Red Blood Cells Flashcards
Learning outcomes
What are the symptoms of anaemia? Use the acronym!!
Could = cold
Fiona = fatigue
Pretty = pallor
Please = palpitations
Re-read = respiratory rate
Donna’s = dizziness
Essay = exercise
Immediately = intolerance
What percentage of iron in our body is used to make haemoglobin (in RBCs)?
65%
What is anaemia?
Anemia is a reduction in the oxygen carrying capacity of red blood cells (decreased hemoglobin concentration and circulating RBCs).
What is DIC?
Body’s normal blood clotting process becomes overactive and happens throughout the body’s blood vessels = severe endothelial damage. There is also increased fibrinolytic activity.
DIC involves a vicious cycle where excessive clotting damages organs while simultaneously causing bleeding due to depletion of clotting factors
Outline the process of DIC
- Trigger (ie trauma, cancer, pregnancy complications)
- Widepsread clotting (ie response to trigger)
- Clotting factor depletion (ie uses clotting factors faster than body can replace)
- Organ damage (ie reduced blood flow due to clots)
- Bleeding (ie impaired normal clotting)
What level of haemoglobin is classed as severe anaemia?
Below 70
What is iron deficiency anaemia?
Called MICROCYTIC (small cell). Women & children mostly (from red meat)
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia worldwide and is related to one or more of the following:
inadequate dietary intake of iron
inadequate absorption of iron
increased iron requirements
excessive iron loss
What goes wrong with anaemia?
Hypoxia (low O2 in tissues)
Hypoxemia (low O2 in blood)
Body tries to compensate by:
increased respiration
increased HR/SV
Kidneys increase with more water = increased BP
What is MACROcytic anaemia?
Macrocytic (large cells) anemias are those in which the RBCs are too big, due to immaturity. ACTS LIKE CELIAC DISEASE!!!
Includes vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia
What is Hemophillia?
Clotting Factor Deficiency: People with hemophilia have low levels or completely lack one of the clotting factors VIII (hemophilia A) or factor IX (hemophilia B). These factors are essential for the blood to clot normally.
Genetic Condition: Hemophilia is a genetic condition. It’s more common in males because the gene for hemophilia is located on the X chromosome. Females have two X chromosomes, so if one carries the defective gene, the other can compensate. Males have only one X chromosome, so if it carries the defective gene, they will have hemophilia.
Describe thrombocytopenia and the implications of this condition
Low Platelet Count: Thrombocytopenia means “low platelet count.”
Symptoms:
Bruising, frequent nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or tiny red or purple spots on the skin called petechiae.
Causes: medications, infections, autoimmune disorders, bone marrow disorders, or even nutritional deficiencies.
Explain Polycythemia
Rare condition associated with gene mutation
Increased Red Blood Cells
Thicker Blood
Pernicious anaemia is related to what?
decreased vitamin B12 absorption
