Who is at highest Risk for IDA?
a. A 76 year old man with history of CAD and falls
b. A 23 year old female with increased menstrual bleeding
c. A 53 year old man who just suffered a myocardial infarction
d. A homeless man with no access to medical care
African American females are at highest risk for IDA. Especially when they are within childbearing years and have heavy menstrual cycles. Increased falls, as well as anticoagulation from post MI meds could cause bleeding, but not IDA.
What diagnosis increases the likelihood of IDA?
a. Atherosclerosis
b. Myasthenia Gravis
c. Peptic Ulcer Disease
d. Broken Long Bone
Peptic ulcers can bleed with no signs or symptoms causing a loss of iron in the body. There is no known evidence linking Myasthenia Gracie or Atherosclerosis to IDA. A broken long bone may cause bleeding but will not effect iron stores.
A patient asks “I have no history of PUD, or any other long-standing health problems, and my birth control prevents me from menstruating. What could be causing my IDA?” The Nurse Practitioners’ best response is:
a. Sometimes things just happen and we are unsure why
b. You may need to increase calcium in your diet to keep your bones strong and make more red blood cells
c. You could have a lack of iron in your diet. Or diarrhea could be impairing your iron absorption
d. We may need to look into other diagnoses like cancer.
A lack of iron in the daily diet is a main cause for IDA. Patients may have IDA when they are not absorbing iron from the foods they are eating due to Diarrhea or vomiting.
How is IDA diagnosed?
a. Blood tests such as Hgb, and iron
b. CT scan of the abdomen
c. MRI of the brain
d. Through ruling out other diagnoses
To see if there is an iron deficiency we must check the serum iron levels. We also check the hemoglobin to insure there is no immediate need for more invasive treatment. Although ruling out other diagnoses is important, it is not definitive in diagnosing.
What is the treatment for IDA?
a. Blood product transfusion
b. Iron supplements PO, IV, IM
c. Increasing exercise routines
d. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Correcting the underlying problem as well as supplementing iron in the blood are the only treatments. An EGD may be helpful in diagnosing PUD, but the best treatment is to restore iron stores.