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News Releases
Snooze Your Way to Better Health
Columbia, Mo. (Apr 4, 2007) It's 4:00 a.m. You've been tossing and turning all night. You've tried counting sheep, drinking warm milk, even thinking pleasant thoughts - nothing seems to work. Often, people with osteoarthritis cannot get a good night's sleep. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease (NIAMS), people with osteoarthritis are very susceptible to disrupted sleep because of pain associated with the disease.
"Although pain can make it difficult to sleep, getting proper sleep is important for managing arthritis pain,' reports a study conducted by Gayle Lester, Ph.D., project coordinator of the Osteoarthritis Initiative at NIAMS. "If you have trouble sleeping, you may find that relaxation techniques, stress reduction, and biofeedback can help, as can timing medications to provide maximum pain relief through the night."
Without restful sleep, the body is unable to rest and restore itself. Lack of sleep not only impacts pain, fatigue and physical performance, but also your ability to function in other areas during the day.
The National Sleep Foundation suggests that people get six to nine hours of sleep every night. People with chronic illnesses, however, often need more. Listen to your body. According to the National Sleep Foundation, here are a few sleep disorder symptoms that people may experience:
- increased sleepiness and fatigue
- low energy levels
- poor attention and motivation span
- memory lapses
- decreased initiative
- poor ability to make decisions
- increased irritability
- unpredictable mood swings
- increased pain and stiffness
Coping with a chronic disease like osteoarthritis is difficult enough. Don't allow sleep deprivation to control your life. the National Sleep Foundation suggest a few ideas that might help you get a restful night's sleep:
- Control your pain. Work with your doctor to ensure pain isn't keeping you awake.
- Establish a routine. Go to bed at the same time every night.
- Induce sleep. Take a warm shower before crawling under the covers or drink a glass of warm milk.
- Exercise. Regular exercise will enhance your sleep. Try stretching for a few minutes before bed.
Sleep deprivation is a serious problem among people with osteoarthritis, one that tends to be overlooked. Talk to your doctor immediately. Let your doctor know that you are having sleeping problems. Sleep is an important part of life - one that shouldn't be interrupted or missed!
The Missouri Arthritis Research Rehabilitation and Training Center (MARRTC) was established in 1971 at the University of Missouri-Columbia Arthritis Center. MARRTC is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (H133B031120) and is the only federally funded arthritis rehabilitation research and training center in the country.
As part of the MU Health Communication Research Center (HCRC), MARRTC's mission is to become a national leader in the areas of disability management and communication, improve the quality of life and promote independent living among people who have arthritis and arthritic conditions. MARRTC's core message is "Disability is everyone's issue."
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