Case Study Of Anemia And Bleeding Disorders

Anemia is caused by the bone marrow not being able to replace red blood cells (RBCs) that are either destroyed or are taken out of circulation (Porth, 2011, p. 292).

Anemia is a disorder of the blood. It occurs when your body does not produce enough erythrocytes or red blood cells (RBCs). Without the erythrocytes oxygen can not be adequately delivered to the tissues and organs throughout the body. This will cause you to become weak and tired. A person may also experience headaches, skin pallor, and faintness. Your body may attempt to compensate for these symptoms by speeding up the heart rate and respiratory rate. This is the body’s attempt to return oxygen levels to normal(Thibodeau and Patton, 2005).

The most prominent cause of Iron Deficiency Anemia is bleeding. Blood loss from the Gastrointestinal Tract is a significant cause of anemia for both men and women. When blood is present in excrement, a gastrointestinal problem exists. Many times, people are unaware of these problems with their waste products. When they begin to feel the symptoms of anemia and undergo tests that determine that they are anemic, it begins the process of discovering more health problems. Anemia can serve as the precursor of certain diseases. There are many instances when it is merely a sign of severe disease such as a peptic ulcer disease, gastritis, hemorrhoids, angiodysplasis of the colon, and colonic adenocarcinoma (http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/sep_96/browne.htm).

According to the study, the symptoms of anemia include malaise, lethargy, fatigue, swelling belly, pale skin, poor appetite, numerous infections, and crankiness.

As a provider, one will care for many patients that have different types of anemia. Anemia is not so much as a disease as a symptom of an underlying issue. Although there can be particular signs and symptoms associated with anemia, the basis of a diagnosis is from laboratory data. For the purpose of this discussion, I will evaluate a case study and give a differential diagnosis. I will also assess how patient history, physical exam, and lab reports support my diagnosis. I will explain the pathophysiology of the type of anemia and give causes and treatment options available.

Iron deficiency anemia, one of the most common types of anemia, is a blood disorder where

This anemia results in fatigue and a number of the following problems;pain episodes, strokes, susceptibility to bacterial infections, particularly in children, leg ulcers, bone damage, yellow eyes or jaundice, early gallstones, lung blockage, increased infections, kidney damage and loss of body water in urine, painful erections in men, blood blockage in the spleen or liver, eye damage, low red blood cell counts (anemia), and delayed growth.

A 79-year-old female present with her daughter for ongoing fatigue also noted to have lost 5 pounds over past 6 months. No night sweats or fevers. Pertinent past medical history includes severe, generalized osteoarthritis, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus and depression. She is taking the following medications: acetaminophen 650mg every eight hours, Lyrica 75 mg twice daily; alendronate 70 mg once weekly, valsartan 320 mg once daily, fluoxetine 40mg once daily and insulin glargine 20 units once daily. Your exam reveals slight pale conjunctivae, a 2/6 systolic ejection murmur and generalized arthritic joints in her extremities. A point of care test results in a hemoglobin of 10.2 g/dL. Complete blood cell count is done; results

1. Anemia, pp. 989. Anemia is a areduction in the total number of erythrocytes in the circulating blood or a decrease in the quality or quantity of hemoglobin. Anemias commonly result from (1) impaired erythrocyte production, (2) blood loss (acute or chronic), (3)increase erythrocyte destruction, or (4) a combination of these three. sThe fundamental physiologic manifestation of anemia is a reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood resulting in tissue hypoxia.

Yesterday, your nine-year-old patient was in to the office with complaints of fatigue and restless legs, especially at night. Laboratory tests were ordered and today the results showed that your patient has iron deficiency anemia. Iron replacement therapy is prescribed. All of the following could potentially interfere with iron absorption except:

Anemia is a condition that effects “more than 3 million people in the United States” (Peterson, 2012). Anemia is a decrease in red blood cells (RBCs) or decreased hemoglobin in an individual’s blood. RBCs carry oxygen rich blood throughout an individual’s tissues and organs, allowing the body to function properly. Therefore, an anemic person has a decreased amount of oxygen rich blood flowing through their body. A decreased amount of oxygenated blood is not immediately life threatening but can become very serious. Some potential side effects of anemia are; fatigue, lack of energy, pallor, organ damage, heart failure and death (Peterson, 2012). There are multiple types of anemia with the most common being; iron-deficiency anemia, folic acid-deficiency anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency and microcytic anemia (PDRhealth, 2015).

Conferring to the case study 1 of Ms. A, who is suffering from iron deficiency anemia. “People who experience iron deficiency anemia lack adequate iron required to produce hemoglobin. Hemoglobin supports red blood cells in carrying oxygen all through the body” (Mayo Clinic, 2014). In this presentation, the writer will provide rationales where Ms. A is presenting signs and symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia.

Increase your vitamin C intake. This will help the stomach absorb more iron. Some foods that are high in vitamin C include:

Ms. A is 26-year-old female with a history of menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea since she was 14-16 years old. In addition, she has taken aspirin during menstruation and for preventing and alleviating joint pain during golf season. Her signs and symptoms include shortness of breath, lethargy, light headache, tachycardia, tachypnea, and hypotension. Her laboratory values show low Hemoglobin (HB), Hematocrit (HCT) and Erythrocyte (RBC) but normal in Reticulocyte (REIC) count. According to Chen, Zieve, & Ogilvie (2014, p. 1), the normal value of HB is 12.1 to 15.1g/dl, HCT is 36.1% to 44.3%, RBC count is 4.2 to 5.2 x10/mm and RETIC count is 0.5% to 1.5% in female. The low Hemoglobin and Hematocrit can direct that Ms. A has anemia. The RBC smear can determine her classification of anemia. Her RBC smear showed microcytic and hypochromic cells. The evidence can indicate that Ms. A has Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA).

In the ER, I have an African American female patient, age 32, who presents with sickle cell anemia. She has come into the emergency room with 2-day history of heart palpitations, headache, dyspnea, fatigue, and back pain. She states her appetite has decreased. She states that she is voiding well and having regular bowel movements. The backache extends from above the lower T-spine to the lumbosacral spine. The patient is allergic to codeine, but states she is able to take morphine. She is currently taking folic acid and Tylenol. She has had no previous surgeries and denies any smoking or drug use. Upon examination, her vitals were the following; a temp of 38 degrees tympanic, pulse was 105 BPM indicating tachycardia, and blood pressure is 115/50