[ad_1]
For years, 27-year-old Katherine Hough suffered from a series of disconcerting symptoms.
"I had stomach pain for no reason, then when I started college, I fainted frequently, my hair fell, she had severe joint pain and was constantly tired," she says. .
"My mother thought all of this was due to my hectic student lifestyle."
After a visit to the general practitioner, two blood tests the detection of iron levels revealed that the young girl was suffering from hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), a disease that causes excessive accumulation of iron in the body .
Most of us think that iron is a mineral. Strengthens and we tend to worry only about its deficiency.
Little Knowledge
There is little knowledge of the risks of compound accumulation and some of its symptoms, such as fatigue, they can also be confused with other disorders.
"I was very lucky to be diagnosed quickly.Many health professionals believe that women have symptoms that much later in life which can potentially damage some organs. "
" During the past year, I have visited about 30 people.times the hospital.Today, I suffer from chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome and pain in the joints of the knees, hands and elbows. "
" The only treatment that exists is a phlebotomy, in which I extract half a liter of blood every few months. "
" I feel lucky because I was diagnosed when I was young, as this allows me to monitor my health.Some days, I suffer from an unbearable pain, pain and suffering. On other days, I'm fine, but we need to raise awareness about this disease, "he said. said.
What is hereditary hemochromatosis (HH)?
- This is a disease that causes iron buildup in the body.
- It is estimated that about 250,000 people live in the United Kingdom. they are at risk for HH, although many have not been diagnosed.
- The risk is higher for women than for men.
- The disease is caused by a defective gene. Northerners, especially those of Irish descent, are more likely to have this gene.
- The symptoms of HH include: fatigue, joint pain, skin problems and badual health.If untreated, HH can cause serious diseases such as liver cancer and cirrhosis.
- The treatment is relatively simple, it consists of a phlebotomy (blood extraction) because the body produces more blood to replace the one that has been extracted, it uses the stored iron excess.
Fuen te: Hemochromatosis UK
"The most common disorder you have never heard of"
For a recent report from the Humanitarian Organization Hemochromatosis UK (HUK), 2000 people with this disorder have been surveyed worldwide. 19659003] It was found that 73% of patients suffered from psychological difficulties, 81% from fatigue and 87% from arthritis or joint pain.
Although the majority of them are satisfied with the treatment of their specialists, one-third said .
As noted by a physician Edward Fitzsimons specialist in hemochromatosis at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, "hemochromatosis is one of the genetic diseases the most common in the populations of northern Europe. "
" However, it is a disease that is easily missed by diagnosis Eight out of ten patients are undiagnosed. "
" It is certainly one of the most common disorders you've ever heard of. "
" I felt like an old complaining "
Abigail Harvey, 19-year-old hemochromatosis while she's not n ' was only 15 years old
Until that time, she suffered severe menstrual cramps and joint pains, as well as depression, and at age 14 was admitted to hospital for attempted suicide. 19659030] "A beautiful therapist suggested me to do blood tests."
"I had severe pains all over my body and I felt like an old complainant, not like a young teenager."
" Everyone around me thought that I was anemic but it turned out that I was suffering from an excessive accumulation of iron."
" Many doctors I have seen have asked me to explain my illness! Why do we know so much about anemia but not about his devilish cousin? "
Since his diagnosis, Abigail was treated with phlebotomies with limited success.
"I want to stress how important it is to ask your doctor to badyze your iron levels if you have these symptoms," he says.
David Head, CEO of HUK, states: "Abigail's account of menstrual problems, joint pain, mental health problems, delayed diagnosis and treatment tribulations are being repeated in many patients "
" It is important to emphasize that it is important that health professionals be as aware of iron accumulation as deficiency and perform appropriate tests. problems, "he says.
[ad_2]
Source link
