Too much Iron can cause Stroke and other Heart problems

High Iron is a Stroke Risk Factor

People with high levels of iron in the blood are at an increased risk of stroke and heart attack, according to new research from Spain. There has been accumulating evidence that too much iron is as bad for your health as too little. Researchers from the Hospital Universitari in Girona in Spain, believe that iron may combine with other chemicals in the body to produce free radicals.
The team looked at levels of ferritin in the blood of 100 stroke patients and found that those with signs of progressive damage had the highest levels. Dr Antoni Davalos, writing in the journal Neurology said: 'Stored iron increases with age in normal people, but iron accumulation is accelerated among a small percentage of the population. For these people a diet low in iron should be recommended. Blood ferritin levels should be tested as we test cholesterol or glucose levels in patients with cardiovascular diseases or cardiovascular risk factors.'

The main source of iron in the diet is red meat, and other researchers have found that men who regularly donate blood have a lower risk of heart attack. It is also suggested premenopausal women are protected from heart attack is their regular blood loss.


· BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_726000/726056.stm
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Stroke Association

http://www.stroke.org.uk/
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Stroke information

http://www.sol.co.uk/r/rsmacwalter/sites.html
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Neurology Online

http://www.neurology.org/