Hereditary hemochromatosis is a genetic disease that causes the
body to absorb and store too much iron. The condition gets its
name from "hemo" for blood and "chroma" for color, referring to
the characteristic bronze skin tone that iron overload can
cause. Someone with hereditary hemochromatosis who has never
taken an iron supplement could find out in later years that iron
overload is causing serious health problems. Iron is a trace
mineral that plays a vital role in the body. Every red blood
cell contains iron in its hemoglobin, the pigment that carries
oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. We get iron from our diet,
and normally the body absorbs about 10% of the iron found in
foods. People with hemochromatosis absorb double that amount.
Once absorbed, the excess iron doesn't leave the body. Instead,
it's stored in synovium (joints) and major organs such as the
liver, heart, brain, pancreas, and lungs. Over many years, iron
accumulates to toxic levels that can damage or even destroy an
organ. The iron overlo