Introduction
Anemia is defined as a condition that makes it impossible for the hemoglobin to be at regular or high levels, which means that the red blood cell count is predominantly less than normal. For women, anemia is of particular concern due to the losses of blood during menstruation. Common symptoms that point to the likelihood of anemia include exhaustion and fatigue, general weakness, low body temperature, shortness of breath, dizziness, and lack of appetite.
Ms. A’s Case
Based on the circumstances and the preliminary workup presented in the case study of Ms. A, the most likely type of anemia is microcytic anemia, if to be more specific, iron deficiency anemia. Microcytic anemia occurs when red blood cells in a body are small, which means that not only the body produced low levels of such cells but also that these cells are smaller in size (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2017). The small size and the small count of red blood cells make it hard for the body to produce enough hemoglobin, which is essential for transferring “oxygen to tissues and giving blood cells their red color” (Gotter, 2017, para. 2). In most microcytic anemias, iron deficiency is the most likely cause. Iron deficiency in a body can occur because of an inadequate intake of iron, the inability to absorb iron (e.g., because of celiac disease), or chronic blood loss due to heavy periods.
Rationale
Iron deficiency anemia is consistent with Ms. A’s circumstances since she reported menorrhagia, which is characterized by extremely heavy menstrual bleeding, which leads to significant blood losses and thus lowers hemoglobin. Also, Ms. A mentioned that her menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) cause her to frequently take aspirin, the long use of which can also cause the loss of iron in the body. Since the patient also reported stiffness in joints (which is another symptom of anemia) and took aspirin for relieving, it is advised for her to avoid taking too much aspirin since there is clear overuse of the medication, which can be replaced by alternatives.
A review of Ms. A’s laboratory values also points to microcytic anemia, which is characterized by the presence of microcytes and hypochromic, which were found during the patient’s RBC smear. The hemoglobin range between 8 g/dL and 12 g/dL is also usually associated with microcytic anemia, and iron deficiency anemia in particular (Meredith & Rosenthal, 2015). Other evidence that point to Ms. A’s iron deficiency anemia includes low hematocrit and erythrocyte levels.
Recommended Treatment
For Ms. A, the treatment of microcytic anemia is likely to be divided into three components, such as diet, supplements, and further diagnosis of possible causes of iron deficiency. The patient should be advised to seek professional assistance in determining the underlying cause of her anemia and whether it could be genetic. In any case, it is recommended for Ms. A to increase her intake of iron, avoid extreme physical loads, and change her diet based on the needs of her body. Also, it is essential to manage the severe blood loss from periods; in this case, the patient is likely to be prescribed hormonal medication such as birth control pills (Gotter, 2017). There is always a possibility of getting a transfusion from a blood donor to increase the number of healthy red blood cells necessary for the adequate production of hemoglobin.
References
Gotter, A. (2017). Microcytic anemia definition. Web.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Anemia. Web.
Meredith, J., & Rosenthal, N. (2015). Differential diagnosis of microcytic anemia. Laboratory Medicine, 30(8), 539-542.