Various Options For Diagnosing And Treating Hemochromatosis

Reduce Alcohol Consumption

Hemochromatosis patients may need to reduce or limit their consumption of alcoholic beverages as part of their treatment plan. One of the most serious complications that can occur in an individual affected by hemochromatosis is damage to the liver tissues. The liver is the organ responsible for processing alcohol and clearing it from the body. Excessive alcohol consumption can cause significant damage to a healthy liver. The consumption of alcoholic beverages by an individual with hemochromatosis can perpetuate and provoke further damage to the liver tissues. The liver can become damaged and scarred when the damage from toxic iron overload is combined with damage that occurs due to the consumption of too much alcohol. Thus, hemochromatosis patients should stop drinking alcohol altogether to reduce their risk of developing liver cirrhosis and failure.

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Regular Blood Donation

The removal of blood from the body helps lower the amount of iron in it because a good portion is present in the blood at any given time. Regular blood donation as a treatment method for hemochromatosis has few side effects and causes minimal pain. Individuals who donate blood regularly as a treatment for hemochromatosis may need to donate up to twice a week at the beginning of their regimen. After that, an affected individual usually only needs to donate blood between four to six times every year. Some patients do not like to use this method of treatment because it can cause fatigue, they have a fear of needles, it can be painful, puts them at an increased risk of anemia, or they have discomfort with their blood being used for transfusions. Regular blood donation is also known to be the cheapest way to treat hemochromatosis.