Rheumatoid Arthritis and Heart Health
Rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of heart disease due to chronic inflammation that damages blood vessels and encourages plaque buildup. Shared risk factors like high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, and a unique effect on blood fats (lipid paradox) further connect RA and heart disease. Individuals with RA can lower their risk of heart disease by managing inflammation with prescribed medications, adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle, and undergoing regular screening for heart disease risk factors.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune form of arthritis that affects more than just your joints. It can also affect other tissues and organs, and it may cause problems in the heart. However, just because you have RA doesn’t mean you’ll have issues with your heart. There are steps you can take to keep your heart healthy and avoid developing heart disease. Read on to find out the connection between rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease and how you can lower your risk factors for developing heart disease if you’re living with RA.
How does RA affect heart health?
Chronic inflammation from RA increases the risk of heart disease. Inflammation damages the blood vessels and can cause plaque to build up in the arteries. Plaque in the arteries can narrow the blood vessels and block blood flow, leading to a heart attack or stroke. Proteins called cytokines are linked to the growth and activity of other immune system cells. These proteins are responsible for both the way RA attacks the joints and the way it damages blood vessels in cardiovascular disease.
Risk factors for both RA and heart disease include:
High blood pressure
If you have RA, your blood pressure is likely to be higher due to:
lack of exercise
certain medications that treat RA, like steroids
less elastic arteries
Inflammation is also linked to higher blood pressure. People with RA may have up to 10 times the amount of inflammation as a person who doesn’t have RA.
Obesity
Having obesity may be linked to the risk of developing RA. According to the Arthritis Foundation, the sore joints associated with RA can make it hard to exercise, and a lack of exercise can cause weight gain.
Additionally, obesity is associated with inflammation and other risk factors for heart disease, including high blood sugar and high blood pressure.
Obesity is also linked to metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of symptoms that include other risk factors that raise the risk of heart disease, including:
high triglycerides and cholesterol
high blood pressure
high blood sugar
Metabolic syndrome is twice as common in people with RA compared to people who don’t have RA.
Lipid paradox
RA affects the fats in the blood uniquely. Individuals with RA generally have:
Low levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol
High levels of triglycerides
Low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol
While having low levels of LDL is associated with heart health, having too little good cholesterol and high triglycerides can increase the risk of heart disease.
Smoking
People who smoke are more likely to develop RA than people who do not smoke. Further, if you have RA, you’re more likely to have more severe symptoms than someone who does not smoke.
Smoking also makes RA medications less effective. In addition to increasing the risk of and worsening RA, smoking is also a major cause of heart disease. An individual with RA who smokes is 50% more likely to develop heart disease than a person who doesn’t smoke and has RA.
How to reduce the risk
Even though RA increases the risk of heart disease, you can work with your doctor to lower your risk.
One of the easiest ways to protect yourself from heart disease related to RA is by taking the medications your doctor prescribes to control the inflammation from RA.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) reduce the inflammation associated with RA and may reduce the risk of heart disease. Though people living with RA have an increased risk of heart disease, medical guidelines in the United States don’t have specific recommendations to reduce heart disease if you have RA.
However, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommends that you be screened every 5 years for risk factors of heart disease. You can also make some lifestyle changes to help lower your risk of heart disease.
The American Heart Association suggests the following tips to reduce the risk of heart disease:
eating a balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
Getting at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week
maintaining a healthy weight
avoiding smoking or quitting
managing any health conditions like RA that raise your risk of heart disease
Taking any medication prescribed by a doctor to prevent heart disease, like statins
RA increases the risk of developing heart disease due to inflammation and shared risk factors. Though there’s an increased risk, you can take steps to lower the chances of developing heart disease even if you’re living with RA. Some things you can do to lower your risk include taking your medications as prescribed, eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, avoiding or quitting smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available on the link below
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/arthritis