What Is Hereditary Hemochromatosis?
Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a genetic disease that
alters the body's ability to regulate iron absorption.
If correctly diagnosed, HH is easily and effectively
treated, but if untreated, it can lead to severe organ damage.
Caucasians of northern European descent are at highest risk. An
estimated one million people in the United States have
hereditary hemochromatosis.
HH causes the body to absorb too much iron. Normally humans
extract needed iron from food via the intestines. When there is
an adequate amount of iron, the body reduces its absorption to
avoid excessive accumulations.
In a person with HH, the mechanism for regulating iron
absorption is faulty and the body absorbs too much iron.
Health
Related Websites
The National Cancer
Institute
The National Eye
Institute
The National Heart, Lung,
and Blood Institute
National Institute on
Aging
National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institute of
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute on Drug
Abuse
National Institute of Mental
Health
National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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