Celtic Curse & Iron Overload

This year, a surprising new name has entered the world of hemochromatosis awareness: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the US Secretary of Health and Human Services. This is just a short article about what we know, what we don't know, and what we'd like to see as a result of this development. Is America's Health Secretary living with hemochromatosis? That's the question raised by a 2026 biography from journalist Isabel Vincent which indicates that a prominent member of the Trump administration has hereditary hemochromatosis (often abbreviated as HH and sometimes referred to as "HFE hemochromatosis" after the gene mutation involved).  To write  RFK Jr.: The Fall and Rise , Vincent obtained access to more than 1,200 pages of Kennedy's private diaries, written mainly around 1999–2001. She described them as an unusually candid record of his life during that period. One of the medical problems recorded in those diaries appears to be hemochromatosis. Journalist Lori Spence...

Photo courtesy of National Cancer Institute US Most of us know that a lack of iron in our diet can make us anemic: pale, weak, tired, and short of breath. Less well known is the fact that too much iron in our bodies is also unhealthy. Excess iron, a condition known as iron overload, raises the risk of developing several serious health conditions, including cancer. Unfortunately, not enough doctors are aware of this, partly because a lot of the research behind that statement is relatively recent.  Even more unfortunate, there is a genetic condition that can cause this iron overload, even when you're eating a well-balanced diet. It's called Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HH), and it is particularly prevalent in people whose genetic background is Celtic, meaning Irish, Scottish, and to a lesser extent English and white northern European.  When you look up information about hereditary hemochromatosis, the summary on standard public health portals like NHS England, usually sounds rela...

Walking on the beach is riskier for people with high iron levels For many people it's the perfect holiday: head to the seaside, take walks on the beach, eat fresh seafood, maybe wash down a few raw oysters with your favourite beverage. Sadly, these activities prove to be deadly for hundreds of people every year due to an increasingly common saltwater bacteria called  Vibrio vulnificus .  A key factor in fatalities due to Vibrio vulnificus is the anatomy of the patient. The risk of death is much higher in people with diabetes, liver disease, compromised immune systems, or hemochromatosis . That's why I am writing about this on the Celtic Curse blog. If you are suffering from iron overload due to hereditary hemochromatosis (genetic haemochromatosis in some countries), getting infected by the  Vibrio vulnificus  bacteria is truly life-threatening.  Vibrio vulnificus is considered one of the most lethal marine pathogens, causing severe wound infections and...

The 1st to the 7th of June is International Haemochromatosis Awareness Week ! Q.  What is the world's most prevalent genetic killer?  A.  Genetic haemochromatosis, a.k.a. hereditary hemochromatosis or HH for short. Q.   Why is HH a problem? A.   It can cause you body to accumulate too much iron, a harmful condition called iron overload . Q.  Can HH be cured?  A.  No. It is a genetic condition. Q.  Can HH be treated? A . Yes! There are ways to remove excess iron safely, at little to no cost. A person with the genetic defect that causes HH can live a fairly normal, healthy life IF the condition is diagnosed early and treated appropriately. That is why organizations have been formed, all around the world, to advocate for prompt HH diagnosis and proper treatment for all those affected. One of those organizations is Haemochromatosis UK , of which I am proud to be a member now that I live in the UK. When I lived in America I supported Iron Disorder...

New research is showing how badly HH impacts quality of life Hereditary haemochromatosis (HH) is one of the most common genetic conditions in people of Northern European ancestry, yet many have never heard of it. In the late 1990s my wife started suffering the effects of HH but was not diagnosed until 2008. Ever since then I have tried to raise awareness of this condition whenever I can.  Unfortunately, in the decade and a half since I created this website (July, 2010), researchers have found that HH may have a greater impact on the health of those who have it than was once thought. This article provides an update on the shifting assessment of HH and shares even more reasons for us all to learn about this potentially disabling and sometimes deadly condition. People with HH inherited certain mutations of a gene called HFE that may absorb more iron than they need. Over time, this "iron overload" can build up in organs such as the liver, pancreas, heart, and joints, resulting in...

St. Patrick's Day has always struck me as a wonderful annual opportunity to raise awareness of the most common genetic illness afflicting people with Irish genes: haemochromatosis, sometimes referred to as 'Celtic Curse' because it puts you at risk of absorbing too much iron and thus damaging vital organs and joints.   Symptoms of genetic haemochromatosis (GH) range from chronic fatigue to joint pain, memory issues, abdominal pain and skin conditions. If not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner GH can lead to very serious long-term health complications and death. GH affects people of all ages and genders. Although some doctors still think of GH as a male condition, women suffer from it too, notably at or after perimenopause and menopause (FYI: in America GH is referred to as HH for Hereditary Hemochromatosis)  St. Patrick's Day 2026 is a particularly good time to raise world awareness of hereditary haemochromatosis because we know more about its Celtic origins than...

Stephen Cobb, who created this website 15 years ago, has published an account of his hemochromatosis journey . It takes the form of an introduction to the problems created by iron overload caused by hereditary hemochromatosis, followed by his response to his partner finding out in 2008 that she had this condition.  That response included this website as well as a Facebook page . We hope you find this helpful and informative.     

This is some impressive work on what genetic screening for what the Brits call Genetic Haemochromatosis (GH). Check out the report that establishes: Screening saves lives, saves money For every £1 spent on screening, over £3 of benefit is generated GH screening would enable earlier diagnosis and treatment of GH Screening has the potential to prevent or reverse much of the current and forecast chronic ill health associated with GH The estimated value of avoided costs of treating chronic health conditions associated with GH is huge A lower incidence of chronic illness (particularly liver disease and osteoarthritis) would also improve the quality of life of people living with GH GH screening is also expected to improve labour force participation amongst working age adults who would otherwise need to take time off or retire early to help manage chronic illness Combined with the reduced need for carers to look after GH patients, the outcome would be greater productivity and economic output ...

A note from Stephen Cobb who launched the CelticCurse.org website in July of 2010 with this headline: The Work Begins Here: Teaching the world about the Celtic Curse. I began that first article with this statement: "The more people know about hemochromatosis, a genetic condition often referred to as Celtic Curse, the fewer will suffer needlessly and die tragically." That statement remains true today, more than 14 years after I wrote it. The effort to fight hereditary hemochromatosis by informing people about this surprising common genetic mutation—and the potentially fatal condition of iron overload that it can create—needs to continue in 2024.  Thankfully, over the last decade a growing number organizations and online efforts have appeared and expanded to reach more and more people. Here are just a few of them, from around the world: Hemochromatosis.org Iron Disorders Institute Haemochromatosis UK The Irish Haemochromatosis Association American Hemochromatosis Society Ca...