Sickle cell anemia is a disease in the blood. It is a hereditary condition that could be passed on from generation to generation. Parents serve as the carrier of the disease, but this could only affect their child if both of them could pass on the abnormal gene.
The red blood cells are the main problem in people suffering from sickle cell anemia because instead of normally round-shaped oxygen-carrying hemoglobin, the shape of the red blood cells is crescent, more like a letter C. This abnormality in the shape of the red blood cells causes rigidity, thus causing a delay in the distribution of oxygen throughout the body.
In connection to that, signs and symptoms will occur, which include hypoxia, jaundice, and anemia, episodes of pain, frequent infections, hand-foot syndrome, delayed growth, and visual problems. These symptoms are quite hard to deal with. Thus, medical attention is highly recommended for a series of treatments.
How does sickle cell anemia trigger insomnia in patients? Well, it’s not hard to relate the two conditions, given all the signs and symptoms associated with sickle cell disease. Here are some points.
This is one of the factors why insomnia occurs in persons with sickle cell anemia. Hypoxia has something to do with difficulty in breathing because the heart is required to pump much because of an anemic blood. So if there is difficulty in breathing, it is hard for someone to have a goodnight sleep. Thus, insomnia could develop. It would be a good option to find ways on how to alleviate hypoxia so as to prevent any further experience of insomnia.
Episodes of Pain
This is one of the first symptoms that a patient with sickle cell anemia experiences. The pain is due to swelling in different parts of the body, which usually affects the muscles, feet, legs, arms, hips, shoulders, and back. The episodes of pain could last for hours and even weeks. So if there is pain, it is hard to rest and fall asleep. In the long run, a person will surely develop insomnia. Sleepless nights or insomnia is managed when the episodes of pain are addressed because this is the reason why such condition exists.
It is best to always have regular checkup to assess the severity of the condition. Regular checkup and appointment to the doctor would mean more chances of being treated from sickle cell anemia, and so as from all the signs and symptoms associated with it.