Question

Which clinical manifestation reported by a client suggests to the nurse that anemia is a possibility?

a. difficulty sleeping
b. cold hands and feet
c. chronic headaches
d. shortness of breath

Answer 1

Shortness of breath is a clinical manifestation that suggests anemia because it indicates inadequate oxygen delivery to tissues due to a deficiency in red blood cells, or hemoglobin. The correct option is D.

Step-by-step explanation:

Of the clinical manifestations mentioned, shortness of breath reported by a client suggests to a nurse that anemia is a possibility. Anemia is characterized by a deficiency in red blood cells or hemoglobin, leading to inadequate oxygen delivery to the body's tissues. This lack of oxygen can cause symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath, particularly during activities. Other potential manifestations of anemia include pallor, giddiness, and, in severe cases, edema of the ankles.

Anemia is a disorder where the blood has an inadequate volume of red blood cells, which reduces the amount of oxygen that the blood can carry. One of the clinical manifestations that suggests anemia is a possibility is shortness of breath during times of activity. This occurs because the body does not receive enough iron, which is needed for the proper functioning of hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen.