ACR Convergence 2024—With poor sleep a major complaint among patients with rheumatologic diseases, physicians should hone their understanding of how the body regulates sleep and how this system can be disrupted, and tailor their management plans to help patients with these issues, panelists said in a session at ACR Convergence. For some patients, their struggles…
Fibromyalgia-Related Sleep Disorder Diagnosis & Treament Tips
When a patient has fibromyalgia, sleep troubles are the last thing they need. Unfortunately, sleep problems affect a large number of fibromyalgia patients, and those problems can turn into a vicious cycle that interplays with daytime pain and fatigue. “Pain and sleep disturbances are a double-edged sword,” says Elika Kormeili, MFT, a licensed clinical psychologist…
Poor Sleep Associated with Higher Risk of Chronic Pain
(Reuters Health)—People who sleep poorly may be more likely to develop a chronic pain condition and have worse physical health, a study from the U.K. suggests. A general decline in both the quantity and quality of hours slept led to a two- to three-fold increase in pain problems over time, researchers found. “Sleep and pain…
Sleep Apnea Tied to Gout Flares
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Sleep apnea may increase the risk of developing gout and experiencing flare-ups, according to a new study. Until now, little was known about the relationship between the two conditions, the study team writes in an article online Oct. 19 in Arthritis & Rheumatology. Obesity plays an important role in both sleep apnea…
Restoration of Sleep Physiology vs. Sedation for Sleep Disorders, Fibromyalgia
Sleep disturbance is an important medical problem, requiring intervention, not simply to reduce latency to its onset, but to ensure achievement of the depth of sleep that has been documented to restore homeostasis and prevent the falls that are responsible for so much morbidity and mortality.1 Sleep disturbance is present in 50% of people over…