May 2009 is Help us to spread the word about Hereditary Hemochromatosis! The American Hemochromatosis Society’s, “National Hemochromatosis Genetic Testing and Awareness Month” is May 2009 (www.americanhs.org). The American Hemochromatosis Society (AHS) is urging Americans to test themselves for hereditary Hemochromatosis, also known as iron overload or iron storage disease. Hemochromatosis is easy to diagnose. You can even diagnose it yourself through a self testing lab. And, it is also easy to treat with bloodletting, identical to blood donation. In fact, you can prevent Hemochromatosis by becoming an avid community blood donor! AHS’s president, Sandra Thomas, lost her mother, Josephine Bogie Thomas, 10 years ago today, May 13, 1999 to hereditary Hemochromatosis. Josephine was born in Mt. Sterling and loved it throughout her childhood. She later moved to Louisville, when she met her husband, Joe Thomas and they were married in 1940. The American Hemochromatosis Society salutes the memory of Josephine and her valiant crusade to increase awareness of Hemochromatosis. This is why Sandra founded AHS and has made it her quest to test America for Hemochromatosis! With an early diagnosis, Hemochromatosis is easily treated and the patient can have a normal life span. By visiting the AHS web site, you can find out why people with European ancestry, especially Irish and Scottish ancestry, should be tested, and how many medical conditions, such as chronic fatigue, arthritis, hair loss, impotence, infertility, diabetes, liver disease, and heart attacks, could be symptoms of this treatable condition. You can also learn more about how to diagnose and treat Hemochromatosis and understand why blood donors will probably never suffer from it. Finally, even if you don’t have a doctor, you can learn how easy it is to test yourself for this disease without ever visiting your doctor’s office! Simply contact HealthCheckUSA (www.healthcheckusa.com) or call toll free: 1-800-929-2044 to order the tests you need to find out if you have this common condition. Sandra Thomas always tells patients: For more information, please contact:
National Hemochromatosis Genetic
Screening &Awareness Month
Sponsored by the
American Hemochromatosis Society
“We all have to die of something, but it doesn’t have to be hereditary Hemochromatosis!”
Sandra Thomas, President, American Hemochromatosis Society
Email: mail@americanhs.org
Office Tel: 407-829-4488 Toll free: 1-888-655-IRON (4766)
4044 W. Lake Mary Blvd., 104, PMB 416, Lake Mary, Fl. 32746
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