Iron is good for you—in the right amount. Iron helps your body work properly. But too much iron can be harmful. If you have had 10 or more blood transfusions, you may have too much iron in your body. That's because every time you have a transfusion, you get healthy red blood cells that your body needs. But you also get extra iron that your body doesn't need.
Iron cannot be removed from the blood before the transfusion. Iron helps red blood cells do their job. Without iron, the healthy red blood cells that you get during your transfusion won't be able to carry oxygen. But your body doesn't have a natural way to get rid of this iron. Over time the iron builds up in your body causing a condition called iron overload.
You are at risk for iron overload if you've had 10 or more blood transfusions. Some conditions that may require transfusions are:
You are at risk for iron overload even if years have passed between transfusions. And you can have iron overload and still be anemic.
Most people will not feel the iron slowly building up in their body, damaging their organs. That is because for most people, iron overload has no symptoms. Some people with iron overload may experience symptoms. They may feel tired, have a low sex drive, see changes in skin color, and have pain in their joints.
People may think these symptoms are caused by another disease, aging, or lack of sleep. The only way to know if you have iron overload is to get tested for it. An iron level that continues to be over 1000 mcg/L (micrograms per liter) means you have iron overload. A simple blood test called a serum ferritin test can tell you your iron level.
Too often, people with iron overload don't know they have it until they have serious health problems, such as heart failure, diabetes, or liver disease. Learn more about the impact of iron overload.
Even People With Anemia Can Have Iron Overload
Most people who have anemia have multiple blood transfusions. If you have had 10 or more transfusions, you are at risk for iron overload.
Anemia is a condition that occurs when a person's blood doesn't carry enough oxygen. Anemia can happen if the body doesn't have enough iron, doesn't make enough red blood cells, or makes unhealthy red blood cells.
Red blood cells and transfusions
Because hemoglobin helps red blood cells carry oxygen, blood transfusions are often used when hemoglobin levels get too low. The healthy red blood cells you receive during a transfusion give you more hemoglobin, which helps your blood carry more oxygen.
Anemia and iron overload
But the transfusions also add extra iron to the body—iron that won't go away by itself. If you have anemia and have had 10 or more transfusions during your lifetime, you are at risk for iron overload.
