Hemochromatosis Research Paper

Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disease that causes iron to build up in the body, eventually causing an “iron overload” in organs. Normally, your body stops absorbing iron when it detects that there is sufficient iron in your blood; in the body of a person who has the genes of hemochromatosis, the body constantly craves for more iron than needed. The excess iron is distributed and stored throughout the body, eventually damaging the joints, the major organs, and overall body chemistry. People with the disease typically have tanned skin all the time even when not in the presence of the sun, due to iron building in the skin. It states in Survival of the Sickest by Dr. Sharon Moalem, “Unchecked, hemochromatosis can lead to liver failure, heart …show more content…
This means that though diseases we inherit from our ancestors are detrimental to us now, in the past, it allowed our ancestors survive in the past and reproduce before dying. It is extremely interesting how even though hemochromatosis causes a chain of negative effects on people’s bodies, it still provides the advantage of iron-lacking macrophages, which are more effective in combating diseases. A future research potential would be finding a way that can allow normal people to have iron-lacking macrophages that kill infectious agents more efficiently without suffering from the symptoms of …show more content…
As time passed, diabetes became one of the most common diseases in the world and it is estimated that there is 171 million people who have diabetes worldwide today. The diagnosis of diabetes consists of a urine test to confirm sugar level in urine and a blood test for glucose level. Treatment for diabetes differs depending on the conditions. If the body produces no insulin (typically called Type 1 diabetes), the person will be treated with daily doses of insulin to maintain the balance. When little amounts of insulin are still produces, (Type 2 diabetes) the disease “can often be managed through a combination of ether medications, careful diet, exercise, weight loss, and blood sugar monitoring,” as stated in the book. Diabetes can serve to show how important it is for one to maintain a healthy diet and exercise. Though Type 1 diabetes can only be passed on through genes, being overweight (obesity, you can call it) can place stress on the body and cause the body to become resistant to insulin. This, eventually, develops into Type 2 diabetes. Therefore, diabetes can present to people the consequences of not taking care of their body and encourage healthier life