Patient instructed that Anemia is a condition characterized by an inadequate amount of red blood
cells, which are produced in your bone marrow. Red blood
cells contain hemoglobin, a substance that picks up oxygen from your lungs, carries it throughout your body, and gives it to your cells. Your cells need oxygen to perform the basic functions that generate energy and keep you alive. In addition, hemoglobin picks up some of the carbon dioxide given off by your cells and returns it to the lungs, where it is exhaled when you breathe out. Without enough red blood
cells to transport oxygen to your cells and carbon dioxide away from your cells, your body functions at a less than optimal level.
Instructed on Anemia. Pernicious anemia is a disease where large, immature circulate in the blood
, and do not function as blood
cells; it is a disease caused by impaired uptake of vitamin B-12 due to the lack of intrinsic factor in the gastric mucosa.
Instructed patient about increasing ingestion of ferrous-containing foods such as: liver, red meats and green leafy vegetables. This simple eating change will increase the production of red blood
cells and decrease anemia.