edicine and Health

Medicine and Health

Louise is 39 years old and has visited you for a consultation because she feels tired, lethargic and generally lacks energy to perform normal daily tasks. She works full time, has three children (aged 15, 12 and 10) and is the primary carer for her children. Her job involves long hours, so she is constantly juggling her work requirements with her parenting requirements. About five months ago, she visited her medical doctor for a general check-up. Her doctor told her that her blood pressure was elevated, possibly due to stress, and that she should have it rechecked in six months time. Her doctor told her that she also needed to lose about 15 kilograms of body fat to improve her general health. Louise began an exercise routine but couldn’t maintain it, so she decided to lose weight by adopting a vegetarian diet as she felt this would decrease her fat intake. When you asked her about her diet, she tells you that she didn’t seek any advice from a professional before changing her diet and that, apart from the occasional piece of chicken breast, she removed of meat products from her diet and the diets of her children.

a. What underlying medical condition would you suspect Louise has given her age, her dietary changes and her complaints of fatigue, lethargy and general lack of energy? Include a brief justification as to why you have selected this medical condition.
I suspect Louise has iron deficient anaemia. I believe this to be due to her diet change (removal of meat). She is also presenting with classic signs and symptoms – fatigue, lethargy and lack of energy.
b. In addition to the client’s complaints listed above, what other signs and symptoms would you expect Louise to present with if she did have the condition that you identified in Part A? Provide at least five (5) signs and five (5) symptoms and ensure that you clearly distinguish which factors are signs of the medical condition and which factors are symptoms of the medical condition.
Signs    Symptoms
Pallor of skin    Headaches
Angular stomatitis (corners of mouth look sore and dry),    Faintness
Glossitis (tongue redness, soreness and atrophy of the papillae)    Dizziness
Koilonychia (spoon shaped nails)    Dyspnoea
Stomatitis (inflammation of the
mouth)    Dysphagia

c. Explain the physiologic link between the condition that you have identified and Louise’s complaints of tiredness, lethargy and lack of energy.
Iron is important in manufacturing haemoglobin, therefore if there is a reduction of haemoglobin in the blood, a reduced oxygen carrying ability to the cells occur.  Louise’s lack of energy, lethargy and tiredness can be associated with the decreased amount of oxygen available for energy production in the tissues.
d. What potential effects could Louise’s decision to change her children’s diet have on their development and health? Include a brief description of how the dietary change affects each factor you have identified.