Sleep problems are a common complaint of rheumatoid arthritis patients. There have been no large-scale quantitative studies of sleep disturbance in rheumatoid arthritis patients other than polysomnography studies (diagnostic tests which measure certain body functions during sleep). A study published in the October 2006 issue of the Journal of Rheumatology compares 8,676 rheumatoid arthritis patients to 1,364 patients with non-fibromyalgia and non-inflammatory disorders by evaluating sleep scales and a sleep questionnaire.

Researchers concluded that 25 to 42 percent of sleep disturbance can be attributed to rheumatoid arthritis. Pain, mood, and disease activity were contributing factors.

• Rheumatoid Arthritis Screening Quiz
• Fast Facts About Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Test Your Knowledge: Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: Explained With Pictures

Patients who received TNF blocker drugs did not have less abnormal sleep scores, even though Enbrel (etanercept) and Remicade (infliximab) reduce daytime sleepiness in some patients.

More Related Resources:

• Tips for Good Sleep
• I'm Tired of Being Tired
• How Can I Cope With Insomnia?
• Arthritis Patients Need More ZZZZZ's
• 10 Things You Should Know About Rheumatoid Arthritis

_{Photo by Sarah Joos (stock.xchng)}