Individuals with RA may be at an increased risk of heart disease, which is a risk factor for heart failure. This risk can be mitigated through managing RA and other lifestyle changes.
Inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) primarily affects the joints, but it can also affect other parts of the body.
If you have RA, you may be at a higher risk of developing a number of other inflammatory conditions, including heart disease, the leading cause of heart failure.
Heart failure is a serious heart condition
Typically, heart failure happens as a result of another chronic condition, such as heart disease. If you have RA, you may be at almost double the risk of developing heart disease compared to those without RA.
If you have RA, inflammation isn’t the only thing that can increase your risk of developing heart failure. Other risk factors include:
Additionally, a 2020 study found that women with RA may be up to
When it comes to heart failure in RA, it is important to look out for both cardiac symptoms as well as worsening symptoms of RA.
Cardiac symptoms
People with RA are at increased risk of heart disease. Heart disease often develops before heart failure. If you experience any symptoms of heart disease, you should talk with a doctor right away. There are treatment options available.
Symptoms to look for include:
- chest pain or discomfort
- a feeling of pressure or squeezing in your chest
- shortness of breath
- nausea
- feelings of indigestion or gas
When it comes to heart failure, there are several varieties and degrees of damage you could experience. Your symptoms can vary depending on which side of your heart is most affected — the left versus the right — and what other health problems you have.
Some common symptoms of heart failure can
- shortness of breath
- swelling in your legs or ankles
- poor sleep
- a persistent cough that may produce phlegm or blood
- sudden weight gain or loss
- lack of appetite or nausea
- exercise (activity) intolerance
- confusion or impaired thinking
- heart palpitations
Worsening RA symptoms
Managing your condition can help lower your risk of heart disease and heart failure. Therefore, it’s important to work closely with a doctor or healthcare professional to treat your RA.
It’s also important to pay attention to your symptoms so that you can get help if your RA flares up. Symptoms of your RA possibly causing more inflammation than it used to include:
- worsening pain in one or more joints
- symmetrical pain
- increased stiffness in your joints
- tenderness and swelling
- decreased range of motion
- numbness or tingling in your fingers
- nodules
- fatigue
- more flares
- higher levels of inflammatory markers
- weakness
- having trouble with daily activities
If you notice one or more of the above symptoms, talk with your doctor as soon as possible.
To lower your risk of heart disease and heart failure, you should work closely with a doctor, such as a rheumatologist. Treating your RA will help lower chronic inflammation and lower your chances of experiencing heart problems.
Medications used to treat RA and lower inflammation include:
It’s important to note that some of these medications, including over-the-counter NSAIDs, can increase the risk of heart failure in individuals without a previous history of heart failure and may also worsen heart failure in those who already have it.
Overall, more research is needed on how RA treatments impact heart health and whether there are any protective strategies that could be used early on in the RA treatment process to head off cardiovascular complications.
The other way people with RA can lower their risk of heart problems is by managing other cardiac risk factors.
This can mean treating other conditions, such as high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes, which can further increase your risk of heart disease.
It is also important to make healthy lifestyle changes that lower your overall risks and improve your heart health. Examples
- quitting smoking
- maintaining a moderate weight
- exercising several times per week
- eating a heart-healthy diet
- lowering stress
- avoiding alcohol
- obtaining quality sleep
Heart failure treatments focus on improving your heart’s function by helping it pump harder or beat more regularly.
Some examples of medications that might be used to treat heart failure may include:
- angiotensin II receptor blockers
- beta-blockers
- mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists
- cholesterol-lowering medications
- diuretics
- hydralazine with nitrate
- ivabradine
- sacubitril valsartan
- digoxin
- SGLT2 inhibitors
Other therapies such as surgery, pacemaker or defibrillator implantation, or cardiac rehabilitation are also potential options for people with heart failure.
People with RA have an increased risk of developing heart disease and heart failure. This happens because RA causes chronic inflammation, which, over time, affects your heart’s ability to function.
Treating RA and managing chronic inflammation can help lower your risk of cardiac complications.