Posted on December 23, 2007 in Latest News
Previous research has revealed that rheumatoid arthritis patients have a higher risk of early death, most likely due to cardiovascular disease.
Researchers have concluded from a study that not only do people with rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk of coronary heart disease than the general population, they have:
- Silent, unrecognized heart attacks
- Sudden cardiac deaths.
Interestingly, however, rheumatoid arthritis patients are much less likely to complain of chest pain. Researchers believe the increased heart disease risk may exist even prior to the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. People with rheumatoid arthritis are:
- Three times more likely to have been hospitalized for an acute heart attack.
- Less likely to have a history of chest pains.
- Five times more likely to have an unrecognized heart attack.
Researchers draw three important facts that rheumatoid arthritis patients need to be aware:
- The risk of heart attack already exists by the time the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is first made.
- Heart disease can be silent in people with rheumatoid arthritis, making regular cardiac checkups necessary as well as lowering traditional cardiac risk factors (blood pressure, cholesterol, smoking).
- In rheumatoid arthritis patients, the first evidence of heart disease can occur as cardiac sudden death.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients must be vigilant about any cardiac symptoms they may experience, and seek prompt medical care if that occurs. Researchers also suggest that possibly rheumatoid arthritis patients take so many painkillers to control joint-pain, they do not recognize or feel chest pain the same way a person who does not take painkillers does.
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December 24th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease riskInterestingly, however, rheumatoid arthritis patients are much less likely to complain of chest pain. Researchers believe the increased heart disease risk may exist even prior to the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. …