If hemoglobin levels are under 8, what action is required?

In the scenario where hemoglobin levels are under 8, assessing for bleeding is a critical action because low hemoglobin often indicates that the body is not carrying enough oxygen, which can be due to several underlying issues, including significant blood loss. It is essential to identify if there is active or recent bleeding, as this can lead to worsening anemia and complications for the patient.

In clinical practice, when confronted with low hemoglobin values, determining the source of bleeding—whether it is gastrointestinal, from a surgical site, or another origin—is paramount for proper intervention. Addressing sources of bleeding can be life-saving and allows for appropriate treatment, such as fluid resuscitation or blood transfusions.

Other actions, like assessing the patient's diet or starting iron supplements, may be relevant in the management of anemia but would not be the immediate priority in the context of dangerously low hemoglobin levels. Symptoms of infection should also be assessed, but they are not directly correlated with low hemoglobin unless there is a concurrent reason to suspect sepsis or other severe infection that could attribute to anemia. Therefore, checking for bleeding aligns most closely with the immediate concerns related to critically low hemoglobin values.