Lupus and Sleep Disorders

6 Natural Sleep Aids

 

Are you facing difficulties to sleep? Waking in the middle of the night and having trouble falling asleep again?

 

If you have a rheumatic disease, like lupus, this can be due to the condition.

 

Sleep disturbances are often seen in rheumatic diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

 

Nine studies reporting the relationship between sleep disorders and SLE were found. Prevalence rates of sleep disorders ranged between 55% and 85%; differences in assessment techniques appeared to be a significant source of this variability. In the majority of the studies, an association between sleep disorders and disease activity, pain, and fatigue has been reported. Psychosocial variables, depression, steroid use, and the sleep disruption’s role on pain, inflammation, and cytokines have been hypothesized as possible psychobiological factors.

 

A research concluded that sleep disorders appear to occur in more than half of patients with SLE and appear to be associated with disease activity. Pain and fatigue are also related to sleep disorders. Among the hypotheses on the possible mechanisms underlining the association between sleep disorders and SLE, psychosocial/psychological factors, especially depression, were the most frequently reported.

 

What can be done to help lupus patients falling asleep? Well, consider trying the following 6 natural sleep-promoting supplements:

 

1. Melatonin: a hormone that your body produces naturally, and it signals to your brain that it’s time to sleep. It may improve overall sleep quality in individuals with sleep disorders. Specifically, melatonin appears to reduce the time people need to fall asleep (known as sleep latency) and increase the total amount of sleep time.

 

2. Valerian root: is an herb native to Asia and Europe. It is commonly used as a natural treatment for anxiety, depression, and menopause symptoms that influence sleep quality.

 

3. Magnesium: has a relaxing effect on the body and brain, which may help improve sleep quality. It is a mineral involved in hundreds of processes in the human body, and it’s crucial for brain function and heart health.

 

4. Lavender: several studies show that simply smelling lavender oil shortly before sleep may be enough to improve sleep quality. This effect appears particularly strong in those with mild insomnia, especially females and young individuals.

 

5. Passionflower: the tea or extract may help slightly improve sleep quality in some individuals. In a recent study of people with insomnia, those who took passionflower extract over a 2-week-period saw significant improvements in the sleep parameters: total sleep time, sleep efficiency, or the percentage of time spent sleeping as opposed to lying awake in bed, wake time after sleep onset.

 

6. Glycine: is an amino acid that plays a vital role in the nervous system, and studies show it may also help improve sleep. Consuming glycine immediately before bedtime may help you fall asleep faster and improve the overall quality of your sleep.

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