The heart is an organ that pumps blood through the body.
Some people with iron overload develop a serious heart condition called restrictive cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy causes the walls of the heart to become rigid and not enough blood is pumped from the heart. People with cardiomyopathy may have:
- Chest pain or pressure after being physically active
- Extreme tiredness
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Swollen and painful feet and legs
When restrictive cardiomyopathy is not treated, it can develop into heart failure. Signs of heart failure include:
- Shortness of breath
- Lack of energy
- Racing heart
- Irregular heart beat
- Cold arms, legs, hands, and feet
People can have iron overload and have no symptoms. Other people may mistake the signs and symptoms of iron overload for other conditions. For this reason, people with iron overload often don't know they have it until they have serious health problems.
If you've had or are having blood transfusions, be sure to ask your doctor about iron overload and how it may affect your heart. A simple blood test called the serum ferritin test can tell your doctor how much iron is in your body. If your serum ferritin level continues to be over 1000 mcg/L (micrograms per liter), you have iron overload and should talk with your doctor about treatment options.
