A 25-year-old female has a heavy menses during which she loses a profuse amount of blood. Which of the following adaptations should the nurse expect?
a. Movement of fluid into the cell
b. Decreased cardiac output
c. Decreased oxygen release from hemoglo-bin
d. Peripheral vasoconstriction
ANS: D
When the anemia is severe or acute in onset (e.g., hemorrhage), the initial compensatory mecha-nism is peripheral blood vessel constriction, diverting blood flow to essential vital organs. Fluid moves into the vascular space, not the cell. Blood volume increases; thus, cardiac output increas-es. There is an increase in hemoglobin release of oxygen.
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