LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Rheumatoid Arthritis: Heart
built 612 days ago
Heart: Collection of fluid around the heart from inflammation is not uncommon in rheumatoid arthritis. This usually causes only mild symptoms, if any, but it can be very severe. Rheumatoid arthritis related inflammation can affect the heart muscle, the heart valves, or the blood vessels of the heart (coronary arteries).
Source:
The main categories of drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), slow-acting drugs, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive drugs. Generally, the stronger the drug, the more severe its potential side effects, so that closer monitoring is needed. Treating rheumatoid arthritis with "biologic" immunosuppressive drugs, such as TNF-blockers, neither increases nor decreases the risk of heart attack or stroke compared with use of methotrexate, the most commonly prescribed drug for rheumatoid arthritis.
Source:
In about 85 percent of patients with RA a protein is found in the blood called rheumatoid factor. Although it is present in high frequency and concentration in RA, it can be found in other diseases, and even occasionally in normal individuals. RA is not simply a joint disease but can involve many other organs and tissues, including the eye, skin, lungs, heart, and blood vessels throughout the body.
Source:
If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis then you may ... be suffering from silent, frequently unrecognized heart attacks. Learn how to treat the underlying cause of this devastating disease with natural health solutions.
Source:
In 20% of rheumatoid cases rheumatoid nodules develop under the skin on boney areas like the elbows. Tear glands and salivary glands can become inflamed causing dry mouth and eyes. Occasionally inflammation of the membranes around the heart and lungs or inflammation of the lung tissues itself can occur.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Heart