Q : What does it mean if my iron level is higher than normal?

A : Increased iron or hematocrit levels in the blood can be caused from an over-production of red blood cells from the bone marrow. Several medical conditions can cause this condition.

One is commonly known as Polycythemia vera. Chronic exposure to low oxygen states such as cigarette smoking, carbon monoxide exposure, living at high altitude, or an overactive bone marrow are several examples known to cause this condition.

Another medical contion known as hemachromatosis, occurring in approximately one in five hundred individuals, can cause elevated iron levels in the blood. This condition can also cause liver damage, vascular disease, heart disease, discoloration of the skin, and joint pain.

Check with your Internist to get more information on these and other iron disorders of the blood.