Too much iron absorption (overproduction)

Iron is an important mineral indispensable for the human body, helping to synthesize hemoglobin to create red blood cells. However, if too much iron is absorbed, it will lead to an excess that causes poisoning. Excessive iron absorption is not necessarily due to excessive iron absorption from the diet, but mainly because the patient is suffering from other diseases.

Iron overload disease is a disorder related to excessive accumulation of iron in the body, the intestines lose the ability to regulate unnecessary iron, and at the same time, iron is stored a lot in the liver, leading to iron infection. tissues that store too much iron cause damage to the liver, heart, and pancreas organs.
A normal person only absorbs 1 mg of iron a day, however, with an iron overload, the body absorbs up to 3 mg a day.
Iron overload disease is divided into 2 types:
Primary iron overload: Having inherited iron overload disease. Children with congenital iron excess, right from birth, the intestines have lost the ability to regulate the amount of iron absorbed, the excess iron is not excreted, but stored in the liver and heart. On average, a patient is able to absorb up to 3mg of iron per day, in 40-50 years, there will be up to 20-40g of iron stored in the body, extremely dangerous for the patient. Secondary iron overload: Having iron overload because the patient has other diseases such as anemia (lack of red blood cells), liver disease or because of a lot of blood transfusions and diseases related to iron absorption.

2.1 Overdose of iron drugs Children are the subjects that need a lot of iron to grow and develop. However, when the body absorbs too much iron through many forms such as taking medicine, eating, the amount of iron absorbed is greater than necessary, causing iron poisoning.
Children with iron excess are often due to taking the wrong iron supplement with the dose of adults, so it is not advisable to buy iron supplements for children to take by themselves, but to have indications, advice and prescriptions. doctor to ensure the safety of children.
2.2 Iron overload Those who are at high risk of iron overload:
Due to genetic factors; People who receive blood transfusions with a large amount of blood also cause iron overload; Patients with hepatitis C or alcohol abuse.

With inherited iron overload, children will be infected right from birth, without symptoms. Because the disease takes place silently, there are no typical symptoms, so early detection, diagnosis and treatment are very difficult.
Entering the age of 50-60 in men and 60 years in women performing will be more obvious. Women with iron overload usually develop it after menopause.
Early symptoms of iron overload:
Body fatigue, unexplained weight loss; Anorexia; Dark or bronzed skin: The cause of this color is because excess iron cannot be eliminated, will travel from the blood to the body's tissues and stay in skin cells. The result is gray skin and possible sensitivity to harmful ultraviolet rays; Osteoarthritis pain: Excess iron exists in the joints causing tissue damage, which then causes arthritis; Stomachache

Late symptoms of iron overload disease:
Excess iron, if not detected and treated promptly, will cause other diseases for the patient; Diabetes: Excess iron accumulates in the pancreas, affecting the synthesis of insulin, causing blood sugar to rise, causing diabetes; Heart failure: Excess iron accumulates in the heart and interferes with the electrical conduction of the heart, causing symptoms of heart failure or arrhythmia for the patient. In addition, when there is an excess of iron , the body will have more difficulty in pumping blood and circulating blood; Liver damage: Excess iron puts pressure on the liver, promoting the oxidation of liver tissue, causing organ damage and scarring in the liver. This is a risk factor for liver cancer or liver failure in patients with iron overload; In addition, patients with iron excess also reduce sexual desire.

Depending on the degree of iron excess or less, the doctor will prescribe differently.
For subjects with iron poisoning, the doctor will prescribe cleansing therapy by intestinal lavage or chelation treatment. These are methods to help remove excess iron in the body quickly to reduce symptoms of iron poisoning in patients.
For patients with iron overload, the main goal of treatment is to remove the excess iron, by drawing blood from a vein (phlebotomy). Depending on the degree of iron overload, the doctor will perform the procedure with different frequency.
In addition, do not arbitrarily use iron pills to supplement the body, especially when using other multivitamin drugs. Need to see a doctor for advice to ensure the safety of the body.
For people with a history of liver and heart disease, limit the use of iron-rich foods and iron supplements.