Too much iron causes...what?
Posted by yabbitgirl on Jun 28, 2008 · Member since Apr 2006 · 14266 posts
I know there's a disease or problem caused by having too much iron in your blood. I happen to have quite a lot, as per the last blood work I had done. And now my Dr. has given me vitamins with iron in, to help with the falling hair.
One of my students commented that Beethoven went deaf because of too much iron in his blood. I don't think that's right--I believe he went deaf as a side effect of a viral-type infection, like scarlet fever or something. But I know there IS a disease or problem linked to too much iron.
And my ears ring. A lot. The more tired I am, the louder it gets.
Anybody know more than I do about high iron?
Why did your doctor give you iron pills for hair loss when you are high in iron? Clearly that is not the cause. I'd be wary of taking them.
too much iron can leave you magnetic and rusting... ;D
all i know is that there is an increased risk for heart damage/ problems with high iron levels.
I thought high iron could *also* lead to hair loss...its a heavy metal after all.
i am confused too by why you were given supplements w/ iron??
High iron content in the body has been linked to cancer and heart disease.
People of European origin, sometimes have a genetic abnormality for storing excessive iron (1:300) where ten percent of these populations carry a gene for hemochromatosis. Iron supplements are the leading cause of death in children. Iron can be poisonous and if too much is taken over a long period could result in liver and heart damage, diabetes and skin changes.
Large iron supplementation may also contribute to the hardening of arteries, heart disease and reducing zinc absorption.
Iron should be taken between meals with Vitamin C, while manganese, copper, molybdenum, vitamin A and the B group are also beneficial. Iron in a supplement should be almost balanced with zinc.
i found this:
http://www.drgrisanti.com/iron.htm
seems alot of the info points to the blood vessel effect/damage and thus the increased risk in heart attack (MIs) and stroke.
There is also Hemocratosis. Seems that it is a genetic disease moreso...
check this out:
http://www.berkeleywellness.com/html/ds/dsIron.php
The genetic issue: hemochromatosis
There is no dispute that some people do need to worry about iron overload: about one million Americans (mostly of northern European descent) have a hereditary disorder known as hemochromatosis, which causes them to absorb and store too much iron. When untreated, this can lead to weakness, headaches, darkening of skin color, sexual dysfunction, and joint pain, and eventually diabetes, arthritis, liver disease, or heart failure (but not CAD and heart attacks). People with hemochromatosis must have blood removed frequently to lower their iron levels, and they must avoid iron supplements.
Many more people, about 10 to 15% of Americans, carry only one gene for hemochromatosis (it takes two genes to develop the full-blown disorder) and may accumulate slightly higher-than-average stores of iron, but it’s not known if this affects their health. Some studies have found that those who carry one gene for hemochromatosis have an increased coronary risk, but others have not. One recent study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that they have an increased risk of colon cancer—a finding that will need to be confirmed by future studies.
I don't know anything about high levels of iron (I waver on the other end of spectrum myself!), but I am a musicologist, and I do know about Beethoven. There are lots of speculations of how he became deaf-- I've never heard about high iron levels but more frequently I've heard high lead levels. I did some quick research and came up with this, from the notes of a cute book I used to use in one of my classes, Beethoven Lives Upstairs:
Other theories exist. One interesting theory is that Beethoven’s hearing and health issues result from lead poisoning. This might also explain some of his odd behavior as well. Chemical testing after his death showed that he had unusually high lead levels in his hair.
Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of the body, including the brain. Iron keeps red blood cells healthy. Lead competes with iron for a place on the red blood cells. If the spots on the red blood cells are filled with iron, due to good nutrition and health, then the lead will not have a place to settle. If a person’s blood is low in iron, however, and they are exposed to lead, then lead poisoning could result. Sources of lead in our environment include: old paint chips, lead-glazed pottery, soil (e.g. lead from gasoline fumes and from factory smokestacks eventually settles out of the air and becomes part of the soil, drinking water (in very old homes built before 1930). Since we now aware of the danger of lead to our health, pipes, paint and food containers no longer contain lead in the US. However, some lead could remain in and around very old homes or in food containers or folk remedies that are imported from other countries.
Lead poisoning in a child will affect physical and mental growth and development. Because of all that Beethoven achieved intellectually, if he did indeed suffer from lead poisoning it was likely to have occurred as an adult.
I'm in the middle of reading another (somewhat recent) biography called Beethoven's Hair. Sorry, I'm getting tangential with respect to this thread, but it's interesting stuff!
And my ears ring. A lot. The more tired I am, the louder it gets.
In regards to the ear ringing (doesn't have to do with iron), my mom has Meniere's disease that started with a lot of ringing in her ears and then she had a number of vertigo attacks that were just awful. Keep an eye (or ear ;) ) on the ear-ringing because it could turn into more.
I know, I know...(I'm a nurse...duh). It's called hemochromatosis............http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hemochromatosis
That's the extent of my knowledge. It can be hard on the liver. Menstrating females usually don't have a problem with it. Men can be prone to it because iron stays in your system so long, and they love meat. This is why men are recommended to donate blood, which helps to lower iron levels.
Of course, I don't know anything about your situation, but... if your ears ring all the time, it could also be tinnitus. That's just a ringing in the ears - I think it's unknown what causes it, really, but it tends to get worse as you age and often goes along with hearing loss acquired as an adult. Tinnitus is usually worse the quieter it is around you, and there's no cure, but people often use white noise to help them fall asleep. If it were tinnitus, the up side would be that it wouldn't indicate anything else bad.
I've never heard of iron causing hearing loss, but I have access to some great experts in this area! I'm going to ask around about it next week and I'll report back.
My mom said that iron pills make you constipated. That's all I heard.
Too much iron has the opposite effect on me.
So the Universe is telling me to go donate blood...I knew that....
Go thou and do likewise.
So the Universe is telling me to go donate blood...I knew that....
Go thou and do likewise.
It's a great way to rid yourself of excess iron, and help someone out.
YG - Have you had your thyroid checked lately? I remember you were having problems w/ that a while ago and thyroid stuff can cause hair loss.
True dat. I shed as much as Cat. But no ringing ears. ???
YG - Have you had your thyroid checked lately? I remember you were having problems w/ that a while ago and thyroid stuff can cause hair loss.
Yes, just the other day I got my results and it's ok. I am taking the pills. Sigh.
I think iron is another one of those myths that people think that they need a lot of. Like how people (even vegans) eat way too much protein, omni's especially, get way too much iron in their diet.
Best nutrients for hair loss are vitamin A and the B vitamins (B-6, folic acid, biotin, and vitamin B-12)...If you take any antacids they will diminish your bodies ability to absorb B vitamins.
Odd that he would recommend iron if you already have a high count. But since he did ..iron absorption is boosted by vitamin C so taking it with orange juice or a vitamin C tablet would help your body use it.
I have a very low iron count..want to share? :P