Western Governors University (WGU) NURS2508 D236 Pathophysiology Practice Exam

Anemia is a condition characterized by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, which impairs the blood's ability to carry oxygen throughout the body. This oxygen deficiency leads to various symptoms due to insufficient oxygen delivery to tissues and organs.

Shortness of breath is a common symptom linked to anemia. When the body has fewer oxygen-carrying red blood cells, it compensates by increasing the respiratory rate. This results in feelings of breathlessness, especially during exertion or physical activity, as the body attempts to meet its oxygen demands.

While menorrhagia, or heavy menstrual bleeding, can be associated with iron-deficiency anemia in women, it's primarily a condition that may lead to anemia rather than a symptom of it. Hence, while both shortness of breath and menorrhagia can relate to anemia, shortness of breath is more directly experienced as a symptom as the body struggles to provide adequate oxygenation. Therefore, shortness of breath is a more characteristic symptom of anemia than menorrhagia in the context of the question's focus on symptoms directly caused by anemia itself.