Heart Disease

Heart disease is complication of both rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. For people with diabetes:

“Diabetes and cardiovascular disease often go hand-in-hand. Adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke than people without diabetes. In fact, about 68 percent of people with diabetes die of heart disease or stroke – one more factor that makes cardiovascular disease the most common cause of death in both men and women.

In addition, people with diabetes often have a build-up of atherosclerotic plaque throughout the body. About one in three people with diabetes over the age of 50 has peripheral artery disease (PAD), which is the narrowing of blood vessels by plaque in parts of the body other than the heart, for example in the legs or the kidneys” (SecondsCount.org )

For people with rheumatoid arthritis:

“Inflammation is a major part of RA. It’s also linked to heart disease and the chance of having a heart attack. Some experts think the inflammation in RA may raise inflammation throughout the whole body, including in the heart’s coronary arteries” (Mayo Clinic).

If you have RA you should consult your doctor about medicines used in the treatment of RA. Certain medicines used in the treatment of RA may increase or mask inflammation, making the choice of medicines important.

Here are two additional resources for Heart Disease: