What is Anemia - Research Paper Example

The word “Anemia” was first used by a French physician Gabriel Andral in 1829. However, it was Thomas Addison who later described the symptoms of thegeneral anemia in 1849. He pointed out signs such as paleness of skin color and general weakness of the patient who had acquired the stated disease. The principle was understood to be a decrease in the red blood cells that ultimately caused death of the patient (Gale). Over the years, various forms of anemia have been discovered segregated on the basis of causative agents. These can either be inherited or acquired. Major types are discussed as under: I. Iron Deficiency Anemia Being the most widespread form of anemia, this is primarily caused due to deficiency of iron in the body-either due to imbalanced diet or poor ability of body to absorb iron into the blood stream. Furthermore, deficiency of vitamins such as B-12, an integral component for formation of healthy red blood cells, also cause vitamin related anemia (American Society of Hematology). II. Sickle cell anemia Named after the sickle shape that the red blood cells acquire, this type of anemia is inherited. The host’s body is unable to make normal hemoglobin that causes the RBCs to have a crescent shape reducing ability to transfer oxygen. Having a shorter life, these cells die in 10-20 days (United States of America, Department of Health and Human Services). New cells aren’t formed fast enough to replace these dying cells. III. Thalassemia Inherited form of anemia, body is unable to form certain types of hemoglobin which reduces the overall production rate of healthy red blood cells. IV. Hereditary Spherocytosis & Hereditary Elliptocytosis Defects in the outer membrane of the red blood cells cause them to acquire a spherical and oval shape respectively. Having reduced flexibility and life, the number of normal cells in body decreases. V. Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency G6PD is an enzyme that induces resistance of red blood cells against materials such as sulfa, anti malarial drugs and naphthalene. Its absence causes the blood cells to burst when they come in contact with the aforementioned materials in the blood stream. VI. Immune Hemolytic Anemia The immune system itself attacks the red blood cells causing them to break down. This can take place post blood transfusion or bone marrow transplant. Major types include: autoimmune, alloimmune, and drug-induced anemia (United States of America, Department of Health and Human Services). VII. Diseases related Anemia Certain diseases such as that of kidney and liver disturb the hormonal balance of the body which consequently retards the production of red blood cells. Chemotherapy, administered to fight cancers, is also known to deter the production of red blood cells in the body causing anemia to the host. Virtually everyone is at a risk to develop anemia at one time or another during the course of one’s life. However, certain parts of society are more likely to get it than others. Almost 10% of the women going through pregnancy or having large volumes of blood loss through menstrual cycles have been identified to have anemia in US alone (American Health Journal). Moreover, people who have recently passed through major surgery, gotten into accidents causing large amount of blood losses, one’s with family history and vegetarians having lower intake of iron are most prone to anemia. Anemia can be generally identified via a clinical examination. It is usually accompanied by paleness of skin, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath and frequent complains of chest pains. The patient feels tired and lethargic, dizzy and insomniac. For patients having iron deficient anemia, the disease induces an urge to eat substances such as paper or ice while those having vitamin deficient anemia experience soreness of hands and feet with loss of sense of touch (Klodas). It is necessary that correct diagnosis be carried out for the disease in question. Not only are there numerous types of anemia spanning over different stages of criticality, these types depends on various parameters that need to taken into account during the treatment phase. Further, the general symptoms can be similar to a lot of other diseases. Liver malfunction too can cause the skin to turn pale (jaundice) while pulmonary heart diseases can result in breathlessness, faster heart beat and chest pains. Laziness can be a consequence of hyper thyroidism and malfunction of adrenal glands. Thus, it is always best to undertake confirmatory laboratory tests. Amongst the numerous tests, complete blood count gives an insight into the cell count for red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets together with the shape and size information. It also gives the amount of hemoglobin in the blood stream-an important indicator of severity of anemia. Patients with hemoglobin between 9.5 g/dL to 13 g/dL are categorized to be mildly anemic while those with 8 to 9.5 g/dL hemoglobin are classified as moderate followed by severely anemic standing at below 8 g/dL (Simon). Together with hemoglobin levels, hematocrit percentage also defines anemic severity. It is a measure of the percentage of red blood cells in the blood plasma. These percentages are different for different genders and age groups. It usually falls between 33% for children from 6 months to 5 years old and 36% for adult non-pregnant women (Simon). Additionally, a measurement of the corpuscle volumes indicates the presence as well as type of anemia. Deficiency of vitamin B-12 causes the cell volume to increase where as anemia caused of iron deficiency results in a reduction in volume of the red blood cells. Complete blood count test is the most common of all tests administered in all kinds of labs. However, specialized tests for Serum Ferritin, Serum Iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity, Reticulocyte Count and Vitamin Deficiencies can also be conducted to indicate issues in the blood stream (Simon). In cases where internal bleeding is considered to be the cause of anemia, stool tests can be carried out to identify any blood passage through the stools. Once identified, a rigorous treatment plan must be initiated to return the patient to normal health. In case anemia is related to iron deficiency, a balanced diet and oral iron tablets may be administered to overcome the iron deficiency in blood. Apples, spinach, cod fish and few of the foods that are rich in iron. If the loss of iron is associated with blood loss, the source of bleeding must be eradicated, which might involve surgery in extreme cases (Mayo Clinic). As for severe cases of anemia, solution lies in the form of blood transfusions and bone marrow transplants particularly for types that are heredity. Certain drugs are also available in the market that treat heredity forms of the disease. Sickle cell anemia patients, for example, are administered hydroxyurea (Droxia Hydrea), a cancer drug that effectively cures sickle cell anemia (Mayo Clinic).  Most types of anemia, other than a few heredity forms, are treatable and with a little medical attention, ensure long healthy life of the patient. However, timely diagnosis and corrective action is important to avoid any long term detrimental impact on organs of the body due to oxygen deficiency. If left untreated for years, anemia can cause general weakening of the heart ultimately resulting in early heart failure. In younger children, it may retard mental and physical growth and adversely affect the psychology of the child. This gets even more serious for pregnant women where oxygen deficiency in the fetus can cause the death of the unborn child. As an anemic patient comes into a clinic, it is the duty of the nurse to immediately attend and try to make the patient comfortable and at ease. An initial history must be recorded that is helpful in determining/identifying the disease at hand, plus come up with the right treatment. These questions may include: discussion of family history of any known diseases, recent blood loss either due to surgery or an accident, current medications, any change in eating habits or weight, any experience of chest pains, breathlessness, dizziness, fatigue, pain or itching. Any information regarding allergies, genetic blood disorders that run in the family, a change of urine/stool color must also be discussed in detail (Care of Patients with Hematologic Disorders, Elsevier). Once the disease has been identified, the nurse must ensure that the patient receives a timely balanced diet as well as any medicines prescribed by the doctor. Rectal thermometers must not be used and laxatives may be used to allow the patient to pass stool easily. Medicines such as aspirin should be avoided since it may induce internal bleeding. An optimum water temperature for baths is necessary as anemia might hinder good oxygen circulation to all parts of the body (Nursing Care). Rest is most essential for a fast recovery. Concluding, anemia is the inability of red blood cells to meet the oxygen demands of the body. This might be due to loss of blood cells in a shorter period of time, lower cell production rate or absence of normal hemoglobin in the blood stream. In either case, most forms of anemia are curable with the right diagnosis, treatment and health care without causing any long term diverse impacts. Works Cited American Health Journal. "Who Gets Anemia." American Health Journal. N.p., 2011. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . American Society of Hematology. "Anemia." American Society of Hematology. American Society of Hematology, 2010. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . "Care of Patients with Hematologic Disorders." Hematologic System. Comp. Elsevier. N.p.: Elsevier, n.d. 346-68. www.elsevieradvantage.com. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . Gale, Thomson. "Anemia." Book Rags. Book Rags, 2012. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . Klodas, Elizabeth. "Understanding Anemia -- Symptoms." WebMD. N.p., 12 Apr. 2012. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . Mayo Clinic. "Anemia." Mayo Clinic. N.p., 19 Feb. 2011. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . Nursing Care. "Anemia." General Nursing-Nursing Care. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . Simon, Harvey. "Anemia - Diagnosis." University of Maryland Medical Center. Ed. David Zieve. 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