Patient/caregiver was educated on complications of acute iron deficiency anemia as follows:
- Arrhythmia: Compromised oxygen supply to the heart muscle can result in palpitations and arrhythmias. Patients can present with fluttering in the chest, racing or abnormally slow heartbeat, poorly felt pulse, dizziness, any episodes of loss of consciousness, chest pain and/or discomfort, and fainting.
- Heart failure: The increased workload on the heart, complicated by deficient oxygen supply to the heart muscle over time can result in enlargement of heart, cardiomyopathy, ineffective contractions of the heart muscle and heart failure. Patients can present with swelling of the extremities with pitting edema and exacerbation of SOB.
- Fatigue and listlessness: Compromised oxygen supply to the muscle tissue in anemic patients can result in cramping, weakness, fatigue, and exhaustion.
