Rheumatoid Arthritis & Heart Disease: What It Means to You, How You Can Keep Your Joints & Heart Healthy

The inflammation that damages the joints when a person has rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can also harm the cardiovascular system, studies have revealed.

Rheumatoid arthritis could affect a person of any age, but it can be more commonly found in people who are aged between 40 and 50 years old. This condition targets the body’s immune system, which can lead to pain and swelling, and if left untreated, could lead to more serious problems concerning your cardiovascular system. Some people who suffer from arthritis use braces and sleeve supports from places like Doctor Arthritis, to relieve the pain and swelling. Sleeve supports work by putting pressure on a specific area making it immobilized for use. This means that since you can’t use that area of the body, you shouldn’t experience any pain. There are plenty of other treatments available though. To help relieve some of the painful symptoms that could be experienced, people may make the decision to buy CBD oil in the hopes that this can help to prevent the progression of this condition. It is important that you do something about it before it can impact your cardiovascular health.

RA-related inflammation can cause narrowing of the blood vessels trapping fat, cholesterol, calcium and other things that form plaque, a hard substance that clogs arteries and reduces blood flow. Plaque is less stable, can rupture and dislodge and enter the bloodstream causing a blockage in a smaller vessel. This could cause a heart attack, which could result in the end of life. This correlation between rheumatoid arthritis and heart health is one of many studies being studied by rheumatologists (who are rheumatologists).

In a 2013 Mayo Clinic study published in the American Heart Journal people with RA have 1.5 to 2.0 times the risk of heart disease than the general population. The same study concluded that patients with RA have twice the risk of developing heart failure, especially if they test positive for the rheumatoid factor (RF factor).

Findings from a series of studies presented at the American College of Rheumatology 2013 annual meeting have unlocked details about the specific ways RA raises your heart disease risk:

The more severe your RA, the more likely the risk of heart problems
Immune response to a common virus linked to heart disease
Early menopause raises the risk
Heart rhythm disorder can cause sudden cardiac death. This is why people should engage in some form of CPR training from somewhere like Coast2Coast in Richmond Hill.

Tips to safeguard your heart

Stop smoking. People with RA are more likely to be smokers than people who don’t have the disease. According to the American Heart Association, smoking increases blood pressure and blood clotting, both heart disease risks.

Exercise. Find an Arthritis Foundation land or aquatic exercise program in your community by calling 1-855-529-2728, ext. 6609.

Understand your medications. Learn more about how common arthritis medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, some TNF inhibitors and steroids like prednisone can increase heart disease risk.

Learn more. Request the free brochure, Rheumatoid Arthritis, by calling 1-855-529-2728. ext. 6609 today.

About the Arthritis Foundation

The Arthritis Foundation (www.arthritis.org) is committed to raising awareness and reducing the unacceptable impact of arthritis, which strikes one in every five adults and 300,000 children, and is the nation’s leading cause of disability. To conquer this painful, debilitating disease, we support education, research, advocacy and other vital programs and services.