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National Hemochromatosis Month
It is estimated that two million Americans have hereditary hemochromatosis, but 98% of them do not know it. Another 43 million Americans are estimated to be “silent carriers” of the gene mutation for hemochromatosis. Because screening for hemochromatosis is not routine in doctor’s offices and in hospitals, most people with hemochromatosis will go undetected. Patients can have the disease for years and still not feel ill in any way. For that reason, early detection based on symptoms alone is not recommended. When symptoms do occur, they can include chronic fatigue, arthritis, infertility, impotence, diabetes, elevated liver enzymes, liver failure, liver and/or heart transplant, and primary liver cancer. With early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, all or most of these symptoms can be treated, or even prevented. Because treatment is bloodletting, people are who frequent blood donors will not get the excess iron stores that are caused by hemochromatosis/iron overload, or will get it to a much lesser degree than those who do not donate blood on a regular basis. The FDA has approved the use of hemochromatosis as donor blood and blood banks who have adopted the FDA variance will use hemochromatosis blood as donor blood. Check with your local blood bank to see if your blood bank participates in this program. Otherwise, donate blood as a way to prevent excess iron stores in vital body organs such as the heart, liver, pancreas and joints. Get a checkup with your doctor and request the tests listed above, or contact HeathcheckUSA (www.healthcheckusa.com) to directly order the tests yourself. For free information packet containing educational literature on hemochromatosis and green recognition ribbons, visit the American Hemochromotosis Society web site at: www.americanhs.org or call the AHS toll free information line: 1-888-655-IRON (4766); for the counseling and referral line: 407-829-4488. Source: American Hemochromatosis Society Resources: |
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National
Hemochromatosis Month is observed each year during the month of July.
The purpose is to increase awareness of hereditary hemochromatosis (HH),
iron overload disease and to urge the public to get early diagnosis and
treatment. Because hemochromatosis is potentially fatal, it is vital to
diagnose it in it earliest stages, when treatment is the most successful.
Early diagnosis can be achieved through blood tests: serum iron, TIBC/total
iron binding capacity, and serum ferritin, as well as a genetic test.
When diagnosed early, patients can enjoy a full and healthy life span.
Even if the patient is not diagnosed at an early stage, there is a treatment,
bloodletting, identical to blood donation, called “therapeutic phlebotomy”.
This treatment reduces the iron stores in vital body organs to normal
levels, often adding many years to the patient’s life.