It is a hereditary disease characterized by absorption of abnormally large amounts of iron from the intestine.The body absorbs three to four times more iron from food than normal. It is the #1 genetic killer in the USA. Very frequent in western countries, affecting one in 300 people.

Potentially a fatal iron storage disease with excessive iron deposits especially in the liver.This killer is an autosomal recessive disorder that is passed to a child from the parents. Probably the greatest difficulty in early diagnosis is that it is non-specific and symptoms are vague. Even though hemochromatosis is common, the disease is often underdiagnosed.

The key to preventing this disease is early detection and treatment. Most symptoms don't develop until after thirty for men, and after fifty for women.

Sometimes referred to as 'bronze diabetes', it is also commonly known as iron overload disease. It is the most common genetic disease in the United States. Also is one of modern medicines greatest oversights.

A rare iron storage disorder with onset beginning before birth, neonatal hemochromatosis is a severe, often fatal multiorgan disorder of iron metabolism.

The gene for this disorder, named HFE was discovered in 1996. It is the most common hereditary disease of metabolism.

Some may treat the complications, such as diabetes or arthritis, without realizing that hemochromatosis is the underlying cause. When full-blown it is characterized by cirrhosis of the liver, darkening of the skin, diabetes, cardiomyopathies [which literally means "heart muscle disease", is the deterioration of the function of the myocardium], and possibly by arthropathies. [A disease or abnormality of a joint].

Can potentially lead to serious problems such as arthritis, liver issues, congestive heart failure, impotence, skin pigmentation, and pancreas damage.

Being a genetic disease, close relatives should alert their doctors and be tested for it. The mainstay of treatment for is therapeutic phlebotomy.

An important screening test is a serum ferritin.

My personal symptoms:

Chronic fatique

Very bronze skin [looked like a nice tan only patchy]

Sore joints. Thumbs, elbows, and knees.

Strange heart beat.

The fatique and dark skin has pretty much subsided with treatment.

I also take iron-free vitamins and some super duper minerals. They seem to help.

Death is inevitable if left untreated. A normal life span is possible with early diagnosis and intervention.

And just for the record, hemochromatosis is a common problem in pet mynahs and toucans as well as in certain zoo birds such as the bird-of-paradise.