GETTING BETTER SLEEP
Sleep is a necessary requirement for being healthy. When you have chronic conditions like arthritis, rest is vital for daily recovery and symptom control. Poor sleep can worsen fatigue and pain associated with arthritis. Therefore, a good night of sleep is an absolute requirement for any arthritis treatment plan—here’s how you can help yourself:
- Get your medical issues under control. There may be more than one reason for why you cannot get a good night of sleep. Anxiety may prevent you from falling asleep. Urinary conditions may cause you to get up several times at night. Mix in arthritis pain, and your nights can end up being a struggle. Follow up with your doctor regularly to stay on top of your health.
- Be consistent with your schedule. Keep your sleep and wake timings consistent through the week to get your body used to getting rest when you need it.
- Avoid overstimulation. Avoid caffeine, TV/computer time, and exercise in the evening because they may wake you up at a time when your body is supposed to be preparing for sleep.
- Use the bed for sleep only. Avoid eating, reading, and watching TV in bed. Train your body to use the bed for sleep only. Keep the bedroom dark and insulated from sound and other distractions.
- Keep track of your sleep. A sleep journal will help you focus on making rest a top health priority. Include the times you sleep and wake up, and comment on how refreshed you feel each day. If you are having difficulties falling or staying asleep, you can also track daily exercise, computer/TV time, daytime naps, and meal timings to see if there are trends that may be interfering with your ability to get proper rest.
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