New Research Highlights The Vicious Cycle in Osteoarthritis

(Newswire.net — June 22, 2022) Orlando, FL — In the United States, osteoarthritis is found to affect almost 30 million people. This condition was been found to increase healthcare costs by $186 billion between 1996 and 2005. 

A study has confirmed the link between sleep disturbances and pain and depression, but not disability among individuals with the condition. More specifically, poor sleep increases depression and disability but doesn’t aggravate pain over time. 

The findings of this research were published in Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

Previous research has revealed that individuals with knee OA experience issues getting to sleep by 31 percent, difficulty maintaining nighttime sleep by 81 percent, and general sleep problems by 77 percent.

“Sleep disturbance is a common complaint among those with pain, particularly among those with OA,” explains Dr. Patricia Parmelee from the Center for Mental Health & Aging at The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. 

“Our research is unique as we investigate the complex relationships among sleep, OA-related pain, disability and depressed mood simultaneously in a single study.”

This present study involved 288 patients of knee osteoarthritis who provided information on pain, sleep disturbances, functional limitations, and depressive symptoms. Scientists recruited participants from diverse settings in gathering a broad representation of OA subjects. 

It is worth noting that sleep disturbances at the start of the research were used to predict changes in depression, pain, and disability after a one-year period. 

Findings have shown that sleep was independently linked with pain and depression at baseline. The research has further shown that there was no link between disability and baseline sleep disturbances. 

In people with increased pain levels, the combination of poor sleep and pain worsened depression. The researchers have also revealed that sleep disturbance at baseline predicted an increase in depression and disability but not pain after a year. 

“This study shows that depression plays a strong role in the sleep-pain connection, particularly with severe pain. Further investigation of sleep in disability progression may lead to new interventions that disrupt the cycle of OA distress,” Dr. Parmelee adds. 

There is an increasing number of studies that look into the remedies potentially useful in improving pain and overall quality of life of OA sufferers. 

It is important to realize that having an anti-inflammatory diet is vital for disease control. There are even many who resort to the use of all-natural joint cartilage repairing remedies like glucosamine. 

It can be obtained through the use of superior-strength supplements like VitaBreeze Glucosamine (http://amazon.com/Glucosamine-Chondroitin-Turmeric-Dietary-Supplement/dp/B00DUMO9X4).