Anemia
Anemia: occurs when oxygen delivery is inadequate due to:
Deficient volume of healthy RBCs
Blood loss, inadequate production, increased RBC destruction
Decreased normal hemoglobin
Nutritional deficiencies, physiological disorders
Anemia: result of pathological process most often the condition is linked to blood loss, impaired production of
RBC’s, or increased destruction of RBC’s *women are at greater risk
RBC carries O2 throughout the body (oxygen binds to hemoglobin)
Anemia occurs when oxygen delivery is inadequate due to a deficient volume of healthy RBC’s or a decrease
amount of normal hemoglobin
Pathophysiology and Etiology
Anemia reduces oxygen-carrying capacity
Etiology
Iron deficiency is most common
Risk factors
Poor nutrition
Menstruation
Prevention
Some are genetic and cannot be prevented
Adequate nutrition prevents others
Anemia results in loss of oxygen reading cells and tissues which lead to tissue hypoxia. Tissue hypoxia triggers
increase in Heart Rate and Respirations rate. Increase HR promotes an increase in CO while increase in RR
allows for greater delivery of O2 to the lungs and blood. Tissue hypoxia cause angina, fatigue, dyspnea on
exertion, and night cramps.
***Severe anemia causes Heart Failure
Clinical Manifestation
Categorized by cause
Blood loss
Nutritional
Hemolytic
Bone marrow suppression
Each type has specific pathophysiology, manifestations
Types of Anemia
, 1. Blood loss Anemia
Loss of RBCs, other blood components
Acute blood loss: triggers compensatory mechanisms (increased HR, constriction of blood vessels) help to
maintain output
Circulating RBCs of normal size, shape
Chronic blood loss: fluids shifts from the interstitial spaces into the vessels. This helps to prevent hypovolemia.
Blood viscosity is reduced which could cause a heart murmur.
Depletes iron stores
RBCs small, pale
Normocytic; normal size and shape RBC
Microcytic: small RBC
Hypochromic: pale RBC
Poikilocytosis: malformed RBC
2. Nutritional Anemias
Iron is a key nutrient necessary for Hgb synthesis.
Iron deficiency anemia
Brittle, spoon-shaped nails; cheilosis; smooth, sore tongue, pica
3. Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia: impairs cell division and maturation of the cell nucleus
Manifestations develop gradually
Pallor, jaundice, weakness
May progress to paresthesias, problems with proprioception
Difficulty maintaining balance
4. Pernicious anemia: develops from a lack of gastric intrinsic factor (secreted by the gastric mucosa) IF binds
with b12 and travels with it to the ileum where the vitamin is absorbed.
Diarrhea, smooth, sore beefy red tongue, numbness/tingling
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