Concept Map: Anemia

Pathophysiology

Risk Factors

• Anemia is a symptom of an underlying condition
• Can be classified by morphology, etiology, or pathophysiology
• Morphology: macrocytic, microcytic-hypochromic, and normocytic
• Etiology: nutritional deficiency, impaired bone marrow function, or peripheral causes such as bleeding or hemolysis.
• Pathophysiology: excessive blood loss or RBC destruction, inadequate production of RBCs

•Insufficient Iron, Folate, and Vitamin B12 deficiency

•Intestinal disorders such as Crohns or Celiac Disease or surgical removal of a portion of the small intestines where the absorption of nutrients occur

•Any condition that causes inflammation and bleeding

•Being a female and menstruating (losing RBC’s) causes Iron deficiency anemia as well as being pregnant (iron stores are serving for the fetus as well)

•With pregnancy, body demands more folic acid

oNeed 30mg/day of Iron if do not maintain pregnant women are at risk for delivering preterm babies

•With menstruating, anemic if heavy bleeding for longer than 5 days

oAbnormal bleeding due to fibroids

•Age >65y.o.

•Alcoholics

•Stop breastfeeding too early or using not iron-fortified formula

•Bottle feeding too long

•Not eating iron-riched foods, diets high processed foods, no meats

•Strict vegetarians

•Excessive exercise can cause some iron loss

Medical Diagnosis

ANEMIA

Treatments

Nursing Diagnoses

Defined as a reduction in the circulating number of red blood cells or, reduction in one or more of the major red blood cell (RBC) measurements, such as hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), or RBC count.

Activity Intolerance

Ineffective Tissue Perfusion

Risk for Impaired Skin Integrity

Impaired Tissue Integrity

Imbalanced Nutrition

Raising the red blood cell count and/or hemoglobin level

Increase iron intake (beef, liver, chicken, turkey, pork, fish, and shellfish, spinach, other dark green leafy vegetables, tofu)

Increase Vitamin B12 intake (supplements, eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese)

Increase Folic Acid intake (fortified foods, spinach, other dark green leafy vegetables, black-eyed peas and dried beans, bananas, oranges

* Doctors focus on treating the underlying disease. If symptoms become severe, a blood transfusion or injections of synthetic erythropoietin may be necessary.

Anemias associated with bone marrow disease

Treatment of these various diseases can range from simple medication to chemotherapy to bone marrow transplantation.

Sickle cell anemia

Treatment for this anemia may include the administration of oxygen, pain-relieving drugs, and oral and intravenous fluids to reduce pain and prevent complications. Doctors may also recommend blood transfusions, folic acid supplements and antibiotics. A bone marrow transplant may be an effective treatment in some circumstances. A cancer drug called hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea) also is used to treat sickle cell anemia.

Concept Map: Anemia

By Lisa Bonilla, Florisel Carrera, Samantha Salis, & Maybelle Sicad