Iron Deficiency Anemia Essay

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).

1. Which of the following anemias is caused by a failure of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells and may be congenital or acquired?

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.

Some blood disorders can be prevented while there are others that are out of a person’s hands and have to live with a blood disorder for a life time. It is essential to know the causes of hereditary disease and know how to treat them. It is also important to know what can be done to “cure” other blood disorders and what preventive measures need to be taken in order to stop history from repeating itself. Iron deficiency anemia, sickle cell anemia, and purpura simplex are just a few blood disorders that people suffer from that are either inherited or can be prevented.

Also known as normocytic anemia. This is the most frequent type of anemia most often happening to males over 85 years old. It is a common problem that occurs to men and women over 85 years old. Symptoms include and are caused by: a reduced production of normal-sized red blood cells even though presence of hemoglobin in the red blood cells is within the standard range; an increased production of HbS as is seen in sickle cell diseases; greater destruction and loss of red blood cells; an increase in plasma volume that is not compensated by anything else; a B2 (riboflavin) deficiency; and a B6 (pyridoxine) deficiency. (Brill & Baumgardner 2000).

Based on Ms A’s preliminary worked she mostly likely has microcytic anemia or iron deficient anemia. The symptoms of microcytic anemia and iron deficient anemia are synonymous, making them difficult to differentiate

The type of anemia this patient has is Iron Deficiency Anemia. Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) has been revealed to be the greatest mutual foundation of anemia globally, and it is acknowledged that people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) progress to anemia as their kidney function deteriorates (Wittwer, 2013).

“The normal hemoglobin range is generally between 12.0 to 15.5 g/dL for women and hematocrit normal levels are generally between 34.9 and 44.5 percent for adult women” (Mayo Clinic, 2014). If the Level is lowered as compare to the above mentioned, it directs the presence of anemia. Moreover “normal range of erythrocytes in females is 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mcL” (MedlinePlus, 2014). Ms. A’s indicative tests shows the level of hemoglobin is 8mg/dl, level of reticulocytes is 1.5, level of hematocrit is 32% and count of erythrocytes is 3.1 x 10/mm, which indicates iron deficiency anemia. Ms. A similarly reveals that she is experiencing a shortness of

Sickle cell anemia has a less serious condition known as Sickle Cell traits. This is a heterozygous condition where less than half of the number of red blood cells is sickle shaped while the rest are normal and they are involved inefficient oxygen loading. An individual with the sickle cell trait experiences a mild case of anemia but always leads a normal life. Treatments that have been prescribed for the sickle cell condition include medication as well as blood transfusions and rarely a bone-marrow

In 1872 Michael Anton Biermer described a blood condition in a German article. He chose to name the rare disease he discovered “Pernicious anemia” because of the lethality and incurability at the time. Biermer’s disease or Pernicious anemia is a genetic disease where patients’ stomachs do not produce intrinsic factor which is a protein of the mucus membrane layer of the stomach.When the stomach does not make enough intrinsic factor, the intestine cannot properly absorb vitamin B12. The body needs vitamin B12 in order to function properly and remain healthy. Vitamin B12 assists in the production of red blood cells, DNA, and tissues, while helping keep nerve cells alive and healthy.This vitamin is found in many animal products such as beef, poultry, shellfish and more.

What is Sickle Cell Anemia? Sickle Cell disease is a blood disorder that is inherited. By inherited I mean passed down from parents to their children. Babies are usually born with sickle cell disease. When they inherit two abnormal genes, one from each parent. Abnormal genes cause the body’s red blood cells to change shape. This being the effect of having sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell anemia is an anemia that is inherited and mostly affects people whose heritage can be traced back to places where malaria was prevalent. There are approximately 100,000 Americans that have the disease and many more with the trait. Several of my family members are afflicted by this medical condition that causes red blood cells to take on an irregular shape.

The diagnosis of anemia is suggested based on symptoms and physical examination, but is typically confirmed with a CBC (complete blood cell count). Your doctor will also usually order a CMP (comprehensive metabolic panel), thyroid function (TSH, free T4), vitamin B12, iron studies (ferritin, iron saturation, total iron binding capacity), and coagulation studies (PT/INR, PTT).

Iron deficiency anemia is quite common in children, as iron is needed to support growth. A lack of iron in the diet can cause delays in brain development, which may be irreversible. Common symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include irritability, palor, weakness, and cold hands and feet. Prevention of anemia is crucial for expectant mothers, as anemic women are at a higher risk for delivery complications such as hemorrhaging and having infants of low-birth weight. (Frantz, C. 2010).