How can I have to much iron if I have been told I have been anemic?
I have heard several people say they do not need to be tested for hemochromatosis because at one point or another in their life they were told they were anemic. This has lead me to research what anemia is and understand whether or not that statement makes any sense.
What is anemia?
Anemia is defined by www.anemia.org as "a condition of lower than normal levels of healthy red blood cells and their oxygen carrying component called hemoglobin." Further from the same site, "When the body cannot absorb iron or certain vitamins properly or is unable to incorporate them into hemoglobin, red blood cells may not be created fast enough or created at all. Hemoglobin is the iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. Also, doctors determine if a patient is anemic by measuring their hemoglobin level."
So at the surface the concept seems to be sound. If one is anemic, then the body is not absorbing iron. Hemochromatosis is caused by absorbing too much iron. So logically if one is ever known to be anemic then they cannot also have hemochromatosis.
But it really is not that simple. More from the same site: "We focus on anemia that is caused by iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency, aging, surgery or by acquired chronic conditions like cancer, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease, heart disease, hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, and rheumatoid arthritis. These types of anemia are known as iron deficiency anemia, vitamin deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic disease." And "Certain hereditary variations in a person’s genes can lead to incorrect or decreased production of red blood cells. This can cause red blood cells to not last as long in the blood, not be as effective transporting oxygen from the lungs to different parts of the body, or not be created at all." And "Although this article listed some of the more common hereditary conditions that can lead to anemia, patients with any condition which can decrease the function of the bone marrow, red blood cell production or the ability of the digestive system to absorb vitamin B12 or iron are at-risk of developing anemia. Other notable conditions and classes of conditions which can affect patients in this manner include dyskeratosis congenita, congenital dyserythropoietic anemias, and congenital B12 malabsorption syndromes."
So at the surface the concept seems to be sound. If one is anemic, then the body is not absorbing iron. Hemochromatosis is caused by absorbing too much iron. So logically if one is ever known to be anemic then they cannot also have hemochromatosis.
But it really is not that simple. More from the same site: "We focus on anemia that is caused by iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency, aging, surgery or by acquired chronic conditions like cancer, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease, heart disease, hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, and rheumatoid arthritis. These types of anemia are known as iron deficiency anemia, vitamin deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic disease." And "Certain hereditary variations in a person’s genes can lead to incorrect or decreased production of red blood cells. This can cause red blood cells to not last as long in the blood, not be as effective transporting oxygen from the lungs to different parts of the body, or not be created at all." And "Although this article listed some of the more common hereditary conditions that can lead to anemia, patients with any condition which can decrease the function of the bone marrow, red blood cell production or the ability of the digestive system to absorb vitamin B12 or iron are at-risk of developing anemia. Other notable conditions and classes of conditions which can affect patients in this manner include dyskeratosis congenita, congenital dyserythropoietic anemias, and congenital B12 malabsorption syndromes."
Putting it together
There are many causes of anemia, not just iron deficiency. Doctors frequently prescribe iron pills or a diet high in iron fortified foods because it is an easy way to ensure that is not the cause of the anemia. However there are cases on record where prescribing iron pills to women who are anemic and have hereditary hemochromatosis has caused a near fatal iron level to build up in a very short time! Assuming that having been anemic means that you cannot have hereditary hemochromatosis can be fatal!
For further reading on what makes up our blood, I recommend www.biosbcc.net. There is a very nice discussion there on Hematocrit which may be of interest to those of us who donate blood frequently!
For further reading on what makes up our blood, I recommend www.biosbcc.net. There is a very nice discussion there on Hematocrit which may be of interest to those of us who donate blood frequently!