It’s no secret that rheumatoid arthritis tends to cause a lot of pain, but it can have other consequences as well – some of which are less obvious than others. Studies have found that people with rheumatoid arthritis have a 75 percent greater chance of suffering from sleep apnea. What links these two conditions together? The answer can be found below.
What Exactly are Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sleep Apnea?
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your body’s immune system mistakenly starts attacking healthy cells. It primarily occurs in the joints, resulting in inflammation. Those with rheumatoid arthritis suffer from joint pain, swelling, and stiffness; they may also be prone to fatigue, weight loss, dry eyes, and chest pain.
Meanwhile, sleep apnea is a disorder where your breathing is repeatedly interrupted while you’re asleep. More often than not, these interruptions are the result of the airway being blocked by relaxed soft tissues in the mouth or throat. Sleep apnea can have a severely negative effect on your health by preventing you from getting quality rest at night.
How are Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sleep Apnea Related?
It’s not entirely clear why rheumatoid arthritis is linked to a higher risk of sleep apnea, but researchers do have some ideas. One possible explanation is that rheumatoid arthritis can lead to the degeneration of the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) connecting the lower jaw to the skull. This can result in a smaller airway that might lead to sleep apnea.
Additionally, when you have rheumatoid arthritis, your body produces more TNF (tumor necrosis factor), which is a cytokine involved in inflammatory reactions. This is significant because people with sleep apnea are often found to have increased TNF levels.
How Can Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sleep Apnea Be Treated?
Even though rheumatoid arthritis cannot be permanently cured, there are medications that can help manage your symptoms. Certain exercises and surgery can also sometimes help. Your regular physician can work with you to determine the best way to treat your rheumatoid arthritis based on your situation.
As for sleep apnea, the traditional form of treatment is a CPAP machine, which delivers a constant stream of air down your throat. Unfortunately, not every patient can tolerate CPAP therapy. The good news is that your sleep dentist may be able to offer you an alternative in the form of a customized oral appliance that adjusts the position of the jaw to reduce the risk of breathing interruptions.
Rheumatoid arthritis and sleep apnea can both have an adverse effect on the quality of your life. As such, once you find out that you have either of these conditions, you should focus on getting the treatment you need as soon as possible.
About the Author
Dr. Dean Hutto is a native of Baytown. He is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, and he is proud to help patients with sleep apnea enjoy more restful nights again with customized oral appliances. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Hutto at Sleep Better Baytown, visit his website or call (281) 422-8248.