heart

Does RA affect the heart?

Or am I missing the point and getting my wires X?

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It doesn't necessarily affect the heart Caroline but it can affect heat and other organs and even blood for a minority. TTx

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Oops I meant to write heart not heat!

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Thanks Tilda xx thought I had seen it somewhere

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Hi. I am not a medical expert but in my experience suffering from AS which is a chronic arthritic condition the answer is maybe some patients will experience changes in their heart beat. Your GP/ Rheumy may well say no but when I have very bad flare ups I find that my heart rate misses a beat and I feel somewhat dizzy for a moment. Its all to do with electrical activity in the heart. Its sounds scary but don't worry about it if you feel a sudden change in beat. It should correct itself but to be on the safe side I would see your GP who may prescribe something for it.

Regards Jeremy

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I havent had any changes in heartbeat-

I was unsure how it would affect the heart - now its clear thanks Jeremy xx

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Good question.

At my RA clinic they have brought in some new routine procedures this year. We all get our blood pressure monitored our weight checked and have a urine sample checked. When I asked why all the fuss, aren't they busy enough, the response was yes we bl***y well are, but its the Big Chief's new cardiovascular risk study.

I know that steroids and other meds can be a risk for diabetes which is itself a risk for heart problems. Some meds (leflunamide???) can raise blood pressure. Anti-inflams have a CV risk. RA-induced laziness (talking about me now) means we gain weight, etc...

So now you have asked the question and I have started to think about it, ...

I think we are at greater risk of heart disease than people without RA and the other inflammatory diseases.

However, on a really cheerful note, I saw a Horizon programme on Tuesday and learned I only need to increase my exercising to a maximum of 3 minutes per week, and I will be fit as a flea! So I am going to start now! Wish me luck!

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Oh Bless

Good luck Phoebe x You will do it.

I am going to get back to my kettlebells and Zumba next week all been well.

I had the steroid injection today so I will be more flexable sooooooooon whoopeeeeeeeee

And I am sky plus (ing) the Horizon programme in the early hours this morn x

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A few years ago they said that people with dogs live longer because you release feremones (sp?) when you are cuddling and stroking a pet. So the way I see it my incredibly cuddlesome dog will hopefully compensate for the heart problems that run in my family and go with RA and the meds?! No rheumy nurse, not even a rheumy available presently where I am - and no one has ever checked my weight or blood pressure or heart since all this RA business began - good job I've got the dog and can take care of myself isn't it? TTx

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Lordy Tilda, what happens when your in pain hun?

That 's bad- and the fact there not checking you regular is rather naughty

Are you on Methatrexate?

I have a dog too- can say hes done much for my pain- tho' hes a pain (only kidding)- I would be lost without mutley

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yes I'm on MTX 15mgs per week - get checked every 2 weeks currently but only by the practice nurse and only for liver function and white blood cell count. I had to ask for ESR to be taken a month ago and then the GP took it again out of curiosity and it was still up at 40. I also had to ask her to check my thyroid again - didn't have the heart to ask for BP and heart or anything else though. Now I know that I'm not going to see rheumy any time soon I will definitely ask him on Monday to check stuff out a bit more often but you only get a ten min consultation with GP so I feel a bit abandoned as no experts up here who know about RA really.

That's why I am glad I took control a bit of my own destiny by losing weight and getting more exercise - if I don't no one else will that's for sure! TTx

[anglia in reply to Hidden]

going to get a dog

[Mel_]

I missed this programme but have heard a lot about it...3 minutes a week, I like the sound of that. get up stairs takes me longer than that so does that mean I've done my exercise for the week!!!!!

On a serious note, RA is different for all of us, I do have problems with organs, but it does not mean we all will. As discussed in other posts I have had a heart problem (inverted T wave) which now seems fine and never gets checked during appointments, and a small operation to separate my bowel, appendix and other bits and bobs which were all stuck together. But fingers crossed at the moment seem fine. My advice is if aver you are worried go and see your GP, it's not worth leaving is to chance.

[Beth58]

Hi all, due to recent studies the medical profession has became more aware of an increased risk of Cardio Vascular problems and Kidney Disease in people with auto-immune conditions and long term use of some NSAID's, steroids and DMARD's. But then many other things increase our risks of organ disease and cancers... smoking, drinking alcohol, to much coffee etc etc etc the list is endless.

As Tilda says we live longer if we have pets to stroke, exercise regularly stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol etc etc etc and remember to look left and right when crossing the road.

Your much more likely to get knocked down going shopping than developing organ disease from auto-immune conditions or their meds!

Beth xxx

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Horizon repeated on BBC HD at 11.30 tonight. for the people that missed it the other night

[StarlightinJuly]

The horrendous pain which saw me admitted to hospital and eventually diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease may now have been, as was first suspected, inflammation of the pericardium. It was confirmed that I had some narrowing of my arteries - usual for my age - but I have thankfully had few angina attacks since. Since developing symptoms and being diagnosed with RA however, my chest pain has returned - to a lesser degree than when my heart problems began but troublesome nevertheless. I am sure the inflammation is causing the problem as my GTN spray doesn't get rid of the ache.

[helixhelix]

I'm trying to teach myself to worry only about the things I can do something about, and not about everything in life. So although I too have been told that in a few rare cases RA can affect organs such as the heart, as Julie56 says by inflamming the layer around the heart, it seems as if this is not something you can influence. But reducing risk of the other heart problems such as strokes does seem more possible through diet & exercise, and keeping an eye on cholesterol & BP.

But I do wonder whether we should worry more than non-RA people, because lots of the studies seem to be from before the modern RA drugs appeared - so maybe now it's not such a risk? I know that the RA has increased my ability to worry about absolutely everything, so anything that keeps this in check would be helpful.... Polly

[Mel_ in reply to helixhelix]

Good response Polly. Yes i think we can too easily start worrying about anything, I seem to worry if I have nothing to worry about!

[tinaparkii]

I suffer heart failure. Have done since 2004. Diagnosed with raynauds 2year ago. So I wouldn't really be sure if it causes heart beat changes. Hope nothin to serious and wish u all well

[Rita56]

I have had RA for 18 years now.I had a small stroke just over a year ago and a heart attack 8 weeks ago.Now waiting for a triple bypass very soon.I can't say whether it is caused by the RA and neither can the doctors,but it could be a number of things.I did read somewhere though that people with RA are more prone to heart problems and strokes.