Posted on June 16, 2008 by Gerald Pugliese
According to a new report rheumatoid arthritis can double your heart attack and stroke risk. More from
Reuters:
A report by a medical task force to the annual congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Paris concluded the risk was comparable to that associated with type 2 diabetes, which is already an established cardiovascular risk factor.
Dr Michael Nurmohamed , leader of the task force, said the inflammatory processes underlying rheumatoid arthritis appeared to increase patients' risk of serious heart problems.
"There is mounting evidence that inflammation may be the missing link," he said in a statement.
As a result, giving patients cholesterol-lowering statin medicines and anti-hypertensives to reduce blood pressure may yield greater benefits than in the general population, he added.
This will make you think twice about your achy joints.
