DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have hemochromatosis — too much iron in the body. My doctor takes blood every other week. What can you tell me about it? What’s the end result? — H.G.

ANSWER: Hemochromatosis is an unpronounceable name with close to zero recognition by the general public. The sad truth is it is a fairly common condition. It’s one of the most widespread inherited illnesses.

Normally the digestive tract absorbs just enough iron to replace daily losses. People with two hemochromatosis genes — one from the mother and one from the father — absorb far too much iron. The excess is deposited in many organs, like the liver, pancreas, heart, pituitary gland and testes, and severely damages them.

Signs that these organs are in trouble don’t appear until later in life — 40 for men and older for women, who lose iron from menstruating. Frequently the first indication of trouble is abnormal liver tests, discovered when a person has an exam for some unrelated reason. If hemochromatosis is discovered early, treatment can begin early and organs are saved. If it goes undiscovered, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, heart failure, diabetes and skin with a bronzed hue are some of the possible complications.

With early treatment, hemochromatosis patients live a normal life. Treatment is simple. It consists of periodic removal of blood, the body’s storage depot of iron.

Because this is a genetic disease, your close relatives — parents, brothers and sisters — should be screened for it. A genetic test for your spouse will tell you if your children also should have a genetic test. The gene test is a relatively new breakthrough in this illness. It permits early treatment and prevents the complications of the illness.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I’m surprised that being a doctor you have never heard of red yeast rice for control of cholesterol. Big Pharma isn’t the only answer to our ailments.

Ever heard of oatmeal to reduce cholesterol? You’re doing your readers a disservice. — Anon.

ANSWER: Red yeast rice has been a remedy for many centuries in Asia. To produce red yeast rice, a yeast with the name Monascus purpureus is added to regular rice. It grows in and on the rice and turns it red. A result of this process is the production of chemicals called monacolins. Those materials act like statin drugs, the popular cholesterol-lowering drugs. Crestor, Zocor, Lipitor and Pravachol are some of their names. Monacolin K is identical to Mevacor (lovastatin), the first statin drug. The problem with red yeast rice is that batches of it are not standardized for their content of monacolins, so people are not sure how much they’re getting. As far as price, the yearly cost of red yeast rice can be in the ballpark with over-the-counter statins. Big Supplement isn’t the only answer to cholesterol control. Exercise and a diet low in saturated and trans fats and high in vegetables, fruits and grains are equally important.

As for oats, it needs no more publicity than it gets daily from Big Cereals’ ads.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have followed the suggestion that we should drink eight glasses of water each day for good health. I recently was diagnosed with low blood sodium. I was told to reduce the amount of water I drink. Shouldn’t we be informed by medical professionals that eight glasses of water a day isn’t necessary? — P.L.

ANSWER: OK. Eight glasses of water a day isn’t necessary. People should drink enough fluids — all fluids count — to keep their urine color pale-yellow and to keep themselves from being thirsty.

You have to drink quite a large amount of fluids, water included, to lower your blood sodium. Did you have any symptoms from your drop in sodium?

I’m not sure where the “eight glasses a day of water” originated or why it did. Water doesn’t flush toxins out of the body as was once thought. It’s a rule that should be discarded.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com.

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