Thursday, June 21, 2012

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms Worsened by Poor Sleep

Tossing and turning is not a healthy way to spend the hours when you should be getting proper rest. More and more research is uncovering that sleep trouble is related to various chronic disorders, including fibromyalgia, restless legs syndrome, and even rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In fact, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, having poor sleep can intensify rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.


Rheumatoid arthritis is a joint disorder that affects about 1.3 million adults in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. RA can cause severe pain and damage to your hands, making the accomplishment of daily activities very difficult. Necessary tasks like cooking meals or cleaning the house become much more laborious.


The study focused on the relationship between sleep quality and functional disability. They assessed questionnaires obtained from 162 patients diagnosed with RA for at least two years, though on average, they reported having RA for 14 years. The average age of the participants was 58.6, and 76% of them were female.


WebMD reports on the results of the study:


Results derived from the questionnaire showed that 61% of participants were poor sleepers; 33% reported pain that disturbed their sleep at least three times per week.


These results highlight the importance of addressing sleep complaints among patients with [arthritis],” said Faith S. Luyster, PhD, a research assistant at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, in a press release.


She continued, “By treating sleep problems, either pharmacologically or behaviorally, symptoms and activity limitations associated with [rheumatoid arthritis] may be reduced.


But WebMD also notes some of the negative implications of sleep problems linked to rheumatoid arthritis:


The researchers say it’s possible that disability may affect depression, pain severity, and fatigue, which affect sleep quality, but also possible that sleep quality may worsen pain and fatigue and increase risks of depression.


Not sleeping well at night can contribute to greater pain sensitivity and fatigue during the day, which in turn can limit patient’s ability to engage in activities of daily living and discretionary activities,” Luyster says further in the press release.


Though this research is congruent with the results of past studies concerning sleep and RA, the researchers say that further studies need to be conducted to more clearly understand how improving sleep quality can combat pain, depression, fatigue, and other troubling symptoms of RA.

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