Often, those who get the disease are of northern European descent, particularly those of Irish, Scottish or British heritage. Women and men are equally likely to carry the gene for iron overload, but men are more likely to become sick from iron accumulation. However, after menopause, women become just as vulnerable as men to hemochromatosis. The most common first symptoms are a vague feeling of fatigue or joint aches. Often these may be so mild they pass unnoticed.
Depression also can occur.
By then, the patient may already have sustained serious liver damage. That's why it's so important to get screened for this disease.