PMR inflammation and heart health

[Whitner]

PMR inflammation and heart disease? So I’m wondering if the inflammation we experience with PMR affects our vascular health. Does the inflammation cause plaque to build up in our arteries?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

This is a study carried out last year which does look at the subject - but it doesn't mention cholesterol specifically which I believe is the main cause of plaque in arteries - academic.oup.com/rheumatolo...

Think you need to register to read full article.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Can't get it to connect - probably the site messing about again ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Messing about for me at mo. - I’ll try again later

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Suspect it is HU - I couldn't reply to you either

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Oh dear, how sad for you 😂🤣😂

[AdoptMeow in reply to DorsetLady]

Hello, DL. Was scanning and deleting old postings and came across your mention of cholesterol. You may have picked up new info already, but the most recent research published in US is that low density cholesterol is not such the bad culprit in forming plaques. Plaques are now stated to be caused by high triglycerides and sugars together. I read that they are actually increasing the acceptable level of LDLs.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AdoptMeow]

Ooh - got any links? The mix of sugar and fat - well there is a novelty!

[AdoptMeow in reply to PMRpro]

There are articles from Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic when you Google "triglycerides and sugar". Another good support for low-carb/quality proteins/good fats diet.

[AdoptMeow in reply to PMRpro]

There was a sugar chest from the 1800's on Antiques Roadshow with locked bins. Maybe we should go back to locking sugar up and being stingy with it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to AdoptMeow]

I already am! I haven't bought sugar for YEARS! We collect the little paper packs from cafes - we don't take sugar in drinks of any sort - and use maybe half a dozen packs a year each on pancakes! A kilo bag of sugar lasts a very long time when you don't bake

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Found these -

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

[AdoptMeow in reply to DorsetLady]

Both are good, but like the Cleveland Clinic one better. If you think it will be helpful to others, would you start a fresh post with links? We need all the ammunition available against sugar.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to AdoptMeow]

You can raise a post, your research.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

What sort of heart disease? I have atrial fibrillation which is almost certainly due to the autoimmune part of PMR having damaged the electrical cells in the heart.

There is an opinion that untreated PMR/GCA inflammation can lead to damage on the inside of blood vessels - and that probably creates sites for plaque to form on. Whether it does or not is another matter.

It does depend which arteries are affected and there are figures to show that there is an increased risk of cardiovascular events in the first year after diagnosis of GCA but then that risk falls again - i.e. I assume the reduction in the inflammation reduces the risk.

[Whitner in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you! So what I’m understanding is the risk of vascular damage decreases with a reduction in inflammation obtained by prednisone or any other drugs used to keep PMR and GCA under control. That’s good news!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Whitner]

I think so - according to what I have read at least.

[benhemp]

I had a 5-way cardiac bypass 7 years ago, and it was very surprising to me and my doctors because I have always had very low cholesterol readings. I have asked both my GP and my rheumy whether there was a connection between my inflammation problems (both psoriatic arthritis and now PMR) and my cardiac blood vessels getting blocked, and each said he believed the inflammation was a significant contributing cause. In more recent decades chronic inflammation has come to be seen as having serious health effects elsewhere in the body.

[Whitner in reply to benhemp]

I hope you are doing well! I am wondering that since we have our inflammation "under control" with medication if that lowers the risk of heart/cardiovascular issues. That seems logical to me but probably good to have some non-invasive tests done to confirm that. I guess blood work looking at cholesterol levels?

[Amkoffee]

This is an exact quote from the John Hopkins website that also quotes two different studies done on this exact problem.

hopkinsmedicine.org/health/...

Inflammation may promote the growth of plaques, loosen plaque in your arteries and trigger blood clots — the primary cause of heart attacks and strokes.”

[Whitner in reply to Amkoffee]

Thanks for the link Amkoffee. I have a virtual visit with my rheumatologist tomorrow and actual visit with my GP the next day so I will ask about this.

[Whitner]

Uggh! Yes, thanks for the information.