Does loss of sleep increase the risk of

rheumatoid arthritis?

Taken from NRAS magazine, Spring 2009

New research from the US has suggested that losing sleep may increase the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This could be because lack of sleep could lead to the key cellular pathway that produces tissue-damaging inflammation, which would therefore increase the risk of diseases such as RA. Much more work needs to be done in this area.