Odds are you've heard of anemia, a condition resulting from too little iron in your blood. But what about hemochromatosis, which means you have too much?

How the body uses iron

To best understand the different conditions, William “Adam” Hammond, MD, a hematologist/oncologist at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, explained how iron is normally processed in the human body.

"Your body absorbs iron in the upper part of the small intestine. Most people take in about 1 milligram (mg) a day. Any iron your body doesn’t need right away is stored in the liver, and the extra leaves the body in urine or stool. When your body needs it, that stored iron is sent to the bone marrow to help make red blood cells," he explained. "Red blood cells – and the protein inside them called hemoglobin – carry fresh oxygen throughout the body."

What is hemochromatosis?

Primary hemochromatosis (pronounced he-moe-kroe-muh-TOE-sis) is an inherited condition that causes your body to absorb and store too much iron from the food you eat. It's caused by a change (mutation) in one of the genes that control iron absorption. The condition affects nearly 1 million Americans, but the prevalence varies largely based on ancestry, with the highest numbers seen in those of northern European descent.

"If you have this condition, the body's natural iron level sensor located in the small intestine isn't working, and more iron is absorbed. The excess iron overloads the liver and then finds its way to other organs, which can lead to damage," said Dr. Hammond.

Health risks of iron overload

Organs affected and potential health problems related to excess iron include:

• Liver: cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure
• Joints: arthritis
• Pancreas: diabetes
• Heart: arrhythmias or heart failure
• Testes: erectile dysfunction

Too much iron may also lead to skin discoloration.

What is iron-deficiency anemia?

Iron-deficient anemia, a far more prevalent problem than iron overload, means the body isn't getting enough iron to power red blood cells' production of hemoglobin, so they can't carry oxygen throughout the body. In the U.S., it is the most common blood condition.

"One in six individuals will be affected in their lifetime," said Dr. Hammond.

The condition can be common in women, especially during menstruation or when pregnant, and in children during growth spurts. However, if iron levels remain low outside of these normal times, doctors will test for underlying causes. Since it's rare for men to experience low iron, they will likely be tested for blood loss immediately.

Treatment for low iron

"We treat patients with iron deficiency with supplements. If it's temporary, they will respond immediately," said Dr. Hammond. "If they don't respond, we want to know why. We have two possibilities: undiagnosed blood loss or an absorption problem, such as celiac disease."

Further testing can help define the possible cause.

Untreated anemia could lead to chronic fatigue, loss of productivity, or shortness of breath with minimal activity. However, even early iron deficiency can cause many other symptoms like restless legs, muscle cramps, headaches, brittle hair, or, particularly in women, craving non-food substances such as ice, baking soda or baby powder.

How iron disorders are diagnosed

The good news is that when caught early, both conditions are treatable. Doctors usually won't test for either condition unless your symptoms suggest it.

For anemia, a simple blood test will tell your doctor what’s lacking so you can get started on a treatment plan.

If you're a parent and are diagnosed with hemochromatosis (or know of a family history of it), it's suggested that your spouse and close family members get tested to determine the likelihood of having passed the gene on to children. The primary goal of this testing is to detect, treat, or monitor hereditary hemochromatosis before complications arise.

As always, talk with your primary care physician or your child's pediatrician about any symptoms you or your child may be having.