Although people often have no symptoms of hemochromatosis when they are diagnosed, typical symptoms include fatigue, lack of energy, abdominal pain, and heart problems. As the disease progresses, symptoms can include arthritis, amenorrhea, early menopause, and loss of sex drive. Because the disease is rare, doctors may focus too much on conditions it causes (like arthritis) rather than on the symptoms of hemochromatosis.
Symptoms of Hemochromatosis: An Introduction
People with
hemochromatosis absorb more iron than the body needs. The body has no natural way to rid itself of the excess iron, so it is stored in body tissues, in particular, the:
Symptoms of hemochromatosis tend to occur in men between the ages of 30 and 50 and in women over age 50. However, many people have no symptoms of hemochromatosis when they are diagnosed. Hemochromatosis can also develop in newborns and children.
Common Symptoms of Hemochromatosis
Joint pain is the most common symptom of hemochromatosis. Other common symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Lack of energy
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of sex drive
- Heart problems.
Other Symptoms of Hemochromatosis
As iron accumulation progresses, patients may have additional symptoms of hemochromatosis, including:
- Arthritis
- Amenorrhea
- Early menopause
- Loss of sex drive
- Impotence (repeated inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse)
- Shortness of breath.
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