{"id":1248,"date":"2026-02-20T21:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T21:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.capitalsmiles.com\/blog\/?p=1248"},"modified":"2026-04-08T21:10:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T21:10:35","slug":"sleep-apnea-and-rheumatoid-arthritis-connected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.capitalsmiles.com\/blog\/sleep-apnea-and-rheumatoid-arthritis-connected\/","title":{"rendered":"Sleep Apnea and Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Surprising Connection"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.capitalsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/AdobeStock_135092492-rheumatoid-arthritis-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Woman suffering from the aches and pains of rheumatoid arthritis \" class=\"wp-image-1249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.capitalsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/AdobeStock_135092492-rheumatoid-arthritis-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.capitalsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/AdobeStock_135092492-rheumatoid-arthritis-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.capitalsmiles.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/AdobeStock_135092492-rheumatoid-arthritis.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>While everyone experiences occasional restless nights, individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more susceptible to ongoing sleep problems. In fact, research has shown that people with RA face a significantly higher incidence of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.capitalsmiles.com\/sleep-apnea-treatment.html\">sleep apnea<\/a> compared to the general population. What accounts for this connection, and how can you improve the quality of your sleep if you have RA? This blog post provides practical information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Connection Between RA and OSA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a number of possible reasons for the correlation between RA and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Structural differences in the head, neck, and spine:<\/strong> Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes your body to attack its own tissues, often resulting in changes to the joints and bones. These alterations can impact the anatomy of your airway. For example, RA may lead to deformities in the cervical spine, which can compress or narrow the airway, thereby making breathing more difficult during sleep.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chronic inflammation:<\/strong> One of the hallmarks of RA is chronic inflammation. When the upper airway tissues become inflamed, swelling may occur, which narrows the airway and increases the likelihood of airway collapse while you sleep.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Obesity:<\/strong> Obesity is a well-established risk factor for OSA and often coexists with RA. Plus, the steroid medications commonly used in RA management can contribute to weight gain. Excess weight, especially around the neck, places additional pressure on the airway and further elevates the risk of sleep apnea.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Improving Your Sleep Quality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are living with RA, prioritizing high-quality sleep is essential for managing your symptoms and maintaining your overall health! Here are some practical steps you can take:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Achieve and maintain a healthy weight:<\/strong> Collaborate with your healthcare provider to develop a balanced diet and exercise routine that supports weight management. Reducing excess weight can alleviate pressure on your airway and decrease joint stress.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Manage inflammation:<\/strong> Adhere to your prescribed treatment plan to control RA-related inflammation. This may involve medications, physical therapy, or alternative therapies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Adjust your sleep position:<\/strong> Sleeping on your side can help prevent airway collapse. Use a supportive pillow that aligns your neck and spine to stay as comfortable as possible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Seek professional sleep apnea treatment:<\/strong> Consider consulting a dentist about a custom oral appliance designed to keep your airway open while you sleep.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Address joint pain before bedtime:<\/strong> Use heat or cold packs on painful joints, apply topical pain relievers, or take a warm bath to ease discomfort and make it easier to fall asleep.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Although rheumatoid arthritis can negatively impact the quality of your sleep, taking proactive steps can make a meaningful difference!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meet the Practice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Erin Page is a highly accomplished sleep dentist. She provides custom oral appliances to help patients keep their airway open and reduce their sleep apnea symptoms. If you are struggling with poor quality sleep that is related to RA or other conditions, she and our team would be happy to consult with you. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.capitalsmiles.com\/contact-us.html\">Contact our office in Schenectady<\/a> at 518-800-3102.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While everyone experiences occasional restless nights, individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more susceptible to ongoing sleep problems. In fact, research has shown that people with RA face a significantly higher incidence of sleep apnea compared to the general population. What accounts for this connection, and how can you improve the quality of your sleep [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Sleep Apnea and Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Surprising Connection<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There is a surprising connection between sleep apnea and rheumatoid arthritis. 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