Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function, 7th Edition

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073403717
ISBN 13: 978-0-07340-371-7

Chapter 18 - The Circulatory System: Blood - Study Guide - Testing Your Comprehension - Page 707: 3

Answer

The severe anemia in the elderly woman who was hit by a bus and lives in an abandoned warehouse could be caused by a combination of factors related to her lifestyle, living conditions, and potential medical conditions. Here are some factors that may contribute to her anemia: 1. **Chronic Alcohol Consumption:** The presence of several empty wine bottles suggests a history of chronic alcohol consumption. Alcohol can interfere with the body's ability to absorb nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, and folate, all of which are essential for red blood cell production. 2. **Poor Nutrition:** Living in an abandoned warehouse and consuming alcohol might indicate poor access to balanced meals, leading to malnutrition and deficiencies in key nutrients required for red blood cell synthesis, such as iron, vitamin B12, and folate. 3. **Blood Loss from Injury:** The severe injuries sustained from being hit by a bus could result in significant blood loss, leading to acute anemia. 4. **Chronic Blood Loss:** Her living conditions and lifestyle might expose her to conditions where she's prone to chronic blood loss, such as gastrointestinal bleeding from alcohol-related issues or other health conditions. 5. **Underlying Medical Conditions:** Chronic illnesses, such as gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., peptic ulcers, gastritis) or autoimmune conditions, could lead to chronic inflammation and blood loss, contributing to anemia. 6. **Impaired Bone Marrow Function:** Chronic alcohol consumption can affect bone marrow function, reducing its ability to produce red blood cells efficiently. 7. **Renal Dysfunction:** Chronic alcohol abuse can damage the kidneys, leading to reduced production of erythropoietin, the hormone responsible for stimulating red blood cell production. 8. **Aging-Related Factors:** As an elderly woman, she might also be experiencing anemia of chronic disease, which can be associated with inflammation, chronic illnesses, and aging itself. 9. **Vitamin Deficiencies:** Alcohol abuse can lead to deficiencies in vitamins like vitamin B12 and folate, both of which are essential for proper red blood cell formation. 10. **Copper Deficiency:** Alcohol abuse can disrupt copper metabolism, which is necessary for iron transport and incorporation into hemoglobin. 11. **Lead Poisoning:** Living in an abandoned warehouse might expose her to environmental toxins like lead, which can interfere with heme synthesis and cause anemia. 12. **Chronic Kidney Disease:** Poor living conditions, alcohol abuse, and advanced age can all contribute to chronic kidney disease, which could lead to anemia due to impaired erythropoietin production and other factors. 13. **Medication Effects:** Any medications she might have been taking, whether prescribed or over-the-counter, could have contributed to anemia as a side effect. It's important to note that the anemia in this case is likely multifactorial, resulting from a combination of lifestyle choices, environmental factors, potential medical conditions, and the acute trauma she experienced from the bus accident. Proper medical evaluation and intervention are essential to address her anemia and its underlying causes.

Work Step by Step

The severe anemia in the elderly woman who was hit by a bus and lives in an abandoned warehouse could be caused by a combination of factors related to her lifestyle, living conditions, and potential medical conditions. Here are some factors that may contribute to her anemia: 1. **Chronic Alcohol Consumption:** The presence of several empty wine bottles suggests a history of chronic alcohol consumption. Alcohol can interfere with the body's ability to absorb nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, and folate, all of which are essential for red blood cell production. 2. **Poor Nutrition:** Living in an abandoned warehouse and consuming alcohol might indicate poor access to balanced meals, leading to malnutrition and deficiencies in key nutrients required for red blood cell synthesis, such as iron, vitamin B12, and folate. 3. **Blood Loss from Injury:** The severe injuries sustained from being hit by a bus could result in significant blood loss, leading to acute anemia. 4. **Chronic Blood Loss:** Her living conditions and lifestyle might expose her to conditions where she's prone to chronic blood loss, such as gastrointestinal bleeding from alcohol-related issues or other health conditions. 5. **Underlying Medical Conditions:** Chronic illnesses, such as gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., peptic ulcers, gastritis) or autoimmune conditions, could lead to chronic inflammation and blood loss, contributing to anemia. 6. **Impaired Bone Marrow Function:** Chronic alcohol consumption can affect bone marrow function, reducing its ability to produce red blood cells efficiently. 7. **Renal Dysfunction:** Chronic alcohol abuse can damage the kidneys, leading to reduced production of erythropoietin, the hormone responsible for stimulating red blood cell production. 8. **Aging-Related Factors:** As an elderly woman, she might also be experiencing anemia of chronic disease, which can be associated with inflammation, chronic illnesses, and aging itself. 9. **Vitamin Deficiencies:** Alcohol abuse can lead to deficiencies in vitamins like vitamin B12 and folate, both of which are essential for proper red blood cell formation. 10. **Copper Deficiency:** Alcohol abuse can disrupt copper metabolism, which is necessary for iron transport and incorporation into hemoglobin. 11. **Lead Poisoning:** Living in an abandoned warehouse might expose her to environmental toxins like lead, which can interfere with heme synthesis and cause anemia. 12. **Chronic Kidney Disease:** Poor living conditions, alcohol abuse, and advanced age can all contribute to chronic kidney disease, which could lead to anemia due to impaired erythropoietin production and other factors. 13. **Medication Effects:** Any medications she might have been taking, whether prescribed or over-the-counter, could have contributed to anemia as a side effect. It's important to note that the anemia in this case is likely multifactorial, resulting from a combination of lifestyle choices, environmental factors, potential medical conditions, and the acute trauma she experienced from the bus accident. Proper medical evaluation and intervention are essential to address her anemia and its underlying causes.
Update this answer!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this answer.

Update this answer

After you claim an answer you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.