Ok, so there was a recent article I read about an interesting bit of research. Actually a scary bit of research. According to a study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism found that having rheumatoid arthritis can triple your chances of dying prematurely from heart disease. Not the kind of information you want to hear, right?
“Inflammation associated with the disease is thought to help the process which blocks arteries, and researchers have now discovered that whether or not this happens appears to depend on an immune system gene called HLA-DRB1. And the study, published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, found that having certain versions of the gene together with a particular type of antibody and a smoking habit created a potentially deadly combination” (Nursing in Practice).
Definitely gives you another reason to stay away from those cancer sticks, right? While the study focused on people who began to show symptoms of RA at about the age of 54, reading about it kind of was a bit of a slap in the face. I mean, I’ve already got RA, do I really need to worry about heart disease, too? The Mayo Clinic had done some research on the matter a few years ago with similar results, again, not making me feel any better:
“People with rheumatoid arthritis not only have a higher risk of coronary heart disease than those in the general population, but they have more silent, unrecognized heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths, according to a Mayo Clinic study published in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism. They are also much less likely to complain of chest pain” (Mayo Clinic).
It kind of scares me that I may have heart problems and not even realize it. Luckily, the Mayo Clinic is also working to find a way to predict heart disease in people with RA, which gives me a little hope.
Until next time,
S.P.
4 comments so far
hello…my name is mark webber.. im from England.. just thought i would say hello… wow i did not know that about RA.. oh great!!!… moan moan.. i’ve had Arthritis since like 11 so like 12 years now!!…. and i did not know that….
my arhtritis started like yours in a finger (my index right hand) then i thought it was just needing banding up but no.. i had an operation.. still didnt know.. anyways lets just say after two years of tests and things progressing to other joints i found out from seeing one amazing Doctor…
thanks for sharing this information.. i hope things are going well for you..
i have found that it helps to be optomistic, i have a saying that its good to have bad times. because without the bad times we would have nothing to measure the good times against… so thats life.. you just live it and enjoy it as much as possible.. which is something i am trying to do whilst im young… be possitive get out there and enjoy life…
anyway yup all the best with the rest of your life.. i hope you make it a good one
From
Mark Andrew Webber….
Artist attending university college falmouth, cornwall England… wahoo and loving it!.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I’m actually going to see a surgeon about fixing my left hand tomorrow! I am a bit scared of getting surgery, but I figured it has been long enough. How was your operation? Was it painful recovering from it?
February 5th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
No it was not painful at all… but the only problem was that for a week afterwards… i had to do everything…EVERYTHING LEFT HANDED!! AHHHH.. and that was anoying but of course im here and did it and everything went fine…
how did everything go! it would be good to know!.. understand why you are scared.. but possitive thoughts are good.. the operation is for a reason.. good will come of it,,, i hop eall goes well and is well.. byeee
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:59 am
Haha. At least I am getting my left hand done and not my right! i don’t think I can afford not being able to write for even a day, being a journalist and all. the doctor hasn’t called me back since my hand ultrasound, so I still don’t know the plan. But check out my post about getting the ultrasound. I’ll make sure to post as soon as I know what kind of surgery I’ll be getting. thanks for the support!!! It makes me a lot less nervous.
February 26th, 2008 at 10:15 am
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