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