Blood Condition Medical Notes(report)

MEDICAL NOTES FOR:    MRS ANN

Condition:                            Anaemia

Summary:     This report explains about the anaemia and the structure, function and composition of blood cells and examines the effects of Mrs Ann’s medical condition on her physical health and on her lifestyle. It elaborates how Blood disorders can affect the main components of blood and plasma.

The functions of blood could be divided into three parts: transportation, maintaining body temperature and controlling of pH. Blood carries nutrients and gases namely oxygen and carbon dioxide between the heart, the lungs and rest the body. It transports nutrients such as glucose, amino acids, micro-nutrients, vitamins and minerals, fatty acids and glycerol, from the digestive tract and storage sites to the every part of body. The waste products carried by blood is detoxified and removed by the liver and kidneys. The kidneys filter all of the blood in the body. Excess salt is removed from the body in urine. Furthermore, it produces heat to the skin in order to regulate body temperature. There are plasma proteins in the blood which is associated with defence such blood-clotting and anti-bodies. The blood consists of white blood cells known as “Leucocytes” and red blood cells known as “Erythrocytes”.

In order to maintain the optimised body temperature, the pH of blood must remain in the range of 6.8 to 7.4, otherwise it begins to damage cells.

Composition of blood

Blood is classified as a connective tissue and consists of two main components; plasma and formed elements. These include 55% of Plasma and 45% of formed elements, which is called Blood cells.  In the blood cells, 99% are erythrocytes or red blood cells and 1% is leucocytes or white blood cells and thrombocytes or blood platelets. The formed elements are enclosed in a plasma membrane and have a definite structure and shape. All formed elements are cells except for the platelets. Formed elements are Erythrocyte, also known as red blood cells, Leukocytes, also known as white blood cells and Platelets.

Blood disorders can affect any of the three main components of blood and can also affect the liquid portion of blood called plasma. Treatments for blood diseases are vary, depending on the blood condition and its severity.

Blood disorders affecting Red Blood Cells

Blood disorders that affect red blood cells are:

Anemia

People with anemia have a low number of red blood cells. Mild anemia often causes no symptoms. More severe anemia can cause fatigue, pale skin and shortness of breath with exertion.

Iron-deficiency anemia

Iron is necessary for the body to make red blood cells. Low iron intake and loss of blood due to menstruation are the most common causes of iron-deficiency anemia. Treatment includes iron pills, or rarely blood transfusion.

Anemia of chronic disease

People with chronic kidney disease or other chronic diseases tend to develop anemia. Anemia of chronic disease does not usually require treatment. Injections of a synthetic hormone; Epogen or Procrit to stimulate the production of blood cells or blood transfusions may be necessary in some people with this form of anemia.

Pernicious anemia (B12 deficiency)

An autoimmune condition prevents the body from absorbing enough B12 in the diet. Besides anemia, nerve damage (neuropathy) can eventually result. High doses of B12 prevent long-term problems.

Aplastic anemia

In people with aplastic anemia, the bone marrow does not produce enough blood cells, including red blood cells. Blood transfusions, and even a bone marrow transplant, may be required to treat aplastic anemia.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia

In people with this condition, an overactive immune system destroys the body's own red blood cells, causing anemia. Medicines that suppress the immune system, such as prednisone may be required to stop the process.

Thalassemia

This is a genetic form of anemia that mostly affects people of Mediterranean heritage. Most people have no symptoms and require no treatment. Others may need regular blood transfusions to relieve anemia symptoms.

Sickle cell anemia

A genetic condition affects mostly African-Americans. Periodically, red blood cells change shape, and block blood flow. Severe pain and organ damage can occur.

Polycythemia vera

The body produces too many blood cells, from an unknown cause. The excess red blood cells usually create no problems but may cause blood clots in some people.

Malaria

A mosquito's bite transmits a parasite into a person's blood, where it infects red blood cells. Periodically, the red blood cells rupture, causing fever, chills, and organ damage. This blood infection is most common in Africa; those traveling to Africa are at risk and should take preventive measures.

Blood Disorders Affecting White Blood Cells

Blood disorders that affect white blood cells are:

Lymphoma

A form of blood cancer develops in the lymph system. In lymphoma, a white blood cell becomes malignant, multiplying and spreading abnormally. Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are the two major groups of lymphoma. Treatment with chemotherapy or radiation can extend life with lymphoma, and sometimes cure it.

Leukemia

A form of blood cancer in which a white blood cell becomes malignant and multiplies inside bone marrow. Leukemia may be rapid and severe or slowly progressing. Chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation (bone marrow transplant) can treat leukemia, and sometimes result in a cure.

Multiple myeloma

A blood cancer in which a white blood cell called a plasma cell becomes malignant. The plasma cells multiply and release damaging substances that eventually cause organ damage. Multiple myeloma has no cure, but stem cell transplant or chemotherapy can allow people to live for years with the condition.

Myelodysplastic syndrome

This affects the bone marrow. Myelodysplastic syndrome often progresses very slowly, but may suddenly transform into a severe leukemia. Treatments usually include blood transfusions and chemotherapy. Stem cell transplant can sometimes cure younger people with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Blood Disorders Affecting Platelets

Blood disorders that affect the platelets are:

Thrombocytopenia

There is a low number of platelets in the blood. Numerous conditions cause thrombocytopenia; most do not result in abnormal bleeding.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

A condition causes a persistently low number of platelets in the blood, due to an unknown cause. Usually there are no symptoms, yet abnormal bruising, small red spots on the skin or abnormal bleeding can result.

Heparin -induced thrombocytopenia

A low platelet count caused by a reaction against heparin, a blood thinner given to most people who are hospitalized to prevent blood clots.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: A rare blood disorder causing small blood clots to form in blood vessels throughout the body. Platelets are used up in the process, causing a low platelet count.

Essential thrombocytosis (primary thrombocythemia)

The body produces too many platelets, due to an unknown cause. The platelets do not work properly, resulting in excessive clotting, bleeding, or both.

Blood Disorders Affecting Blood Plasma

Blood disorders that affect blood plasma are:

Sepsis

An infection somewhere in the body spreads into the blood. Symptoms include fever, rapid breathing, respiratory failure, and low blood pressure.

Hemophilia

A genetic deficiency of certain proteins helps blood to clot. There are multiple forms of homophilia, ranging in severity from mild to life-threatening.

von Willebrand disease

von Willebrand factor is a protein in blood that helps blood to clot. In von Willebrand disease, the body either produces too little of the protein, or produces a protein that doesn't work well. The condition is inherited, but most people with von Willebrand disease have no symptoms and don't know they have it. Some people with von Willebrand disease will have excessive bleeding after an injury or during surgery.

Hypercoaguable state (hypercoagulable state)

Most affected people have only a mild excess tendency to clot, and may never be diagnosed. Some people develop repeated episodes of blood clotting throughout life, requiring them to take a daily blood thinning medicine.

Deep venous thrombosis

A deep venous thrombosis can dislodge and travel through the heart to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

A condition causes tiny blood clots and areas of bleeding throughout the body simultaneously. Severe infections, surgery, or complications of pregnancy are conditions that can lead to DIC.

Causes and Types of Anemia

If there is not enough iron in the blood, Iron deficiency anemia happens. If someone don't get 200-240 mg of iron a day in the ferrous sulfate form, it more likely to develop this type of anemia. A shortage of copper can cause copper deficiency anemia. Most people only get 1.6 mg of copper a day instead of the 2 mg they should get. Pernicious anemia is a deficiency of vitamin B12. Symptoms are different than those of other types of anemia and include a burning tongue, loss of appetite, stomach pain, memory loss, depression, irritability, and tingling or numbness in hands and feet. Anemia is caused by not eating enough of the types of food that give you vitamins and minerals we need. It can also be hereditary. Excess bleeding can lead to anemia, and many bone marrow diseases such as leukemia don't let bone marrow produce enough red blood cells. This is aplastic anemia. Other diseases such as HIV, AIDS and chronic diseases can cause anemia. Chemotherapy, kidney failure and infections can damage bone marrow and decrease the amount of red blood cells being produced. Long term alcoholics and strict vegetarians who don't take vitamin supplements can develop anemia.

Anemia Treatment

Mrs Ann’s blood test revels that she has been diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. She intermittently cause fatigue, and has pale skin and shortness of breath with exertion. It was lucky for her as she has been diagnosed with anemia in early stage of the diseases. Doctor has discovered the cause of the anemia.

Medication, surgery or procedures may be necessary to correct depending upon the severity of anemia. Doctor initially recommends Mrs Ann to take supplements and to have foods with vitamins and minerals. Eggs, beef, lamb, nuts, yogurt, and whole grains are good to gain iron in the blood. Eating 3 ounces of liver twice a month gives easily absorbed iron along with folate and B12. Eating legumes such as chick peas, lima beans, and kidney beans are also recommended.

If Mrs Ann’s condition is getting worse despite taking diet treatment and irons pills, doctor could give either B12 injections or blood transfusion to her.

References and Bibliography

http://www.ivy-rose.co.uk/HumanBody/Blood/Blood_StructureandFunctions.php

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/blood-disorder-types-and-treatment

http://answers.webmd.com/answers/1178914/what-is-anemia

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4611891_anemia-affect-body.html#ixzz2IdDkS2St