Arthritis and heart disease: 6 tips to reduce your risk

(NC) Arthritis is often associated with joint pain, fatigue and reduced mobility. But there are some lesser-known side effects that can have a tremendous impact on your body.

For example, did you know that arthritis can increase the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and even death?

Chronic inflammation, a key component of arthritis, can damage the lining of blood vessels, leading to plaque build-up, clots and narrowing of the arteries. This can reduce blood flow to organs like the heart or brain and can lead to heart attacks or strokes, respectively.

Traditional risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, and being overweight or obese are also more common in people living with arthritis, and all play a significant role in elevating cardiovascular risk.

Identifying and addressing these risk factors and limiting inflammation is crucial to managing one’s cardiovascular risk. Here are six ways to improve your condition and reduce your risk of heart disease:

1. Exercise regularly: Painful joints can make it hard to exercise, but even low-impact activities such as walking, swimming and bicycling are beneficial for your heart health.

2. Eat well: Eating nutritious foods and maintaining a healthy weight can decrease the risks of high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity. Meal planning and incorporating anti-inflammatory recipes can go a long way.

3. Limit stress: Feeling overwhelmed and under pressure can spark a negative physiological response. It’s important to apply stress-managing strategies like mindfulness meditation or yoga to help alleviate cardiovascular strain.

4. Stop smoking: Smoking has been linked to worsening arthritis symptoms and joint damage and can increase your risk of heart disease by as much as 50 per cent. Many pharmacies offer support programs and monitoring for smoking cessation. Ask your pharmacist how they can help.

5. Keep tabs: Speak to your health-care provider about regular screening – ideally once a year – for high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol levels. If elevated, there are many effective lifestyle interventions and medications to treat these and lower your risk of heart disease.

6. Manage symptoms: Taking control of your arthritis and inflammation through ongoing management and monitoring with your health-care provider is paramount to keeping your heart healthy.

Find more information from Arthritis Society Canada at arthritis.ca.