The Curious but Serious Link Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sleep Apnea

Sleep is essential for healing and maintaining one’s overall health, but for patients living with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), quality sleep can sometimes feel tough to achieve. What’s worse is that research also shows that sleep apnea—a condition that causes patients to wake up frequently at night—is often more common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This connection is important to understand, since untreated sleep apnea can worsen the symptoms of RA and reduce one’s quality of life greatly. Here’s a closer look at this link and why sleep apnea treatment is always worthwhile.

Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy joints, leading to chronic pain, stiffness, inflammation, and swelling. Over time, RA can affect not just the joints, but also other systems in the body, including the heart, lungs, and even blood vessels.

How Sleep Apnea Affects the Body

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the airway becomes blocked during sleep, causing breathing pauses that can last for several seconds and occur hundreds of times in a given night. Each pause forces the body to briefly wake itself up, in order to restore normal breathing—and a person is often unaware all this is happening. However, these repeated interruptions can prevent deep sleep and also place stress on the body.

Sleep apnea can also increase systemic inflammation—and because inflammation plays a central role in RA, this is part of what links the two conditions. The low oxygen levels caused by sleep apnea trigger inflammatory responses, which can worsen RA symptoms. Not to mention, joint pain and stiffness from the condition can also make sleeping difficult as it is.

Why Sleep Apnea Treatment Is Crucial

Most people with rheumatoid arthritis may not realize that sleep apnea is contributing to their worsening joint pain, as they could be focused on other symptoms like fatigue, memory issues, and irritability. However, if you’re experiencing these and other signs of sleep apnea, an evaluation and treatment are warranted.

Dental sleep medicine offers many effective, non-invasive treatment options for sleep apnea, including custom oral appliance therapy. These devices gently reposition the tongue and jaw to keep the airway open during sleep. It’s also important to remember that keeping your RA under control can likewise reduce joint inflammation and potentially help you sleep better, too. Addressing both conditions together can not only improve your sleep but also support your overall health!

About the Author

Dr. Deborah A. Romack graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry and has been helping patients in Weatherford and the surrounding North Texas area for several years with their sleep apnea. Our office offers a wide range of services, including sleep apnea treatment in the form of custom-made oral appliances. If you have any questions or you’d like to get in touch with us to set up an appointment, please reach out online or call today for more information or assistance. Telephone: (817) 646-3084.