Patient was educated on findings to watch for and report in individuals with folate deficiency as follows:
- Arrhythmia: Compromised oxygen supply to the heart muscle can result in palpitations and arrhythmias. Keep a close watch and report to your physician regarding any new or worsening signs and symptoms of arrhythmia, such as, 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.
- Fatigue and listlessness: Compromised oxygen supply to the muscle tissue in anemic patients can result in cramping, weakness, fatigue, and exhaustion. Report to your physician regarding any unresolving or deteriorating fatigue and exhaustion.
- Pale skin and cold extremities: Rich supply of blood and oxygen to the skin and mucus membranes is needed for pink, healthy coloration to the tissues and maintenance of warmth to touch. Low mature red cell count with deficient oxygen supply in folate deficient individuals result in pale coloration to skin and mucus membranes and cold extremities to touch. Anemic patients must keep a close watch on the color of their skin and warmth of extremities. Report to your physician regarding any unresolving or worsening pallor of skin and extremities cold to touch.
