People with rheumatoid arthritis understandably focus on caring for their joints. But their most serious health risk involves their heart.
Compared to the general population, rheumatoid arthritis patients have a significantly increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and a shorter life expectancy.
RA AND YOUR HEART: THE RISKS
Here are some of the findings from recent studies about the link between rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease:
--Heart attacks are twice as common among women with rheumatoid arthritis as among those without the disease.
--Atherosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries") starts early and progresses more rapidly in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
--Carotid artery blockages (a risk factor for stroke) are three times more common in people with rheumatoid arthritis than in people without the disease (44% vs. 15%).
--Cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, occur about 10 years earlier in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
--Mortality is higher among rheumatoid arthritis patients after a first heart attack.
--Blood vessel damage is often already apparent at the time of rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis.
--Heart attacks in rheumatoid arthritis patients are more likely to be silent or to occur without the typical symptoms, and they more often result in sudden cardiac death.
--Congestive heart failure (weakening of the heart's pumping ability) is more common among people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Researchers have identified several links between rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease. Inflammation is believed to be the most important of these.
THE ROLE OF INFLAMMATION IN ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Cardiologists now understand that inflammation plays a crucial role in the onset of atherosclerosis. They believe that an injury to the inner lining of the arteries (the endothelium) triggers an immune response, sending immune system cells rushing to repair the damage.
THE EFFECTS OF CHRONIC INFLAMMATION ON YOUR ARTERIES
But in chronic inflammatory states such as rheumatoid arthritis, the immune response doesn't shut off after the injury heals. The accumulating immune system cells attract deposits of cholesterol, blood platelets, cellular debris, and calcium, which clump together to form plaque.
As plaque deposits grow, they restrict blood flow through the artery. If the plaque ruptures, clots can break away and travel to the heart or brain, where they may cause a heart attack or a stroke.
BOTTOM LINE ADVICE: WHAT CAN YOU DO TO STAY HEART-SMART EVEN IF YOU HAVE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
The relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and the heart is complex, and rheumatologists still have a great deal to learn about how to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease among people who have rheumatoid arthritis.
For now, it's important to do everything possible to reduce the traditional risk factors for heart disease and stroke:
smoking, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
Getting regular exercise and losing extra pounds (even a 5-10% weight reduction is beneficial) will help your joints as well as your heart. Monitor your blood pressure and have your cholesterol levels checked regularly.
Also, ask your physician about the possibility of taking a low-dose aspirin each day to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
In addition, the cholesterol-lowering medications known as statins--atorvastatin (Lipitor) and others--not only help the heart, but also have modest beneficial effects on rheumatoid arthritis-related inflammation. If your doctor hasn't already suggested a statin drug for your heart health, you might ask about it.
For the latest research on Heart Health and Heart Attack Prevention, see the new 2008 Johns Hopkins White Paper: Heart Attack Prevention at: Johns Hopkins White Paper Heart Attack Prevention
To get a copy of the free special report "Johns Hopkins 7 Keys to Reduce Cholesterol," please visit: Johns Hopkins 7 Keys to Reduce Cholesterol
http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com
great advice which I follow...but I don't take a cholesterol-lowering med. Would you take something like this just because you have RA and the possible cardiovascular problems? Or do you only take this if you have high cholesterol? I don't have high cholesterol, so not sure about these drugs.Good info but depressing all at the same time!
True, but I'd rather know all the risks with having RA. I've had RA for 16 years now and it's only been in the last 5 or so years that I knew there were cardiovasular risks associated with RA...not one doctor has told me about this.
Nobody told me of the risks either. I learned the hard way by having heart probs that turned into a valve problem that some Dr.'s can hear and others cannot hear. SOme Dr.'s tell me it heals over time and is intermittent, others say I will always have it.