Sleep Strategies, Better Rest, & Lupus

Struggling to sleep through the night is a common frustration for people with lupus. Finding sleep strategies that help can have big benefits according to new research. With lupus, many symptoms can be connected and one problem can turn into many. This often leads to a treatment approach of managing symptoms and looking to minimize personal triggers. Triggers vary for individuals, but there are some common ones: stress lack of sleep UV light Even these triggers can interact together. In a study exploring the causes of fatigue, researchers concluded that fatigue is a “multidimensional phenomenon arising out of several contributing factors.” To treat fatigue, researchers suggested focusing on the mediating factors: stress, sleep, and disease activity. A study published in May 2018 explored the the impact of sleep disturbances further. The researchers found that sleep disturbances and depression were mediating variables for both pain and cognitive disfunction. They concluded that non-pharmacologic interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy, may reduce stress and improve functioning.

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