Clinical meaning
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide, resulting from inadequate iron stores to support hemoglobin synthesis. Iron is essential for the heme molecule within hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in red blood cells. When iron stores are depleted, the bone marrow produces small (microcytic), pale (hypochromic) red blood cells with reduced oxygen-carrying capacity. This leads to tissue hypoxia, compensatory tachycardia, and fatigue. The nurse monitors for signs and symptoms of anemia, administers iron supplements and other medications as ordered, reinforces dietary education, and reports changes in patient status.
Exam relevance
Risk factors: - Inadequate dietary iron intake - Menstruation (heavy menstrual bleeding is the leading cause in premenopausal women) - Pregnancy and lactation (increased iron demand) - Chronic GI blood loss (ulcers, polyps, colorectal cancer) - Malabsorption (celiac disease, gastric bypass, H. pylori infection) - Infants on cow's milk before 12 months - Vegetarian or vegan diet without iron planning - Frequent blood donation