Why a high level of ferritin is dangerous?

Iron in large quantities can lead to intoxication; it accumulates in tissues, affecting their structure and leading to hypoxia. First, the excess iron in tissues (referred to as hemochromatosis) negatively affects the kidneys, liver, pancreas, lungs, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. Second, a high level of iron can impact the cardiovascular and nervous systems.

Why there is so much of it

An increased level of iron means that your body cannot process it and utilize the excesses, which could happen for various reasons, including:

• Inherited disorders of iron metabolism
• Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys, blood, and bones
• Pregnancy
• Older age
• Oncological diseases with specific drug therapy
• Employment in companies working with metals
• Prolonged alcohol intoxication

When you need a check-up

If you find yourself with several issues from the list below, you should seek the medical care of a general practitioner:

• Constant fatigue, reduced ability to work, dizziness
• Memory problems
• Loss of body weight
• Skin problems: rough or dry skin, darkly pigmented spots, yellowish or bronze skin
• Increased density of nails
• Rigid hair, hair loss
• Abdominal discomfort

How to do a medical test

If you are interested in checking your ferritin level, you should have a vein blood test done. The test should be done on an empty stomach. In an ideal situation, you should eat your last meal 8–12 hours before the test. If this is impossible, you should wait at least 4 hours after the meal before having the test. It is recommended to avoid physical strain and sleep well for 2–3 hours before the test. It is necessary to exclude alcohol; smoking is not allowed during the day of the test. To obtain the most precise results, it is necessary to exclude iron-containing foods from your diet 7–10 days before the test. These include seaweed, mushrooms, oatmeal, almonds, rose hips, dried apricots, prunes, and cocoa.

The normal ferritin level ranges from:

• 20 to 250 ng/ml for adult men
• 10 to 120 ng/ml for adult women

The optimal level of ferritin ranges from:

• 75 to 250 ng/ml for adult men
• 25 to 120 ng/ml for adult women

Any extremes are not healthy for your body, and an increased ferritin level is as bad for your health as a low level. Everything should be taken in moderation. Therefore, you need to check your vitamin and mineral levels regularly to keep yourself in great shape.

26 March 2021