and prevent serious complications with proper management through phlebotomy, diet modifications, and lifestyle changes.
Their website is hemachromatosishelp.com.
Check out their library of information on all things iron overload.
Meanwhile, if you fit the profile and have some of the symptoms mentioned, tell your doctor you want a full iron panel that includes ferritin, TIBC, and Transferrin. Dr. Lewis offers lab services.
If your serum transferrin saturation and serum ferritin levels are high, a doctor will likely order gene testing.
I was able to manage my levels for a long time with just phlebotomy every two months, but got off track, so I am now going once per month to get back to baseline. My symptoms start to show up when I'm not diligent; for me, it's high blood pressure, joint pain, and erratic sleep. I will now be better at staying on schedule, as enduring that big needle more than needed is something I will not miss.
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