Sunday 16 December 2012

More symptoms now coming to light





HH/GH    Hereditary or Genetic Hemochromatosis – Iron Overload

What it is

Hereditary Hemochromatosis A surprisingly common, yet virtually unknown genetic disorder. Potentially fatal, easily detected and even though as yet not curable, it is treatable, even life saving if found and treated long before the devastating consequences begin.
HH is fast becoming one of the worlds’ most common though obscure, undetected disorders, affecting hundreds of thousands of people around the world, affecting both men and women. It is a crippling, debilitating and potentially fatal condition caused by a defective gene mutation which affects the way our liver’s metabolic process works. Iron is toxic and therefore can be fatal.
Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal recessive disorder of iron metabolism characterized by increased iron absorption, allowing toxic iron deposition in the liver, pancreas, heart, joints, and pituitary gland. Without treatment, death can occur from cirrhosis, primary liver cancer, diabetes, or cardiomyopathy and other heart conditions.
It is also now coming to light that HH is a contributory factor, possibly even a cause of many other serious illnesses, including some of the following:

How it affects us:
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  Debilitating chronic fatigue and weakness
·           
  Joint pain. (especially fingers/hands, knees and hips)
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  Liver cirrhosis and cancer.
·          
  Pancreatic Cancer.

  Type 2 diabetes
·        
   Cardiomyopathy and other heart complications
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  Hemosiderosis. A rare condition in which too much iron is present in certain organs, most commonly in the lungs
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   Hepatocellular carcinoma has been reported to account for 30–45 percent of deaths among the HHC patients according to reports from the American Oxford Journals 2001 (http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/154/3/193.full)
·          
  Bronchitis and Pneumonia
·        
   Mood swings impaired memory, irritability, depression
·          
  Skin becomes thin.
·          
  Hair thinning and loss, both on hrad and body.
·          
  Abnormal pigmentation of the skin, making it look gray or bronze
·          
  Gall bladder problems
·          
  Reduced sex drive, early menopause and Impotence in men.
·          
  Psoriasis
·          
  Viral infections esp, affecting the mouth with ulcers
·        
   Eyesight problems
·          
  There are recent indications that there is possibly a link to HH and Sjogens syndrome

Aims
·          
    Promote information on HH and advise on tests available to ensure prevention before onset of complications
·          
    Assist in making GP’s more aware of the need for testing, both serum ferritin levels and HH genetic testing
·          
    Warn people through the media to STOP promoting vitamin supplements, especially Iron and Vitamin C for people presenting similar symptoms as in anaemia.
·           
    Encourage more research into the genes responsible for HH *(genome research in cancer patients due to commence soon?).
·          
    Encourage the government to test for the HH gene in new-borns.
·         

·         Encourage the NHS to highlight preventative measures for those with associated symptoms and those who have already been diagnosed with HH as the complications will undoubtedly be much more costly.

4 comments:

  1. Hi Chris,
    I was recently diagnosed with HH (SF is 641, TS is 82%)and after one phlebotomy, I was anemic. I've now had a second one but am really looking for natural ways to chelate iron stores from my body and maybe eventually to cure this by somehow turning off the expression of my 2 C282Y defective genes! I'm an optimist! Anyway, I loved hearing about how well wheat grass worked for you! Have you continued the need to take it after your SF levels were normal? I'd be interested in buying wheat grass at a discounted price. Or do you think the fresh juice would work better?
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello Chris,
    Thank you for sharing your experience in your blog, and bringing aware about a desease that is not enough known.
    I would like to know where do you buy the wheat grass, and what is the dosis you use.
    Regards
    Gabriela

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Chris,
    I note your articles on wheatgrass - did you try it to see if it reduced your overload?
    Best, Peter

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