Assignment
Anemia
D.G., a 72-year-old male whose wife died six months ago, is brought to the health care provider by his daughter because he is not eating much and has been lethargic and sleeping a lot. He has a history of hyperlipidemia for which he takes niacin/lovastatin 500/20 mg PO daily at bedtime.
Subjective Data
1) Has been unusually tired for the past couple of months
2) Is frequently short of breath and sometimes feels like his "heart is pounding"
3) Has lost weight because his wife always used to cook for him and he doesn't cook for himself
4) Describes a typical daily meal as coffee and a donut for breakfast, a hot dog and lemonade for lunch, and a jelly sandwich on white bread and coffee for supper
Objective Data
Physical Examination
1) Blood pressure 118/72, pulse 98, temperature 98.2° F, respirations 16
2) Oxygen saturation 92% on room air
3) Height 5'6", weight 135 lbs, BMI 21.7 kg/m2
a) S1 and S2 auscultated and regular
b) Bilateral radial pulses +3 and regular
c) Lungs clear bilaterally
Diagnostic Studies
1) RBC 3,300,000/µL
2) Hemoglobin 8.3 g/dL
3) Hematocrit 24%
4) MCV 73 fL
5) MCH 23 pg
6) WBC 9,100/µL
7) Platelets 250,000/µL
8) Iron 28 mcg/dL
9) Ferritin 14 ng/mL
10) Cobalamin 600 pg/mL
11) Folate 10 ng/mL
Answer the discussion questions below. With proper citations and references. Please number the answers.
A. Interpret D.G.'s laboratory results.
B. Based on the laboratory data and assessment findings, the health care provider diagnoses D.G. with iron deficiency anemia. What clinical manifestations of iron deficiency anemia does D.G. have?
C. Explain iron deficiency anemia and identify the probable cause of D.G's anemia.
D. How is iron-deficiency anemia treated?
E. Identify dietary iron sources to include in D.G.'s teaching.
F. What are important points to include when teaching patients taking oral iron supplements?
G. What evaluative parameters could you use to determine whether D.G.'s anemia is resolving?