Nurs 6501 Week 10

Healthcare

Anemia is when red blood cells quantity or oxygen-carrying ability is below average. Chronic bleeding, iron insufficiency, and vitamin B12/folate deficiencies are just a few of the causes (Aydogan et al., 2019). Anemia can cause symptoms such as weakness, breathlessness, and exhaustion. It falls within the macrocytic or microcytic category. Red blood cell size decreases indicate microcytic anemia, while red blood cell size increases indicate macrocytic anemia.

Microcytic anemia is most commonly caused by iron deficiency. In this type of anemia, the red blood cells are smaller than normal, resulting in lower hemoglobin levels. The most common cause of iron deficiency anemia is inadequate dietary intake of iron, which can also be caused by malabsorption or chronic bleeding. Treatment for iron deficiency anemia typically includes oral iron supplements and dietary changes to include foods high in iron, such as red meat, poultry, and fish.

Deficits in vitamin B12 or folate are the most common causes of macrocytic anemia. The red blood cells are bigger than usual in this kind of anemia, which lowers hemoglobin levels. Inadequate dietary intake of these vitamins is the most frequent cause of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anemia, although it can also be brought on by medical disorders or malabsorption (Hariz, A., & Bhattacharya, P. T. (2021). Treatment for anemia caused by a vitamin B12 or folate shortage usually entails taking these vitamins orally and altering one’s diet to include foods high in these nutrients, such as eggs, red meat, chicken, and fish.

In the case study, the chief symptoms presented by the patient suggest anemia, which can be caused by various conditions, including chronic bleeding, iron deficiency, and vitamin B12/folate deficiency. The physical examination reveals pale conjunctiva of the eyes and pale palate, which are common signs of anemia. Another symptom of anemia is a tongue that is meaty red, somewhat swollen, and has lost its typical rugae. The thyroid being palpable but no nodules felt is a good sign. A soft II/VI systolic murmur indicates mild aortic stenosis, which could contribute to the patient’s fatigue and shortness of breath.

While the folate and TIBC values are normal, the hgb, hct, reticulocyte count, mean corpuscle volume, plasma iron, and ferritin levels are low, which is consistent with iron deficiency anemia. Inadequate nutritional intake, malabsorption, persistent bleeding, and various medical disorders, including chronic renal disease, can all contribute to iron deficiency anemia. The most likely explanation in this scenario, without any persistent bleeding, is an insufficient dietary intake of iron and malabsorption.

The implications for the patient’s health are profound. Anemia can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness, and an increased risk of infection and heart arrhythmias (Newhall et al., 2020). In addition, iron deficiency anemia can contribute to cognitive impairment, and long-term deficiency can lead to anemia or chronic disease. Identifying and treating the underlying cause of the anemia is essential so the patient can be restored to optimal health.

The first step in treating anemia is to diagnose the underlying cause. This typically involves a medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. Depending on the type of anemia, treatment may include lifestyle modifications such as increasing iron-rich foods in the diet, taking iron or vitamin supplements, or receiving blood transfusions. In some cases, medications or surgery may be necessary.

Iron-rich foods like red meat, chicken, and fish must be added to the diet to cure iron deficiency anemia (Bhadra, P., & Deb, A. (2020. Oral iron supplements may also be administered. Additional medical care could be necessary if malabsorption is found to be the root cause of the anemia. It’s critical to monitor the patient for any new symptoms or adverse pharmaceutical effects.

References

Aydogan, G., Keskin, S., Akici, F., Salcioglu, Z., Bayram, C., Uysalol, E. P., … & Ozdemir, N. (2019). Causes of hypochromic microcytic anemia in children and evaluation of laboratory parameters in the differentiation. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 41(4), e221-e223.

Bhadra, P., & Deb, A. (2020). A review on nutritional anemia. Indian Journal of Natural Sciences, 10(59), 18466-18474.

Hariz, A., & Bhattacharya, P. T. (2021). Megaloblastic anemia. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.

Newhall, D. A., Oliver, R., & Lugthart, S. (2020). Anaemia: A disease or symptom. Neth. J. Med, 78(3), 104-110.