Exam 2: Week 9, Wednesday (Blood) Flashcards
What are the three functions of Erythrocytes (RBCs)?
- •Transport hemoglobin - O2 carrier to tissue
- •Transport enormous quantities of CO2 in the form of bicarbonate ion (HCO3−) away from the tissues to the lungs
- •Hemoglobin in the cells is an excellent acid-base buffer
Three details about how Hemoglobin in RBC’s is an excellent acid-base buffer:
- True of most proteins
- Binds H+
- RBCs responsible for most of the acid-base buffering power of whole blood
What is the main purpose of RBCs?
Main role is to transport oxygen
How does the concentration of RBC in people at normal altitude compare with those in people who live at high altitude?
Persons living at high altitudes have greater numbers of red blood cells
*sometimes athletes train at high altitude to acomplish natural, “legal” blood doping in this way.
What is the normal hematocrit for women?
37-47%
KNOW THIS!
What is the normal hematocrit for men?
42-52%
KNOW THIS!
What is the normal Hemoglobin for men?
14-18 g/dL
KNOW THIS!
What is the normal hemoglobin for women?
12-16 g/dL
KNOW THIS!
What is the abbreviation for Hemoglobin?
Hgb
what is the abbreviation for Hematocrit?
Hct
What is the total normal WBC count for adults?
5,000 - 10,000 per cubic mm
KNOW THIS!
What is the normal platelet count for adults?
KNOW THIS!
150,000 - 400,000 per cubic mm
what is the abbreviation for platelets?
Plt
What is the acronym for remembering the types of WBC and their order of prevelance?
Name the types of WBCs in order from most prevalent to least prevelant (KNOW THIS! - not neccessarily the actual percentages):
Never (Neutrophils)
Let (Lymphocytes)
Monkeys (Monocytes)
Eat (Eosinophils)
Bananas (Basophils)
What is a Leukocyte?
White Blood cell
leuko = “white”
cyte = “cell”
What should we always keep in mind when using lab values to help us determine how much and what type of exercise is safe/appropriate for a pt?
What is “normal for them” as far as the lab value.
For instance
- If a patient has altered lab values due to a chronic condition, their body may have compensated and something that looks like we shouldn’t exercise them, may be fine in their case. Use your clinical decision making, taking into account past medical history and the pt’s current s/s and condition.
- If a pateint has altered lab values due to an acute problem, they are more likely to not have compensated and you should give a lot more wieght to the lab values when making decisions about whether exercise is safe or not.
What is generally considered the cut-off for Hbg levels for exercise?
KNOW THIS!
Always use the “pt’s normal” to ultimately make decisions, but use the following as a guide especially for an acute problem with Hbg:
- If Hbg is less than 10 g/dL, it is problematic. We should expect lower endurance levels. Monitoring of tolerance and potential alteration in the therapeutic plan may be indicated.
- When Hbg levels are greater than 10 g/dL, resistive exercise should be tolerated well from a hemodynamic standpoint. We should still monitor blood pressure and pulses (to check for OH, etc.), especially at the initial assessment.
Above 10 we are okay for resistive exercise
Why is it important to consider things like Hbg and hematocrit levels?
They are part of what contribute to oxygen delivery.
A compromise in any part of the oxygen delivery system may impair tissue function and ability to exercise safely.
What are the three major organs that are most susceptible to relative low oxyten supply (hypoxia) that we should think of when considering pt symptoms?
- Brain
- Heart
- Kidneys
What are some s/s of hypoxia in the brain? (4)
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- presyncope and syncope
- symptoms of TIA or CVA
- for example confusion,
- visual changes
- etc
- Seizure
What are some s/s of hypoxia in the heart? (4)
- Anginal and MI symptoms
- Chest pain
- SOB
- etc.
- Sudden and slow onset of CHF
- Tachycardia
- Arrhythmias
What are some s/s of hypoxia in the Kidneys? (3)
- low urine output
- Increased creatine and blood urea nitrogen
- possible fluid retention (edema)
What should perk up your ears (and you should take seriously) regarding edema in a pt?
If they ask why their ankles are swollen.
Because that means this is not normal for them.
What traditionally defines orthostatic hypotension?
Traditionally, a decrease in systolic blood pressure more than 20 mm with a corresponding increase in HR defines a positive orthostatic decrease.
(I assume they mean when going from supine to sit, sit to stand, or supine to stand).
What is generally considered the cut-off for Hct levels for exercise?
KNOW THIS!
Of course always use the “pt’s normal” to ultimately make decisions, but use the following as a guide especially for an acute problem with Hct:
Traditional thought has been that:
- Light exercise is permitted with hematocrit levels greater than 25%
- Resistive exercise is permitted with hematocrit levels greater than 30%
*Exercise often can be and is appropriate at much lower Htc levels (considering comobidities, etc, is a large factor in determining what level of therapy is appropriate).
Htc = hematocrit
What is a drug that can be given to help improve hematocrit/Hbg in some anemias?
Erythropoietin
It stimulates bone marrow production of RBCs
What is leukocytosis?
When WBCs increase with infection, inflammation, or tissue damage.