Nancy Morris introduced Leslie Talman who was here to tell us about Hemochromatosis (HHC), a genetic condition that results in too much iron in the body. Leslie herself was diagnosed two years ago and has now made it her mission to educate people about it.
One in 300 people are at risk of developing the potentially fatal condition. That makes it the most common genetic disorder in Canada. It’s most prevalent in people of Northern-European and Celtic descent and is caused by a mutation of the HFE gene. It is often referred to as “The Celtic Curse”.
A healthy individual usually absorbs about 10% of the iron they ingest. A person with HHC will absorb twice that. The symptoms include chronic fatigue, loss of body hair, loss of libido, abdominal distension, thyroid problems, sudden weight loss, elevated liver enzymes, glucose and triglyceride levels, personality changes, mood swings, anger and depression, menstrual irregularities and arthritic pain. If it doesn’t get diagnosed, that’s when the problems arise.
So how do you get diagnosed? A simple check of the Ferritin box by your doctor at your annual physical can be all it takes. The condition can’t be cured but it can be managed if you know.
The treatment starts with frequent bloodletting (phlebotomies). As the body produces new blood, it will draw the excess iron out of the parts of the body not designed to store it. Once normal levels are reached, regular blood donation can keep the levels under control. Of course, avoiding high iron food and lifestyle choices like tobacco and alcohol is also necessary. In fact, raw shellfish can carry bacteria which can be fatal to people with HHC.
Leslie left pamphlets on the table from the Canadian Hemochromatosis Society for those interested in finding out more.
www.toomuchiron.ca
Questions:
Jack – How did you find out?
Leslie – Was chronically tired
Elaine – Do the amount/levels increase with age?
Leslie – Women are more at risk after menopause
Tracey – Can phlebotomy treatment blood be donated?
Leslie – No, but once the levels are back to normal, it can
Ed Thompson – Is the Ferritin box not usually checked during regular check-ups?
Leslie – No, your doctor should be encouraged to check for this
Chuck – With the elevated iron level, does that mean you can give blood more often?
Leslie – No, the body still needs to recover after each letting.
