Anemia occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough healthy red blood cells to supply your tissues with oxygen. Sleep issues like insomnia have been linked to anemia.

Anemia has many potential causes, such as:

  • iron or vitamin B12 deficiency
  • certain medications
  • some genetic or acquired diseases

People with anemia can develop complications, including shortness of breath and fatigue. Researchers have also linked anemia to sleep problems, such as trouble falling or staying asleep.

Read on to learn more about the connection between anemia, insomnia, and other sleep issues.

Researchers have linked anemia with an increased risk of developing insomnia and other sleep problems.

In a 2020 study from China, researchers examined whether adults with anemia had a higher risk of insomnia than those without. The researchers reported a 32% increased risk in participants with insomnia.

In a 2023 study, researchers found evidence that iron deficiency anemia in the first year of life was associated with a significantly increased risk of shorter sleep duration. Iron deficiency anemia is caused by low iron levels.

There are several reasons why anemia might increase your risk of insomnia.

Reduced oxygen flow to the brain

Anemia may reduce oxygen delivery to your brain, which may cause problems like impaired cognitive performance or sleep problems.

Increased heart rate

When your brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen, your heart compensates by beating faster to circulate more blood. Having a fast heart rate may make it more difficult to fall asleep.

Shared genes

It’s been proposed that a mutation in the gene MEIS1 may increase your risk of iron deficiency. Variations in this gene may also be associated with insomnia.

Brain change

Iron deficiency anemia may lead to changes in your brain associated with changes in sleep.

Fatigue

It’s been theorized that fatigue caused by anemia might contribute to insomnia. Counterintuitively, fatigue might lead to more daytime napping that might impair your ability to fall asleep at night.

By definition, insomnia means having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep during the night. Other symptoms of insomnia may include:

  • depression or anxiety
  • waking up too early
  • feeling tired or sleepy during the day
  • making more errors in day-to-day activities or having more accidents
  • having a hard time paying attention

Anemia has also been associated with some other sleep disorders. For example, iron deficiency anemia has been associated with restless leg syndrome.

Some evidence suggests that poor sleep duration may increase your risk of anemia.

For example, in a 2021 study from South Korea, researchers found that sleep duration under 5 hours was associated with an increased risk of anemia in postmenopausal women.

It’s important to seek medical attention if you develop potential symptoms of anemia. Anemia can develop for many reasons and it’s important to find the underlying cause to make sure you receive the best treatment.

It’s also a good idea to speak with a doctor or a sleep expert if you have consistent problems falling asleep. They can help identify problems that may be contributing to your poor sleep or help identify underlying conditions.

A doctor may diagnose insomnia if you have difficulty falling asleep for at least 3 nights per week for more than 3 months. They may want to run other tests to help find the underlying cause of your insomnia, such as:

  • a sleep study
  • actigraphy, which involves wearing a device on your ankle or wrist to measure physical activity
  • blood tests

Here’s a look at how anemia and insomnia are treated.

Anemia treatment

Treatment for anemia might include:

Insomnia treatment

Treatment for insomnia may include:

  • making your bedroom sleep-friendly
  • going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day
  • avoiding caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol
  • regular physical activity during the day
  • avoiding naps
  • eating meals on a regular schedule
  • limiting how much you drink
  • improving stress management
  • avoiding certain medications

Learn more about insomnia treatment.

How much sleep does a person with anemia need?

The amount of sleep you need varies between people. People with anemia might need extra sleep but find it difficult to achieve a deep state of rest.

Does anemia make it hard to stay awake?

People with anemia might be prone to insomnia and sleep problems. These may lead to daytime fatigue and drowsiness that may make it difficult to stay awake during the day.

Anemia has been associated with an increased risk of developing insomnia. Some research also suggests that the opposite may be true, and people with poor sleep duration may be more prone to developing anemia.

Insomnia is often treatable with home remedies. If your symptoms don’t improve with lifestyle changes like reducing caffeine before bed, it’s a good idea to talk with a healthcare professional. They can run tests to help identify the underlying cause.