Are you or someone you love experiencing unexplained stomach aches, joint pain, skin yellowing, or depression? If so, it is likely that you are dealing with hemochromatosis. This serious condition causes the body to retain and hold on to more iron than is necessary. Absorbing too much iron is detrimental to your body, and can cause severe damage to your organs and blood.
It is vital that you seek out hemochromatosis treatment Los Angeles as quickly as you can. The longer you wait, the more iron can build up in your body, having fatal effects.
What Causes Hemochromatosis?
Unfortunately, hemochromatosis is a genetic mutation, meaning that you are likely to contract the condition if your family is predisposed to this genetic trait. Only 10% of people with this condition develop to an advanced stage where iron overload causes damage to the organs and blood.
The condition can be diagnosed through simple blood tests. These tests can quickly determine the levels of iron in your blood. The typical human body should only absorb about 10% of iron from food. But this condition causes a much higher percentage of absorption.
How Does It Cause Organ Damage?
Iron is an essential part of the body, especially for the blood. But too much of anything is unhealthy. Iron that builds up and is stored in the organs causes eventual damage because of the body’s inability to properly organize and dispose of the iron.
Typically, your body uses a hormone called hepcidin to control iron and its uses. Hemochromatosis causes a disruption in the regular use of this hormone, so your body cannot control or eliminate this excess iron.
It can cause organ damage over many years, especially in the liver. However, most people diagnosed with this condition do not advance to the fatal stages. Instead, there are proactive treatments and preventive solutions available to help anyone at risk of this condition.
Symptoms of Hemochromatosis
Most people who are diagnosed with hemochromatosis have no idea they have this condition. It is often difficult to diagnose hemochromatosis, especially since there is such a wide range of symptoms. It proves not uncommon for patients to have a misdiagnosis with pancreatitis, arthritis, or a GI tract condition instead of hemochromatosis.
Still, it is important to visit a gastroenterologist and hepatologist for a proper diagnosis. The symptoms you experience may include:
- Stomach pain
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Lack of sex drive or impotence
- Memory loss
- Liver failure
- Heart failure
- Joint pain
- Graying or yellowing skin
- Inability to stay focused on tasks
Since hemochromatosis is a genetic disease, the people who have it are born with it. But the symptoms might not appear in a person until their 40s. It is important to be aware of your family’s medical history as you get older.
Hemochromatosis Treatment Options
A few easy blood tests can help determine whether the levels of iron in your blood are too high. If they are, your doctor will want to test for further signs of the condition. If you are dealing with multiple symptoms and are possibly in a more advanced stage, your doctor will also perform a liver biopsy.
The first step in treating this condition is to make sure your iron levels are stabilized again. This might include having blood drawn and going under additional treatments as prescribed by your doctor.
Depending on the severity of the condition, you may be able to reverse symptoms and invest in medication that can prevent it from returning.
Get Specialized Hemochromatosis Treatment!
The best gastroenterologist doctor Los Angeles is your biggest solution for hemochromatosis treatment in your area. Visit the office of Dr. Tabib and assess the levels of iron in your blood before you have to deal with any major symptoms.
It is important to be consistently monitored for signs of increased iron levels in your blood. We offer a lifetime commitment to our patients through continued care, catered to your exact hemochromatosis needs.
Don’t wait for the symptoms to get worse. If you’ve always wondered about hemochromatosis, or you worry that you have its symptoms, reach out to us ASAP.
