In: Nursing
A 30-year-old woman goes to her provider and complains of shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and tachycardia. The physician does a complete blood count and a metabolic chemistry panel. Her results are below. WBC: 8400 cells/LDH: 1500 IU/L RBC: 1,450,000 cells/LNa: 138 mEq/L Hgb: 6.3 g/LK: 2.8 mEq/L HCT: 20%Alk Phos: 25 IU/L MCV: 105 fL Cholesterol: 95 mg/dL Vitamin B12: 100 ng/L a) Which of her results are abnormal? b) These abnormal laboratory results reveal what disease state? Discuss.
Answer 1. The abnormal results are of RBC's, because they are only 1. 45 million cells per microlitre of blood, which is below the normal range of 4.7 to 6.2 million cells per microlitre. Also the lab value of HCT is less than normal range of 36-48%. Her hemoglobin is also 6.3 which is again far low than the normal range of 12 to 15.5.
Answer 2. The tests results which showed abnormal readings of many aspects of blood, can confirm the possibity of anaemia. The symptoms like dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness and increased heart rate when experienced especially by a female, confirms the anaemic condition. This condition should be treated earliest because the prolonged effects of it can cause serious health problems,especially related to heart because in shortage of RBC's, heart has to work harder to compensate the lower levels of oxygen in blood. Many treatments including medications, supplements, and altered dietry plans can help in increasing the RBC's production in blood, and thereby treating the anaemia.