The amount
of iron stored by the body is measured indirectly with measuring the ferritin
levels. Ferritin is a body protein that is used to store iron. There are some
tests that help us to evaluate the body’s iron stores such as ferritin test,
iron binding capacity test ect.
Normal results
for a ferritn test are 12-300 nanograms per milliliter of blood for males and
12-150 ng/ml for females.
High levels
of ferritin can be indicative for hemochromatosis. This is genetic disorder in
which there is excessive accumulation of iron in the body. There is problem is with the absorption of iron from
the intestines which is greater than the amount needed to replace losses. Normaly
the body cannot increase iron excretion there for the absorbed iron accumulates
in the body. The excess iron deposits in the heart, joints, testicles, liver
and causes damage to these organs. So the sign and symptoms of hemochromatosis
came from these organs. Women develop sign and symptoms 10 years later then
man, because they lose the iron thanks to menstruation. Sign and symptoms of
hemochromatosis are: fatigue, joint pains, heart failure, diabetes mellitus,
liver cirrhosis, sexual dysfunction and
darkening of skin. Also some chronic inflammatory conditions such as
liver disease rheumatoid arthritis or some types o f cancer can be caused from high ferritin levels.
When the levels of ferritin are low we have iron
deficiency. In these condition the body cannot produce sufficient levels of hemoglobin (component of red cells
that carries the oxygen) and we have
anemia. Sign and symptoms of anemia are: fast heartbeat, dizziness, fatigue,
shortness of breath and pale skin.
Informative blog :)
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