by APR » Sat May 03, 2014 9:22 am
What's everyone drinking.... good question....
I recently go to the doctor about what I thought was really a non-event matter, and the doctor says lets get some blood tests done while you are here. The blood tests come back showing very high iron levels. Further, the tests indicate major problems with my liver and kidneys. Turns out I have an hereditary condition (gene) that predisposes me to high iron levels (Haemochromatosis), and high iron in your blood can and will result in damage to some body organs. This hereditary condition is evidently not uncommon.
The solution to high iron is to regularly give blood and your iron levels will go down. If not too badly damaged, your liver can evidently rebuild it's self if you are lucky. Note, my liver damage doesn't necessarily have anything to do with too much alcohol, although alcohol definitely helps the problem along. I have not at all been a heavy drinker.
So, what am I drinking?? Well, mainly water these days!! (although I still do have a bit of bourbon with a mixer from time to time). I am being told by medical practitioners to not touch any alcohol at all. Hummmmm!!!
Make sure your own iron levels are not too high as it can have a few nasty repercussions and alcohol evidently doesn't help at all. I wonder if blokes who have had cirrhosis of the liver have had the same sort of predisposition to liver damage I have had because of high iron, and the alcohol has just topped it off.
Based upon my experience, I have to recommend that you blokes who regularly have a drink have blood testing done, if you haven't done so already, to ensure you don't also have high iron levels in your blood that could accelerate liver damage.