What is Hereditary Hemochromatosis?
1.
Hereditary Hemochromatosis is a disease that causes excess iron in the human body. The name comes from “hemo,” meaning blood, and “chroma,” meaning color; This refers to the bronze tone of skin that excess iron can cause. This disease is not only hereditary, but it can also be caused by hepatitis or alcohol abuse. Usually people absorb 10% of the iron in food, but people with this disease absorb twice as much. As the iron accumulates, it stays in the body and is stored in major organs like the liver, heart, and pancreas. After the iron stays in the organs for a few years, it can reach toxic levels and eventually damage the organs. This disease can also lead to major health problems such as diabetes, arthritis, impotence, and liver diseases.
Back in the day, a lot of people died from Hemochromatosis due to lack of scientific knowledge on the disease. Today however, it is widely known and nonfatal. Hereditary Hemochromatosis is actually quite common in the United States, with 1 in 200 people affected by it. Another study shows that 1 in 9 people in the US carry a single copy of the defective gene. (2)
Most people affected by this disease have a normal life expectancy. However, this depends on whether diabetes or other diseases are developed as a result of hemochromatosis.
There are two types of hemochromatosis, which are primary and secondary. Primary is caused by a gene defect that controls how much iron your absorb from food.This is usually genetic, and is inherited from both parents, because it is a recessive gene. Secondary hemochromatosis is generally caused by another disease or condition that causes iron overload. (3)
1. "Hereditary Hemochromatosis." N.p., n.d. Web. <http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches/headers_80181/hemochromotosis1.gif>.
2. "KidsHealth." Hereditary Hemochromatosis. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2013. <http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches/hh.html>.3. "Hemochromatosis." Cleveland Clinics. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/1100/1198.asp>.
Back in the day, a lot of people died from Hemochromatosis due to lack of scientific knowledge on the disease. Today however, it is widely known and nonfatal. Hereditary Hemochromatosis is actually quite common in the United States, with 1 in 200 people affected by it. Another study shows that 1 in 9 people in the US carry a single copy of the defective gene. (2)
Most people affected by this disease have a normal life expectancy. However, this depends on whether diabetes or other diseases are developed as a result of hemochromatosis.
There are two types of hemochromatosis, which are primary and secondary. Primary is caused by a gene defect that controls how much iron your absorb from food.This is usually genetic, and is inherited from both parents, because it is a recessive gene. Secondary hemochromatosis is generally caused by another disease or condition that causes iron overload. (3)
1. "Hereditary Hemochromatosis." N.p., n.d. Web. <http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches/headers_80181/hemochromotosis1.gif>.
2. "KidsHealth." Hereditary Hemochromatosis. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2013. <http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/aches/hh.html>.3. "Hemochromatosis." Cleveland Clinics. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2013. <http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/1100/1198.asp>.