Unit 14 – Physiological Disorders and Care
Assignment One – LAA: Investigate the causes and
effects of physiological disorders
Date: 30/01/24
Content:
Page 2 – 3: P1 – Explain the causes, signs and symptoms of different types of physiological
disorders on service users
Page 4 – 6: M1 – Analyse the changes in body systems and functions resulting from
different types of physiological disorders on service users
Page 7 - 11: D1 – Evaluate the impact of physiological disorders on the health and
wellbeing of service users
, P1 – Explain the causes, signs and symptoms of
different types of physiological disorders on service
users
Case Study 1 – Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Iron Deficiency Anaemia is a common type of anaemia in which the blood lacks healthy red
blood cells. They are responsible for carrying Oxygen around the body. With a deficiency in
iron, the body cannot produce haemoglobin (which carries the Oxygen around the body).
(Mayo Clinic, 2022)
Risk Factors:
- Blood loss: Women are at more risk of this, especially if they have heavier periods.
Additionally, if you have any condition that causes blood loss, such as peptic ulcers or
colorectal cancer, you would be at risk. Blood donors are also at risk depending on
how often their donate blood.
- Diet: Those who have a lack of iron in their diet are at risk. Iron is found in green,
leafy vegetables, meat, eggs, and iron-fortified foods. Vegetarians and vegans may
lack iron in their blood as a result of not eating meat or eggs.
- Inability to absorb iron: Some struggle to absorb iron or cannot absorb it at all. It is
absorbed from the small intestine, but certain disorders can affect how nutrients are
absorbed into the body. For example, Coeliac disease affects the body’s ability to
absorb lactose. Also, if your small intestine were operated on, whether to remove a
section surgically or it was bypassed, this would affect its ability to absorb nutrients
like iron.
- Pregnancy: Pregnant women often experience iron deficiency anaemia and take iron
supplements to counter this. This is because their iron reserves need to be used to
increase their blood volume as a source of haemoglobin for the foetus.
- Genetics: In some cases, iron deficiency anaemia can be genetic, a rare case called
iron-refractory iron deficiency anaemia. It is a recessive gene caused by a mutation to
the TMPRSS6 gene. It is responsible for giving the body instructions on how to make
the protein ‘matriptase-2’. (J.Johnson and E.Ramirez, 2023)
(Mayo Clinic, 2022)
Symptoms and Signs:
- Due to the lack of oxygen in the blood, the individual would feel breathless and have
a faster heartbeat. The cardiovascular system is working hard to accommodate the
lack of oxygen by transporting less oxygen faster. This would also cause the
individual to feel tired more often.
- The individual would also feel lightheaded and dizzy, as well as having headaches.
This is caused by the lack of oxygen to the brain.
- Additionally, those with the condition have pale areas around the body, such as the
skin, inside the eye lids and lips. This is because the red colour of blood is mainly due
Assignment One – LAA: Investigate the causes and
effects of physiological disorders
Date: 30/01/24
Content:
Page 2 – 3: P1 – Explain the causes, signs and symptoms of different types of physiological
disorders on service users
Page 4 – 6: M1 – Analyse the changes in body systems and functions resulting from
different types of physiological disorders on service users
Page 7 - 11: D1 – Evaluate the impact of physiological disorders on the health and
wellbeing of service users
, P1 – Explain the causes, signs and symptoms of
different types of physiological disorders on service
users
Case Study 1 – Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Iron Deficiency Anaemia is a common type of anaemia in which the blood lacks healthy red
blood cells. They are responsible for carrying Oxygen around the body. With a deficiency in
iron, the body cannot produce haemoglobin (which carries the Oxygen around the body).
(Mayo Clinic, 2022)
Risk Factors:
- Blood loss: Women are at more risk of this, especially if they have heavier periods.
Additionally, if you have any condition that causes blood loss, such as peptic ulcers or
colorectal cancer, you would be at risk. Blood donors are also at risk depending on
how often their donate blood.
- Diet: Those who have a lack of iron in their diet are at risk. Iron is found in green,
leafy vegetables, meat, eggs, and iron-fortified foods. Vegetarians and vegans may
lack iron in their blood as a result of not eating meat or eggs.
- Inability to absorb iron: Some struggle to absorb iron or cannot absorb it at all. It is
absorbed from the small intestine, but certain disorders can affect how nutrients are
absorbed into the body. For example, Coeliac disease affects the body’s ability to
absorb lactose. Also, if your small intestine were operated on, whether to remove a
section surgically or it was bypassed, this would affect its ability to absorb nutrients
like iron.
- Pregnancy: Pregnant women often experience iron deficiency anaemia and take iron
supplements to counter this. This is because their iron reserves need to be used to
increase their blood volume as a source of haemoglobin for the foetus.
- Genetics: In some cases, iron deficiency anaemia can be genetic, a rare case called
iron-refractory iron deficiency anaemia. It is a recessive gene caused by a mutation to
the TMPRSS6 gene. It is responsible for giving the body instructions on how to make
the protein ‘matriptase-2’. (J.Johnson and E.Ramirez, 2023)
(Mayo Clinic, 2022)
Symptoms and Signs:
- Due to the lack of oxygen in the blood, the individual would feel breathless and have
a faster heartbeat. The cardiovascular system is working hard to accommodate the
lack of oxygen by transporting less oxygen faster. This would also cause the
individual to feel tired more often.
- The individual would also feel lightheaded and dizzy, as well as having headaches.
This is caused by the lack of oxygen to the brain.
- Additionally, those with the condition have pale areas around the body, such as the
skin, inside the eye lids and lips. This is because the red colour of blood is mainly due
