Dear Friends:

?

Since my husband was just diagnosed with hemochromatosis, a hereditary disease affecting primarily those of northern European descent, I felt I should let you all know about this since one in four people are at least carriers of the disease.?

?

Hemochromatosis is iron overload.? A person with the disease cannot process iron properly.? The iron then attaches itself to?different organs in the body such as the liver and heart and damaging them, which leads to?many other diseases such as diabetes, cirrhosis, and arthritis.??However, the good thing about this genetic disease is that with screening, it can usually be halted before any damage is done.? The treatment for it is phlebotomy--bloodletting, which?rids the body of the overloaded?iron.??

?

Usually by the time the affected person realizes they are ill,?medical professionals are?looking at and trying to cure the symptoms, rather than looking for?the cause, so hemochromatosis is very often missed totally.??

?

Tonight I listened to a presentation?for medical professionals at the US National Institute of Health about the disease, and Poland was specifically mentioned.? More Irish people have this than any other ethnic group, with English and Scottish being number two.? Poland was mentioned and then Russians and even Iranians, so I guess the disease was spread along the same route that our Poles took during the War.?

?

Australia, I am almost positive, is the only country that routinely screens for this disease.? The Aussies are at the medical forefront once again.? You can learn more about the disease here:

?

The National Institute of Health (US):

?

?

Under "For More Information," click the first link, which is The American Hemochromatosis Society.??

?

I hope this information helps someone or their loved ones.??Sorry for being off topic.

?

Eve

??