Is Your Arthritis Affecting Your Heart? 3 Things You Need to Know

At Pacific Rheumatology Medical Center, board-certified rheumatologist Dr. Behnam Khaleghi expertly and compassionately supports patients with complex rheumatic diseases in Laguna Hills and Tustin, California. 

Highly respected as a seasoned arthritis specialist, Dr. Khaleghi has deep experience in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other diseases that cause similar symptoms, such as lupus. 

You may be surprised to learn, like many patients who have arthritis, how much the disease can affect heart health. American Heart Month, celebrated in February, is a great time to check out that connection.

1. The documented arthritis-heart connection

Research consistently links RA with a higher rate of cardiovascular disease compared with the general population. Large-scale analyses have found that people with RA experience more heart-related events, including heart attacks and strokes, than those without it. 

Evidence also suggests that cardiovascular risk is elevated in other forms of arthritis. In population-based studies, osteoarthritis has been associated with a modest but measurable increase in the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease.

2. Why arthritis affects heart health

Some forms of arthritis, including RA and psoriatic arthritis (PsA,) feature widespread tissue inflammation. This includes the lining of the blood vessels (arteries) in the heart and the rest of the body, not just the joints. Over time, this chronic inflammation damages artery walls. 

It also draws immune cells that can contribute to the buildup of plaque, a sticky substance made of cholesterol, fats, and waste products. Plaque accumulates within artery walls, causing narrowing over time. This reduces how much blood the heart gets and can put cardiovascular health at risk. 

In addition, the immune cells drawn by inflammation can disrupt plaque formations that already exist. This can cause the plaque to rupture (break off in pieces) and may trigger heart attack or stroke. 

Because inflammation is the main factor involved, many people with osteoarthritis assume that their arthritis won't contribute to heart health. However, recent research shows that osteoarthritis, once widely viewed as a non-inflammatory form of the disease, does have inflammatory involvement. 

This means that any form of arthritis could potentially increase your risk for developing cardiovascular issues. 

3. Strategies to protect your heart if you live with arthritis

You can’t reverse arthritis, but you can significantly slow it down and manage your heart and whole-body health. Scheduling an appointment with Dr. Khaleghi, a renowned arthritis specialist who treats arthritis as the whole-body disease that it is, should be your first step.

His comprehensive approach includes not only protecting your joints but also controlling inflammation and reducing cardiovascular system strain. 

Simple lifestyle strategies like regular low-impact exercise and careful weight management can work effectively alongside your medical treatments, which may include innovative, advanced options like IV therapy,  MLS laser therapy, or regenerative medicine. 

Dr. Khaleghi recommends regular monitoring of your arthritis symptoms as well as your blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight to help pinpoint potential disease progression before it happens.

We’re here to help you get ahead of both arthritis symptoms and heart health complications. Schedule your consultation with Pacific Rheumatology Associates in Tustin at 714-266-1458 or Laguna Hills at 707-607-8912 to schedule your appointment and see Dr. Khaleghi today.