Hair Loss Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
by Vanya Hartwell

It’s not just a problem for men. Up to 25% of women will suffer from some type of hair loss during their lifetime. You probably know a woman that has this problem but yet you would never know it. Most have become very adept at hiding their problem with unique hairstyles, wigs or some other method. Women also tend to have less severe cases of hair loss than their male counterparts and often the hair loss that women experience is more evenly spread out over the head.

Top Causes of Hair Loss

When the cause of hair loss is genetic in nature, hair growing shampoos and creams do not usually work on people who are susceptible to baldness. Yes, there is a possibility that the rate of hair loss will slow down a little if one uses hair growing shampoos and creams, but there is really no assurance that the hair will grow back the way it used to.

Iron deficiency in women can cause them to experience strands and even handfuls of hair going down the plughole when washing their hair. Speaking of iron deficiency, a study of women experiencing loss of hair which was carried out a few years ago identified iron deficiency as the primary reason for hair loss in around seventy percent of pre-menopausal women.

Hair styling. Use of harsh chemicals on the hair, like coloring or perming or straightening the hair can damage the hair follicles, leading to hair fall. Tying back the hair too tightly can also put tension on the scalp that creates damage to the hair. These types of hair loss can be temporary or permanent.

Hair Loss Symptoms

The pattern of hair loss and baldness are different for men and women. On men special areas on the head begin get totally bald. These areas are usually at both sides of the front, and the top back side of the head. The hair loss then progresses with these areas extending, and at last most of the head can be totally without hair.

In the most cases, balding is an inherited type of hair loss called androgenetic alopecia. Men with this condition usually notice the hair on the front hairline and forehead and on top of the head growing thinner or disappearing altogether as they get older, eventually, only leaving the hair around their ears, the sides, and back of the head.

Treat Hair Loss

According to recent research, the primary cause of baldness (androgenic alopecia) is the androgenic hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone.) Normally, this hormone performs a number of important roles in male development, but when the level of DHT in scalp is increased, it binds to the hair follicles preventing them from extracting the necessary nutrients from the blood flow.

When male-pattern baldness developes, the hair constantly gets thinner and thinner until it is gone. The primary cause of it is the human hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT.) When there is too much DHT in the scalp, it binds itself to the hair follicles blocking the blood supply and preventing their growth. As time passes, the follicles, missing the necessary nutrients, shrink and the hair shaft width is decreased.

Take the time right now to get started on making some changes. Read your free hair loss report and uncover some amazing “natural techniques” and remedies to obtain the fastest hair growth possible.

Christopher Litmon is an ex-hair loss sufferer who has helped many men and women get their hair back.

Herbal-Supplements-Guide - This is a great site to visit if you’re looking for a guide and herbal supplements for hair loss as well as other things.

Hair Loss Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
by Vanya Hartwell

It’s not just a problem for men. Up to 25% of women will suffer from some type of hair loss during their lifetime. You probably know a woman that has this problem but yet you would never know it. Most have become very adept at hiding their problem with unique hairstyles, wigs or some other method. Women also tend to have less severe cases of hair loss than their male counterparts and often the hair loss that women experience is more evenly spread out over the head.

Top Causes of Hair Loss

When the cause of hair loss is genetic in nature, hair growing shampoos and creams do not usually work on people who are susceptible to baldness. Yes, there is a possibility that the rate of hair loss will slow down a little if one uses hair growing shampoos and creams, but there is really no assurance that the hair will grow back the way it used to.

Iron deficiency in women can cause them to experience strands and even handfuls of hair going down the plughole when washing their hair. Speaking of iron deficiency, a study of women experiencing loss of hair which was carried out a few years ago identified iron deficiency as the primary reason for hair loss in around seventy percent of pre-menopausal women.

Hair styling. Use of harsh chemicals on the hair, like coloring or perming or straightening the hair can damage the hair follicles, leading to hair fall. Tying back the hair too tightly can also put tension on the scalp that creates damage to the hair. These types of hair loss can be temporary or permanent.

Hair Loss Symptoms

The pattern of hair loss and baldness are different for men and women. On men special areas on the head begin get totally bald. These areas are usually at both sides of the front, and the top back side of the head. The hair loss then progresses with these areas extending, and at last most of the head can be totally without hair.

In the most cases, balding is an inherited type of hair loss called androgenetic alopecia. Men with this condition usually notice the hair on the front hairline and forehead and on top of the head growing thinner or disappearing altogether as they get older, eventually, only leaving the hair around their ears, the sides, and back of the head.

Treat Hair Loss

According to recent research, the primary cause of baldness (androgenic alopecia) is the androgenic hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone.) Normally, this hormone performs a number of important roles in male development, but when the level of DHT in scalp is increased, it binds to the hair follicles preventing them from extracting the necessary nutrients from the blood flow.

When male-pattern baldness developes, the hair constantly gets thinner and thinner until it is gone. The primary cause of it is the human hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT.) When there is too much DHT in the scalp, it binds itself to the hair follicles blocking the blood supply and preventing their growth. As time passes, the follicles, missing the necessary nutrients, shrink and the hair shaft width is decreased.

Take the time right now to get started on making some changes. Read your free hair loss report and uncover some amazing “natural techniques” and remedies to obtain the fastest hair growth possible.

Christopher Litmon is an ex-hair loss sufferer who has helped many men and women get their hair back.

Herbal-Supplements-Guide - This is a great site to visit if you’re looking for a guide and herbal supplements for hair loss as well as other things.

Restless Legs Syndrome in Adults

Restless Legs Syndrome is a neurologic movement disorder characterized by unusual, uncomfortable sensations (paresthesias/dysesthesias) deep within the calves and/or thighs, resulting in an irresistible urge to move the legs, and motor restlessness in response to or in an effort to alleviate discomfort. common neurological disorder that causes pulling, tearing, and jerking sensations in the legs when a person is at rest. It is a feeling of uneasiness and restlessness in the legs after going to bed (sometimes causing insomnia); may be relieved temporarily by walking or moving the legs. Restless legs syndrome (RLS, or Wittmaack-Ekbom’s syndrome) is poorly understood, often misdiagnosed, and believed to be a neurological disorder.The most distinctive or unusual aspect of the condition is that lying down and trying to relax activates the symptoms. As a result, most people with RLS have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Left untreated, the condition causes exhaustion and daytime fatigue. The cause of restless leg syndrome is unknown in most patients. However, restless leg syndrome has been associated with pregnancy, obesity, smoking, iron deficiency and anemia, nerve disease, polyneuropathy (which can be associated with hypothyroidism, heavy metal toxicity, toxins, and many other conditions), other hormone disease, such as diabetes, and kidney failure (which can be associated with vitamin and mineral deficiency). As described above, people with RLS feel uncomfortable sensations in their legs, especially when sitting or lying down, accompanied by an irresistible urge to move about. These sensations usually occur deep inside the leg, between the knee and ankle; more rarely, they occur in the feet, thighs, arms, and hands. Although the sensations can occur on just one side of the body, they most often affect both sides. The first principle of therapy to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS) is to avoid substances or foods that may be causing or worsening the problem. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine may partly relieve your symptoms. Your health care provider should review your medications and determine whether any drug you are taking could be causing the problem.You may benefit from physical therapy, such as stretching, hot or cold baths, whirlpool baths, hot or cold packs, limb massage, or vibratory or electrical stimulation of the feet and toes before bedtime. Supplementation to correct vitamin deficiencies, electrolytes, or iron may improve symptoms in some patients. In iron deficiency, for example, ferrous sulfate 325 mg may be given with 250 mg of vitamin C. Absorption is increased by taking this on an empty stomach and waiting 60 minutes before eating.For mild symptoms, use an over-the-counter pain reliever to reduce twitching and restless sensations. Cut back on alcohol, caffeine and tobacco. Try taking a hot bath and massaging your legs before bedtime to help you relax. Relaxation techniques, such as meditation and yoga, can help you relax before bed. Apply warm or cool packs, which can help relieve sensations in your legs.

Who Gets Hemochromatosis?

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is the most common form of hemochromatosis. It is predominately a disorder of persons of northern European extraction. In this form of hemochromatosis patients are most commonly homozygous for (carry two copies of) the C282Y mutation of the HFE gene. Sometimes patients may carry one copy of the C282Y mutation and one copy of the H63D mutation. There are other forms of hemochromatosis and iron overload which will be discussed later.

Hereditary hemochromatosis takes many years to display its true nature. This is because it takes time to load iron in the body. Men usually load more quickly than women. This is because women have monthly menstrual cycles and have children. Each pregnancy is equivalent to the loss of 1 gram of iron. So the bar is “set lower” to confirm the diagnosis of HH in women. Before the true genetic nature of the disorder was recognized the diagnosis was made if the patient could be venesected or deironed of 5 grams of blood (if male) without causing significant anemia. If the patient was a woman only 3 grams of iron had to be removed by venesection without causing significant anemia to make the diagnosis. Liver biopsy was not infrequently employed to confirm the diagnosis.

Now with the ready availability of genetic testing the criteria are different. Often the diagnosis can be made using genetic testing and iron studies. Liver biopsy is often now not necessary.

What Happens When A Patient Presents?

Let us assume that a patient has presented with fatigue and arthralgia (aching joints) to a doctor. Now many things can give such a presentation. Paradoxically one of them is anemia or iron deficiency. Anyhow let us assume that the patient is suspected of having hemochromatosis. The patient is a lady of some 65 years of age. She had five children and menopause at age 45 years. She is of Irish/Scottish extraction and her mother died of liver problems – yet her mother never drank a drop of alcohol in her life. The patient is quite fair skinned. However this may be a red herring as not all patients with hemochromatosis go a bronzed or grayish color. When the patient is examined by the doctor she is noted to have enlarged and painful second and third knuckles and pain at the base of her thumbs. This is known as “iron fist” and is a clue to hemochromatosis. Examination of the patient’s abdomen reveals an enlarged liver. So preliminary testing is done. This patient is found to have an enlarged liver on ultrasound – but no cirrhosis. Her ferritin level is 650 ug/L and she has a transferrin saturation of 96%. In itself these are big clues – this patient probably has HH. Genetic testing reveals the patient to be a carrier of two copies of C282Y. Liver function tests are slightly abnormal. Now this patient has HH. A liver biopsy is probably not necessary as the ferritin level is not markedly elevated. Interestingly this patient almost certainly has fibrosis of the liver which may well be reversed if the patient is properly deironed.

The treatment for this patient is to deiron her down to a ferritin level of 25 to 75 ug/L and try and maintain that level. Other comorbid conditions (conditions associated with HH) must be looked for and treated. Of especial importance is diabetes. The patient’s family should also be screened for HH. Those at greatest risk are the patient’s siblings. However all first degree relatives should be screened. Initial testing consists of ferritin levels, transferrin saturations and genetic testing. In this way many early cases of HH are now being picked up and successfully treated before patients load enough iron to give the severe consequences of organ failure.

What Happens If The Patient Cannot Tolerate Venesections?

Our patient – who we shall call Mrs. Abbott – is a small lady. She weighs in at just over 110 lbs and is only 5 foot 2 inches tall. After Mrs. Abbott’s first venesection of 500 mls (which is equivalent to 250 mcg of iron) she is totally exhausted and has difficulty standing for some three days. This is despite adequate hydration before and after venesection. This lady is also known to have osteoporosis (the rate of which is increased in HH) so it is important that she not fall as she could easily break an arm or worse a hip. Another venesection is planned for a week later.

What needs to be done is to decrease the standard venesection unit down to 250 mls and probably do this every few weeks after she has adequately recovered. It will take longer to deiron Mrs. Abbott, but her treatment overall is safer. If Mrs. Abbott had a ferritin level of say 2,000 ug/L then it would be a tougher call. She would need to be deironed more quickly.

Immediately after venesection a cold pack was applied to Mrs. Abbott’s veins. This was done to preserve the veins. This is especially important in persons with frail veins and those who will need multiple venesections.

After a further 20 venesections of only 250 mls each Mrs. Abbott has a ferritin level of 46 ug/L. She has been successfully deironed. Her liver function tests are now normal and her transferrin saturation has fallen to 45%. Proper treatment is to now monitor Mrs. Abbott and see how quickly she loads iron. She is probably a patient who may only require 2 or 3 (half) venesections per year.

Why Is It Important To Screen Relatives?

Now Mrs. Abbott is from a very large family. She has 10 siblings, all of whom are younger and still alive. There are 5 sisters and 5 brothers. All the siblings are willing to be tested and live close. Often people simply do not want to know. This is of course their right.

Because one C282Y mutation is inherited from each parent Mrs. Abbott’s parents were at least carriers of one C282Y mutation or were C282Y heterozygotes. Both her parents are deceased so they cannot be tested. If we assume that both parents were C282Y heterozygotes then the chance of each of their children carrying two copies of C282Y is 1 in 4 or 25%. If one parent was a C282Y homozygote or carried two copies of C282Y then the children have a 50% chance of carrying two copies of C282Y. If both Mrs. Abbott’s parents carried two copies of C282Y then all her siblings will carry two copies of C282Y.

Mrs. Abbott’s children need also to be tested. She has 5 children. The children live in various locales and are not immediately available for testing. So the alternative is to test Mr. Abbott and work out the possibilities for the children. When Mr. Abbott is tested he is shown to be a C282Y/H63D compound heterozygote. He carries one C282Y mutation and one H63D mutation. However Mr. Abbott is a long time blood donor so it is difficult to assess what his true iron status would have been. He appears to be a nonexpressor i.e. he is not loading iron. This is the usual case in C282Y/H63D compound heterozygotes. Over the years it turns out that Mr. Abbott has donated 50 pints of blood. His ferritin level is 76 and his transferrin saturation is 41%. Thus it is important to continue to monitor Mr. Abbott who has just turned 65 years of age and been told that he can no longer donate blood. There is a 50% chance that the children of the Abbott’s will carry two copies of C282Y and a 50% chance that they will be compound heterozygotes like their father. So the children all need to be individually tested.

Health care professionals don’t yet fully understand why eating disorders are present in some individuals, and not others. But they do have an understanding about the circumstances that may make some people more vulnerable to developing an eating disorder. Research has shown that individuals who are experiencing stress, depression, or who have recently experienced some kind of major life change are much more vulnerable to developing the symptoms of an eating disorder.

If you’re dealing with an eating disorder you need to get help from your family physician or local health care provider. When you first visit your health care provider, he or she will conduct a complete physical examination. You will be asked multiple questions regarding your medical history, your body image, and eating habits. The doctor will want to know whether you are participating in self-induced vomiting, whether you are using laxatives to facilitate weight loss, whether you are taking part in an obsessive exercise routine or diet, and how you perceive your body image. These symptoms, along with a complete account of your eating habits, are required to make an accurate diagnosis.

Depending on the patient, the physician may choose to perform any number of tests to determine the extent of damage to your body from the effects of your eating disorder. One of the most common tests your health care provider may order is a complete blood count (CBC). A CBC is important because it can detect a number of health problems, including the presence of anemia and iron deficiency, the health of various vital organs, and to test blood levels of critical hormones and enzymes.

Many physicians will also order a bone density test using a device known as a sonometer to produce sound waves throughout the body to measure the density of the bones. Eating disorders can often cause loss of bone density.

All of these tests are necessary to get a complete diagnosis. As you work with your doctor, be as honest as you can to ensure the accuracy of the treatment plan. Now more than ever there is a better understanding of eating disorders, and many treatment options and resources are available for those suffering from an eating disorder and their families. Treatments consist of various therapies, including nutritional therapy, psychotherapy, and family and individual counseling. Sometimes prescription drugs are used to treat underlying problems and antidepressants may be prescribed.

Whatever the treatment plan you need to follow it and continue regular appointments with your physician to ensure progress and ultimately a successful cure for your eating disorder.

Hair Loss and other Hair Problems

The hair loss is the common problem in all men and women. The hair loss is mainly caused by the psoriasis in which there are thick plaques of scale which recovers once the skin condition is controlled. The hair is goes into the three stages such as anagen, catagen and telogen. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter per month during the hair growth. Some tim’s hair loss also causes the baldness. The cycle of hair is growth lasts for 2 to 6 years. The thickness of each hair depends on the size of the follicle from which it is growing. About 25% of men begin to bald at the 30 years old. On the head there are some hairs are in resting mode in which the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place. The hair loss usually have inherited. Types of hair lossThere are various types of the hair loss. These hair loss types are depend on the causes of the different hairs and some are related with the health. Some of the types of the hair loss are as follows Anagen hair loss Telogen hair loss Catastrophic Hair Loss Pattern hair loss Causes of hair loss Hormonal problems Stress Genetics Iron deficiency Decreased growth of the hair The women have the hair loss after they’ve had a baby. Excessive shampooing and blow-drying Medicines The interference with the formation of new hair cells at the root during the growing phase. What are the treatment of hair loss?The hair loss is not a very big problem we can control the hair loss by using the several treatments. This some times causes the baldness in the male pattern. There are so many medicines are available in the market for the hair loss. There are some precautions also we have to take to avoid teasing your hair, to avoid the hair loss such as clean the hair two times in the week, don’t rub your hair too vigorously with a towel. If you have don’t effect of the treatment then use the different hair style such as wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves and artificial hair replacement.The minoxidil is useful for the baldness. The oral medication Propecia is effective in some men. The finasteride is comes in pills and is only for men. It may take up to 6 months before you can tell the doctor to control the hair loss. By using the surgical methods the hair transplants is performed by a physician.

Dealing With Iron Deficiency

Iron is a key component in the cells of our bodies, including the blood protein hemoglobin. It oxygenates our muscles and helps us use oxygen more efficiently. It is a component of the enzymes that help us digest food and carry out many important chemical reactions. One of the most common symptoms of a lack of enough iron, called anemia, is lethargy. Those whose bodies lack sufficient iron may always feel tired or listless. Adults can find it difficult to concentrate or carry out daily chores. Iron deficiency can impair a person’s ability to carry out work obligations or continue with the operation of a home business due to lack of energy.Other symptoms can include difficulty with cognitive functions, trouble regulating body temperature, and in extreme cases, a swollen tongue.Those at Risk for Iron DeficiencyThere are many causes for iron deficiency, but can be lumped into those whose iron needs increase, or those whose dietary intake of iron decreases.Children have increased iron needs to accommodate rapid growth, and it can be difficult for them to get enough iron as part of their normal diet. Children’s vitamins containing iron are an important supplement to their daily food intake.Pregnant women also need increased iron, and iron deficiencies during pregnancy can lead to a risk of giving birth prematurely. Babies born with iron deficiencies have a higher risk of illness or death within the first year of life.Anyone who has lost a significant amount of blood is at risk of iron deficiency. This can occur from frequent blood donation, heavy menstruation, or certain parasites in the intestinal tract.Lack of iron due to dietary reasons is prevalent in vegetarians, who do not consume enough iron-rich plant-based foods. Ingesting such substances as coffee, tea, dairy products, milk, whole grains, or legumes can hinder the body’s ability to extract iron from food. Foods containing vitamin C can assist with the absorption of iron.Anyone with stomach ulcers or who takes a large amount of antacids is at risk for iron deficiency, as they hinder the body’s ability to extract and absorb iron.Treating Iron DeficiencyYour doctor can detect iron deficiency through a simple blood test. Treatment for iron deficiency will then depend upon various factors such as overall health, age, and the root cause of the deficiency. Your doctor could prescribe an iron supplement, or instruct you to eat more iron-rich foods.Clams, oysters, organ meats, and fortified instant cooked cereals are all very high in iron. Certain fortified dry cereals can also contain high levels of iron, but be sure to check the label.Other good sources of iron include meat proteins, such as beef, green leafy vegetables such as spinach, soybeans, pumpkin, lentils, white beans, and sardines.If you believe you may have an iron deficiency, consult your doctor and have a blood test to confirm it. Make adjustments in your daily diet to include foods rich in iron, and add foods with vitamin C to your meals to increase iron absorption. Be careful to avoid those foods which inhibit iron absorption in your meal planning. Before you know it, you will have your energy back and be ready to tackle your job – or your home business – once again.

Restless Legs Syndrome in Adults

Restless Legs Syndrome is a neurologic movement disorder characterized by unusual, uncomfortable sensations (paresthesias/dysesthesias) deep within the calves and/or thighs, resulting in an irresistible urge to move the legs, and motor restlessness in response to or in an effort to alleviate discomfort. common neurological disorder that causes pulling, tearing, and jerking sensations in the legs when a person is at rest. It is a feeling of uneasiness and restlessness in the legs after going to bed (sometimes causing insomnia); may be relieved temporarily by walking or moving the legs. Restless legs syndrome (RLS, or Wittmaack-Ekbom’s syndrome) is poorly understood, often misdiagnosed, and believed to be a neurological disorder.The most distinctive or unusual aspect of the condition is that lying down and trying to relax activates the symptoms. As a result, most people with RLS have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Left untreated, the condition causes exhaustion and daytime fatigue. The cause of restless leg syndrome is unknown in most patients. However, restless leg syndrome has been associated with pregnancy, obesity, smoking, iron deficiency and anemia, nerve disease, polyneuropathy (which can be associated with hypothyroidism, heavy metal toxicity, toxins, and many other conditions), other hormone disease, such as diabetes, and kidney failure (which can be associated with vitamin and mineral deficiency). As described above, people with RLS feel uncomfortable sensations in their legs, especially when sitting or lying down, accompanied by an irresistible urge to move about. These sensations usually occur deep inside the leg, between the knee and ankle; more rarely, they occur in the feet, thighs, arms, and hands. Although the sensations can occur on just one side of the body, they most often affect both sides. The first principle of therapy to treat restless legs syndrome (RLS) is to avoid substances or foods that may be causing or worsening the problem. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine may partly relieve your symptoms. Your health care provider should review your medications and determine whether any drug you are taking could be causing the problem.You may benefit from physical therapy, such as stretching, hot or cold baths, whirlpool baths, hot or cold packs, limb massage, or vibratory or electrical stimulation of the feet and toes before bedtime. Supplementation to correct vitamin deficiencies, electrolytes, or iron may improve symptoms in some patients. In iron deficiency, for example, ferrous sulfate 325 mg may be given with 250 mg of vitamin C. Absorption is increased by taking this on an empty stomach and waiting 60 minutes before eating.For mild symptoms, use an over-the-counter pain reliever to reduce twitching and restless sensations. Cut back on alcohol, caffeine and tobacco. Try taking a hot bath and massaging your legs before bedtime to help you relax. Relaxation techniques, such as meditation and yoga, can help you relax before bed. Apply warm or cool packs, which can help relieve sensations in your legs.

Complete Information on Blue rubber bleb nevus

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome is a rare disorder that consists mainly of abnormal blood vessels affecting the gastrointestinal tract. It is even a rare cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage during childhood. Blue rubber bleb nevus usually cause massive or occult gastrointestinal hemorrhage and iron deficiency anemia secondary to the bleeding episodes. It is even a rare cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage during childhood. BRBN syndrome is generally present from birth or childhood. the evolution may be complicated by gastrointestinal bleeding . BRBNS is an important syndrome because of its potential for serious or fatal bleeding. The bleeding is usually occult and chronic or may be acute in the form of hematemesis or melena. The management of the gastrointestinal lesions depends on the extent of involvement and severity of gastrointestinal bleeding. A conservative approach usually is recommended whenever the clinical features and bleeding episodes are mild. Blebs are nevi that measure more than 5 mm around. Composed of skin and large dilated blood vessels, the nevi do not disappear and are found on internal organs such as the stomach, liver, spleen, heart, bone, muscle, bladder, and vulva. They are easily compressible and refill after compression. Occasionally, the nevi are painful. Ranging in size from millimeters to several centimeters, the nevi can number from a few to hundreds. Treatment of BRBNS will rely upon the severity, number, size, and location of the nevi. Skin lesions that are life-threatening can be safely removed by surgery, or laser therapy. Surgery can remove single lesions; however, the number may be too great to excise them all. Treatment methods that are less invasive than surgery use endoscopy to tie off bleeding nevi. Seizures can usually be controlled by medications. Physical therapy may improve paralysis.

Get To Know the IronMan Inside You

I believed that many of us have seen the recent movie, Iron Man, the Marvel Comic superhero who uses his high power suit and weapons to fight crime. He can fly faster than the jet fighter and carry more powerful weapon than a F16 Tomcat. He just wants to ensure that the good will survive and get rid of the bad.The iron in our body is also very much the same. The function of iron is to combine with protein to form hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of the blood. It travels to every part of our body supplying oxygen, an essential component for sustaining life. Eighty five percent of the total body iron is used in this fashion, with only about five percent found in muscle protein and a small amount within the cells. A portion of the brain also contains a high percentage of iron. All of these compounds are vital for cell respiration, in which oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged. A deficiency of iron will result in anemia. It is evidenced by pale skin and mucous membranes, weakness, fatigue and shortness of breath due to lack of oxygen. However the problem is that not all anemia is associated with lack of sufficient iron. Therefore not all anemia will respond to additional iron intake. Anemia can be due to lack of vitamin B6, vitamin B12, internal bleeding or liver and kidney failure. Otherwise iron deficiency can be compensated by intake 30 to 60mg of iron supplement.Excessive of iron is not good either. Too much of iron can be serious or even fatal in people with Parkinsonism, sickle-cell disease, hemosiderosis, cirrhosis and thalassemia, among other diseases. Some schizophrenics also react poorly to excessive iron. Iron deposits are found in the joints of arthritics, and excessive iron may be the cause of bleeding into the joints. At the same time, arthritics have low serum iron, which zinc and manganese supplements may help, since they move iron from joints to the blood.Excessive iron can also prevent proper utilization of vitamin C. Accidental iron overload can happen from regular consumption of food cooked in iron pots. An excessive intake of red wine, excess iron in water from old pipes and very low-protein diets can also cause iron overload. In order to balance of iron in your body, it is recommended to take more food rich in vitamin C. This will increase the absorption of iron, making iron overload less likely to happen. Liver, kidneys, red meats, egg yolks, green leafy vegetables, dried beans, peas, blackstrap molasses and whole grains are good sources of natural iron which is safe to eat. It will be difficult to get iron overload from eating these food. Thus rely less on iron supplement unless really necessary. Consult your doctor before going on a program of iron supplement.