6 Sleep Secrets for Rheumatoid Arthritis Is rheumatoid arthritis preventing you from getting a good night’s rest? Try one of these real-life tips to help you sleep better with RA. Health Monitor StaffHealth Monitor Advisory Board Sleep Apnea May Raise Risks for Angioplasty Patients Severe, Untreated Sleep Apnea Linked to Aggressive Melanoma Giving the 'Green Light' to Migraine Relief As Fitness Levels Rise, Diabetes Risk Drops Health Tip: Massage May Help You Sleep Better Health Tip: Apply Mosquito Repellent Correctly Half of Heart Attacks Might Be 'Silent'A comfortable mattress is important to have for obvious reasons. For a person who lives with chronic arthritis pain, it is essential. There are coil, air, memory foam, and latex mattresses available. The best mattress is not necessarily the most expensive. You should look for a mattress that is firm enough to provide support, yet sufficiently cushioned for comfort.Choosing the best mattress boils down to personal choice.
For example, some people may prefer extra firm support, while others may find that to be uncomfortable. If you think there are just too many to choose from, do yourself a favor—don't feel overwhelmed, just dig in and learn about their features, try them out in person, and soon you will recognize which is the best mattress for you. New Tempur-Pedic Flex Prima Queen Mattress Tempur-Pedic offers several mattress collections, ranging from softer materials to a higher density material which provides more support. Tempur-Pedic mattresses conform to your body to minimize pressure points while still supporting and aligning your body. Many arthritis patients love this mix of comfort and support.This particular mattress also features moisture-wicking, a high-loft super-stretch cover with grey upholstery sides, and a base layer that disperses heat from the mattress. Select Comfort Sleep Number Mattress With Select Comfort, firmness or softness adjusts on each side of the bed.
The mattress comes with a wireless remote. Your comfort no longer depends on how firm your partner likes the bed to be—you can both be happy at the same time. The mattress is made of pressure-relief memory foam with breathable fabric. It is advertised as the only bed clinically proven to relieve back pain and improve sleep quality. Queen Sealy Posturepedic Mountain Ridge III Euro Pillow Top Mattress The Sealy Posturepedic Mountain Ridge III is a softer mattress option with a pillow top for comfort. This mattress works well for someone who prefers comfortable support versus firm support. The design helps to reduce tossing and turning. Cooling layers of foam help you to remain comfortable while falling asleep. It is recommended for side sleepers, but it may be too soft for some stomach or back sleepers. Simmons Beautyrest Recharge Plush Pillow Top King Mattress This Beautyrest selection has geltouch foam for added comfort and pressure relief, plush comfort foam for comfort and conformability, and energy foam which acts as the support for the coil system.
The AirCool design—which features channeled AirCool foams, ventilated AirCool beautyedge foam encased edge support, and a high tech mesh border fabric—helps to keep you at a comfortable sleeping temperature. Kingsdown Passions Imagination Firm Mattress, Queen The Kingsdown Passions Imagination Firm Mattress is a firm luxury foam mattress, designed for enhanced support. It also has gel memory foam lumbar support. It has 904 (Q) Tri-Zoned wrapped coils for reduced motion transfer and lumbar support. Signature Sleep Signature 13-Inch Independently Encased Coil Mattress The fabric of the Signature Sleep mattress is made of a durable bamboo ticking which absorbs moisture, dries, and helps the body breathe. It has a foam pillow top which includes 1 inch of 3-Zone foam to provide soft upper and lower body comfort with a more firm center to support lower back and hips. There are 10 inches of independently encased coils to provide equal weight distribution.Everyday Solutions are created by Everyday Health on behalf of our partners.
More InformationIs rheumatoid arthritis making it hard to get around the house? Here's a room-by-room guide to improve mobility and prevent falls. The pain and stiffness that often accompany rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can make everyday activities much more difficult to accomplish. “Some people with rheumatoid arthritis, particularly those who were diagnosed a long time ago, before the current effective treatments were available, have mechanical problems and joint injuries that create functional disability,” says Timothy Laing, MD, faculty rheumatologist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and a member of the American College of Rheumatology’s speakers bureau. Whether you experience stiff hands that have trouble turning doorknobs or you have decreased mobility overall, there are simple modifications you can make around your home to make living with RA easier.“In general, the number one thing you should do if you have rheumatoid arthritis is set up your home to prevent falls, since symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis make falling much more likely,” Dr. Laing says.
“This means installing good lighting so you can see down stairways, making sure your porch is clear of snow and ice during the winter, and having things to grab onto if you become unsteady.”Here are some room-by-room suggestions to help deal with the physical limitations of RA:In the Living RoomEliminate tripping hazards. “Remove loose throw rugs and shag carpets to prevent falls,” Laing says, as they can be easy to trip on.Get the right seating. “If couches and chairs are too low, a person with rheumatoid arthritis who has knee issues will have trouble getting up and out of them,” says Nathan Wei, MD, director of the Arthritis Treatment Center in Frederick, Md. Chairs with armrests can also help people with RA lift themselves up more easily.Consider a chair riser or lift assist. “If you have problems getting in and out of chairs, look for an easy chair with an automatic seat raiser,” Laing says.If you have limited mobility, the less you have to get up and out of your chair to change the TV channel or radio station the better.
“Get as many remote controls and wireless devices as you can to operate things in your living room,” Laing says.In the BedroomPut your bed at the right height. “If symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis put you at risk of falling out of bed, you want your bed to be low to the ground,” Dr. Wei says. If, on the other hand, you have trouble getting out of bed, a higher one may be preferable. Use trial and error to find the bed height that’s best for you.Use the Goldilocks principle for your mattress. “If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you don’t want your mattress to be too hard or too soft,” Wei says. Resting enough and getting good sleep are important for managing RA, so it helps to invest in the right mattress for you.Pick the appropriate pillows. “People with rheumatoid arthritis shouldn’t use high pillows because they can cause neck pain,” Wei says. Instead he recommends neck support pillows, which are available in medical supply stores and online.Choose the right height for nightstands.
“Make sure your bedside tables aren’t higher than the edge of your bed because you could suddenly put your arm out and hit them,” Wei says.Turn on a night light. To help prevent falls, make sure you can find your way around in the middle of the night without tripping.In the KitchenChoose the right faucet design. “If you have problems with hand mobility in particular, the handles of your kitchen faucet should be long enough so you can move them with your wrists or forearms, not just your hands,” Wei says.Keep everyday items most accessible. “In your cupboards, keep the things you use often at waist to eye level so you don’t have to reach,” Wei says. Using an apron with pockets can also be helpful to keep things you need handy as you cook.If you have trouble with certain hand movements, such as chopping and opening jars, devices such as a food processor and electric or rubber can or jar openers can be helpful, says Diane Horowitz, MD, director of the Arthritis Center at the LIJ-North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y.Look for cooking shortcuts.