I have to write a short 1 page paper for a class and it has to be in "lay language", that is language that the common public can read. It should kind of look like an article in the globe and mail (or other newspaper) Do you mind reading and let me know what you think? Let me know if you understand it, if something is confusing and if there are any mistakes. Thanks! Iron Toxicity and Cardiovascular Disease When you think about iron and the negative effects it may have on our bodies, our first instinct is to think about low iron because iron deficiency is common in our society, but iron toxicity is also a problem and may lead to negative effects on the heart. Iron is an essential nutrient that our body needs for proper functioning. If iron is present in high concentrations, it is suggested that it will lead to damage of vital organs, such as the heart, and may also lead to death. Since cardiovascular diseases (diseases of the heart) are common in our society, researchers wanted to find out if high iron in the blood will increase the risk of cardiovascular disease so that people can reduce their risk if they have high iron. Some studies showed that the risk of heart disease after menopause increased. This lead them to believe that because women do not lose blood after menopause, they are retaining the iron that would have been lost during menstruation and therefore increasing the concentration of iron in the body. This suggests that the low iron in the pre-menopausal women was a protective factor against cardiovascular disease, and studies have shown that in areas of high iron-deficiency lower percentages of cardiovascular disease. Another study showed that men who regularly eat red meat (high source of iron) have increased risk of heart diseased when compared to men who eat red meat less frequently. A study in Nebraska showed that donating blood decreased the risk of heart attack by 86% and there were less heart attacks in those that gave blood compared to those that did not. Other studies show that people with hemochromatosis (a genetic condition that leads to high iron concentrations in the tissues) have increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Many researchers found that there is a link between high iron and cardiovascular disease but whether it is a cause of these diseases was unknown. Many reasons have been proposed and tested, but there is no sure answer with the research we have to date. One suggestion is that iron impacts the function of mitochondria (which are responsible for many functions of the body) in our cells, causing them to swell and rupture. Upon bursting, the cells release free radicals into the blood which can react with other molecules in our cells and lead to oxidative stress. Antioxidants are being stressed in todays diet because of the harm that these free radicals can cause to our cells. Since there are increased amounts of mitochondria in the heart, the heart tissue will be damaged. Another research showed how free iron can bind to fatty acids and proteins in our blood and build up on the blood vessels, narrowing the vessels and can lead to a heart attack. As the studies show, there is a link between high iron and increased risk of cardiovascular disease but the researchers are still unsure why there is a link. Since it is clear that high iron is related to cardiovascular disease, people at risk for high iron should watch what they eat. High risk people are people with a family history of hemochromatosis, people receiving blood transfusions for conditions other than lower iron, people who take supplements with high iron who do not have low iron, and men especially if they eat a lot of red meat. Ways to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events would be to donate blood, not eat large amounts of red meat, and avoid iron fortified foods and multivitamins with iron.