The Link Between Sleep Apnea and Rheumatoid Arthritis

This research questioned whether or not patients with rheumatoid arthritis are at a higher risk for developing sleep apnea.  The link between the two was due in part to the fact that patients who were experiencing rheumatoid arthritis often had an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, which can itself be brought on by other causes as well. These causes vary, but are most often due to plaque buildup within the artery walls, which ultimately restricts the flow through the body’s arteries to the organs and tissues.  The development of cardiovascular disease has been known to be associated with chronic sleep apnea.  This prompted the testing to prove or disprove the connection between the two medical conditions.