Liver Damage and Cirrhosis — Dr. Norman Swan Gastrointestinal Health September 6, ,. Next article Corona watch. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Cookie Settings Accept All. Manage consent.
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Signs and symptoms of hereditary hemochromatosis usually appear in midlife. Treatment includes regularly removing blood from your body. Because much of the body's iron is contained in red blood cells, this treatment lowers iron levels. Some people with hereditary hemochromatosis never have symptoms. Early signs and symptoms often overlap with those of other common conditions. Hereditary hemochromatosis is present at birth. But most people don't experience signs and symptoms until later in life — usually after the age of 40 in men and after age 60 in women.
Women are more likely to develop symptoms after menopause, when they no longer lose iron with menstruation and pregnancy. See your doctor if you experience any of the signs and symptoms of hereditary hemochromatosis.
If you have an immediate family member who has hemochromatosis, ask your doctor about genetic tests that can determine if you have inherited the gene that increases your risk of hemochromatosis.
A normal liver left shows no signs of scarring. In cirrhosis right , scar tissue replaces normal liver tissue. Hereditary hemochromatosis is caused by a mutation in a gene that controls the amount of iron your body absorbs from the food you eat. Conditions such as thalassemia, sideroblastic anemia, porphyria cutanea tarda, and chronic liver disease may also be associated with iron overload.
HH is most common in white populations of northern European descent. Multiple factors—including dietary iron intake, alcohol consumption, blood donation, blood loss associated with menstruation, and pregnancy—affect the expression of clinical features of hemochromatosis. Men are 24 times more likely than women to express clinical features of hemochromatosis.
Cardiac manifestations include restrictive cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and arrhythmias. Iron deposition in the beta cells of the pancreas causes diabetes 1 and in the pituitary causes hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in both men and women, resulting in decreased libido, amenorrhea, testicular atrophy, gynecomastia, and reduced body hair.
Primary testicular dysfunction may occur due to iron deposition in the testicles. Secondary hypothyroidism is rare in the setting of iron overload, although iron deposition occasionally occurs in pituitary thyrotrophs usually only to a mild degree.
Adrenal insufficiency and hypoparathyroidism may also result from iron overload. The iron causes damage to the organ and interferes with its ability to fulfill its functions properly, such as the production and release of testosterone levels. When the testosterone levels drop, a man's sex drive decreases.
Testosterone levels also play a role in proper erectile functioning, but this is equally impacted by the cardiac issues that may arise due to hemochromatosis. These result in both a weaker flow of blood throughout the body and a weakening of the arteries and vessels, including those in the penis.
When blood cannot vigorously flow into the penis, it results in weaker erections - or sometimes in no erection at all. In most cases, doctors treat diagnosed hereditary hemochromatosis through phlebotomy , which is another word for blood-letting. After the diagnosis is confirmed, a person will have a pint or so of blood drained on a regular basis - sometimes weekly, sometimes more or less.
This continues until the iron level in the body is back in an acceptable range. After that, they will be phlebotomized much less often - perhaps every few months or so, just to maintain the proper iron level. With treatment, erectile dysfunction due to hemochromatosis is generally reversible. This amino acid helps keep blood vessels dilated, allowing for an easier flow of blood to the penis.
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