Is there a relationship between anemia and poor sleep?
Disease description:
Recently, I've been experiencing frequent insomnia, dizziness, and fatigue during the day, and my blood test revealed anemia. I'm confused—could the insomnia be causing the anemia, or is the anemia causing my poor sleep? Is there a relationship between the two?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
In general, anemia and poor sleep are somewhat related.
Anemia, especially iron-deficiency anemia, refers to a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood falls below the normal range, leading to reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Good sleep is an essential component of maintaining overall health, supporting the normal functioning of the immune, endocrine, and nervous systems. In a state of anemia, individuals may experience symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and neurasthenia, which can directly affect sleep quality, leading to poor sleep.
Long-term sleep deprivation or poor sleep quality can impair immune function, hormone secretion, and metabolism, thereby indirectly affecting iron absorption and utilization, which may worsen anemia. Furthermore, sleep deprivation may increase stress responses, elevate inflammatory cytokine levels, and further impact red blood cell production and lifespan.
In daily life, it is important to maintain good sleep habits and appropriately increase nutritional intake to promote overall health and recovery.
