Are you celebrating this heartfelt day with a cardiologist? If you have been diagnosed with arthritis or another inflammatory disease, you may want to use this occasion as a reminder to have your heart checked.
For years, medical care providers have linked arthritis with heart disease and recent studies have shown increased risks between the two, especially patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, or RA.
RA recognizes normal proteins as the enemy, causing a person’s body to attack itself, leaving behind destructed cells and damaged parts. The battle zone is usually fought within the joints, but the related inflammation can spread to other areas of the body. When the battle of destruction ends, typically the area calms down, but inflammation can linger for long periods then become serious. Without realizing it, over time, low-grade inflammation can damage the heart and other organs, making it a silent disease.
I’ve had a cardiologist on my medical team since the mid ’90s when I began to experience symptoms of a racing heart and a dramatically increased heart rate for no apparent reason. I, like most people, was surprised to hear the diagnosis of having arthritis-like symptoms in my heart. Until then, I’d never really thought about my heart, or other organs, having joint-like structures, but they do. Our bodies are filled with valves and parts that open and close in order to function. In addition, RA is an inflammatory disease causing inflammation throughout the body and is not limited to the joints commonly considered, such as knees, hips, shoulders, fingers and others. (See “Inflammation” blog, 8/30/10.)
My cardiologist educated me and explained, because of my RA, I have an increased risk of cardiac arrest and encouraged me to be active in my care. Being more aware of cardiac symptoms and recognizing the need for medical care is vital. He also warned me about pain medicine, saying patients who take painkillers to control joint pain do not experience chest pain in the traditional manner and advised me to seek medical attention if ever in doubt.
Although I’m medicated, I continue to have heart episodes periodically. But between my rheumatologist, cardiologist and myself, we’ve made controlling the inflammation of my RA a common goal in my treatment plan, which is a win-win for me.
The good news is, since I was diagnosed with a heart condition related to arthritis, I’ve spent the last 15 years being heart healthy. The awareness motivated me to eat right, exercise and make heart smart choices (which have paid off – see “Cholesterol” blog, 8/9/10).
Have you been diagnosed with a heart condition related to arthritis? What were your symptoms? Are your symptoms under control? How does your heart condition affect daily activities?
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