How Can Hemochromatosis Be Prevented?
You can't prevent primary, or inherited,
hemochromatosis. However, not everyone who inherits hemochromatosis genes
develops symptoms or complications of the disease. In those who do, treatments
can keep the disease from getting worse.
Treatments include therapeutic phlebotomy, iron
chelation therapy, dietary changes, and other treatments. For more information,
see "How Is Hemochromatosis Treated?"
People who have hemochromatosis or a family history
of it and are planning to have children may want to consider genetic testing
and counseling. This will help show whether one or both parents have faulty HFE
genes. A genetic counselor also can help figure out the likelihood of the
parents passing the faulty genes on to their children. |