BLOOD AND IRON: The Most Common Genetic Disease in The Western World Is Still Poorly Understood. I don’t have hemochromatosis, but one reason I donate blood regularly is to keep my iron levels down, as even “normal” levels of iron are associated with higher heart and cancer risks. And if you’re a man, you don’t lose blood via menstruation [Men can menstruate! — ed. Shut up.] so you have to lose it some other way.