By the way, doctor: Does removing blood increase the amount of iron in the body?
You're right: the most effective and commonly used treatment for iron overload is therapeutic phlebotomy. This involves removing blood regularly — usually once or twice a week — for as long as a year or more. Every unit of blood that is removed eliminates around 250 milligrams of iron. As iron in the blood is taken out, the organs where iron has been stored start to lose that extra iron. If treatment begins early enough, it can prevent disease in the organs with iron overload. Blood (and, hence, iron) should be removed as frequently as possible, but not so frequently that the person becomes anemic.
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