Threat to the heart: Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Posted by Peter on October 8th, 2008 filed in Information
Image Source: biotech-weblog.com
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis had 45 percent greater risk of developing heart failure after a heart attack compared to the general population. Research found that they have 75 percent greater risk of dying. The risk increased over time, starting five years after the study found.
Something in the rheumatoid arthritis disease itself such as inflammatory processes that lead to the increased risk of heart attack. The fact that there is no increased risk prior to rheumatoid arthritis, measures to bring down inflammation might be helpful to prevent it. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis need to pay particular attention to cholesterol, blood pressure and maintaining a healthy lifestyle becomes doubly important.