Holistic Rheumatology Care:
What Role Does Sleep Play?

What Is Holistic Rheumatology Care?

Holistic rheumatology care is a comprehensive approach to managing autoimmune diseases. It goes beyond medication to include lifestyle changes and natural methods that support the body’s healing processes. This type of care takes into account how diet, exercise, sleep, and emotional health all influence autoimmune conditions. In autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own healthy tissues. Holistic rheumatology care aims to calm down this response while strengthening the body through better sleep and nutrition. Sleep is a crucial component because it supports immune regulation and tissue repair, playing an essential role in managing autoimmune activity and maintaining overall health.

Note: “holistic” describes an approach to care rather than a separate medical specialty or board certification.

Understanding the Significance 

of Sleep in Autoimmune Health

Sleep is essential for preserving health, particularly for those who suffer from autoimmune disorders. During healthy sleep, the immune system regulates cytokine production, which helps fight infection and modulates inflammation; insufficient sleep disrupts these signals, impairing immune defense.

Poor sleep can increase pain sensitivity, reduce energy, and lower resistance to illness. It can also raise stress hormones like cortisol, which worsen inflammation. Because autoimmune diseases already involve inflammation, a lack of sleep makes symptoms feel worse and may increase the likelihood of flares. Inflammation is the body’s response to injury or infection, but when it’s out of control, it can cause damage. Sleep helps regulate this response, so getting enough good sleep is crucial for managing autoimmune conditions.

How Autoimmune Conditions Affect Sleep

Pain

Pain is one of the most common reasons people with autoimmune conditions struggle to sleep. Joint stiffness, muscle aches, and inflammation often worsen at night when the body is at rest. This discomfort causes restless nights, making it difficult to fall or stay asleep. Pain-induced sleep deprivation over time can lead to a vicious cycle in which fatigue exacerbates pain perception and further interferes with sleep.

Medications

Certain medications prescribed for autoimmune diseases may affect sleep. Steroids, for example, can cause insomnia, restlessness, or vivid dreams. While these drugs are important for controlling inflammation, they sometimes interfere with natural sleep cycles. This effect makes it harder for patients to get deep, restorative rest. Doctors may suggest adjusting dosage times or exploring lifestyle strategies such as regular exercise, relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation, or dietary changes to reduce the impact of medications on sleep quality.

Anxiety and Stress

Living with an autoimmune disease can create worry about health, flare-ups, or future complications. These concerns often show up as racing thoughts at bedtime, making it harder to relax. Stress also increases cortisol levels, which can delay sleep and reduce its quality. As nights of worry build up, fatigue and emotional strain grow stronger. Over time, sleep patterns can be improved by managing stress with relaxing bedtime rituals like reading a book or having a warm bath, as well as relaxation techniques like progressive muscle relaxation or deep breathing. By controlling your stress, you can also lower your body’s cortisol levels, which can help reduce inflammation—a major factor in autoimmune illnesses.

Simple Steps to Improve Sleep 

in Holistic Rheumatology Care

Stick to a Sleep Schedule

Maintaining a consistent bedtime and wake-up time each day aids in regulating the body’s internal clock. Over time, falling asleep may become easier if you follow a regular sleep schedule that teaches your body when it’s time to relax. Maintaining this routine helps people with autoimmune diseases sleep better, have more energy, and maintain balance in their daily health and well-being.

Create a Calm Bedroom

The sleep environment significantly influences sleep quality. A dark, quiet, and cool room promotes deeper rest and minimizes interruptions during the night. A more tranquil environment can be produced with fans, white noise generators, or blackout curtains. A peaceful bedroom promotes restful sleep and reduces discomfort for people with autoimmune diseases, enabling the body to heal and better control inflammation.

Limit Screen Time

Blue light from screens (computer, tablet, phone) can trick the brain into thinking it is daytime, suppressing melatonin—the hormone that regulates sleep timing. Your body can naturally relax if you avoid using electronics for at least an hour before bed. For people with autoimmune diseases, substituting relaxing pastimes like reading or stretching for screen time promotes better sleep.

Avoid Caffeine Late in the Day

Caffeine is a stimulant that can keep the brain alert long after it’s consumed. Even if you don’t feel its effects, caffeine can still interfere with falling asleep or reaching deep sleep stages. For autoimmune patients, this disruption may worsen fatigue and inflammation. Choosing caffeine-free drinks in the afternoon and evening helps prepare the body for rest, improving sleep quality and overall health. About 400 mg of caffeine taken even 6 hours before bedtime significantly reduces total sleep time; effects on sleep depth vary by study and person.

Manage Pain

Pain is a major obstacle to restful sleep for people with autoimmune conditions. Using heat packs, gentle stretches, or relaxation techniques before bedtime can ease discomfort and relax muscles. By reducing pain, the body is better able to settle into restorative sleep cycles. Managing pain at night not only improves rest but also helps reduce daytime fatigue, creating a healthier rhythm for long-term wellness.

Common Sleep Disorders in Autoimmune Disease

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

Restless Legs Syndrome is a condition that creates an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, often during rest or at night. It can cause tingling, aching, or crawling sensations that disrupt sleep. For people with autoimmune diseases, RLS may worsen fatigue and make it harder to achieve deep, restorative rest. Recognizing RLS symptoms and seeking treatment can improve sleep quality and support better overall management of autoimmune health.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea occurs when breathing repeatedly stops and resumes during sleep. These disruptions can lead to gasping for air, loud snoring, and frequent awakenings during the night. Obstructive sleep apnea commonly causes daytime sleepiness/fatigue, is an independent risk factor for hypertension, and is associated with elevated inflammatory markers. For people with autoimmune diseases, untreated sleep apnea can worsen symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment are vital parts of holistic rheumatology care to restore healthy rest.

Insomnia

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep problems for people with autoimmune conditions. It entails having trouble sleeping, staying asleep, or waking too early and struggling to fall back asleep. Insomnia often increases fatigue, pain sensitivity, and emotional stress, making autoimmune symptoms feel worse. Addressing insomnia with lifestyle adjustments and medical guidance supports healthier sleep patterns and improves overall well-being in autoimmune care.