Studies show that a remarkable 20 percent of the population has some degree of fear of needles or injections and 10 percent within that number suffer from what is known as Trypanophobia. This is an excessive or irrational fear of injections or needles which can be learned or inherited. Many with Trypanophobia avoid getting medical treatment that involves the use of needles, which can prove dangerous for those with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes.
The fear of needles can manifest in one of three ways:
1: A vasovagal reflex reaction-where a person may faint or go into convulsions during or after a needle procedure.
2: Classic phobia- which results from traumatic events with symptoms involving feeling anxious, experiencing nausea or difficulty breathing when needles are present.
3: Hypersensitivity to the pain caused by a needle- the skin’s surface becomes extremely sensitive making procedures that involve needles uncomfortable.
There are a few things that can be done to minimize the symptoms of Trypanophobia. They are, using topical anesthetics to numb the skin or avoiding the sight of needles by using covered caps. Diabetics can ask their doctor for products such as inhalable insulin or jet injectors.
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