Not only joint pain, arthritis can also cause heart disease, be careful

New Delhi: Arthritis is a condition that causes swelling and pain in the joints. Therefore, due to this disease one has to face a lot of difficulty in doing daily work. Although arthritis cannot be completely cured, it can be controlled with the help of proper lifestyle. World Arthritis Day is celebrated every year on 12 October to make people aware about these important problems related to arthritis and to provide better treatment to its patients.

Arthritis usually affects the joints, but did you know that some types of arthritis can also cause heart disease? Today here we will try to know how arthritis affects the heart.

Does arthritis harm the heart?

Dr. Hemant Sharma (Chairman, Department of Orthopedics and Joint Replacement, Maringo Asia Hospital, Gurugram) said that rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis can increase the risk of heart diseases. In this type of arthritis, there is swelling in the body, which damages the joints as well as the arteries. Therefore, this increases the risk of heart attack, cardiac arrest and stroke.

Let us tell you that the main cause of heart diseases is atherosclerosis i.e. hardening of the arteries, which can increase rapidly due to inflammation. Due to which the amount of cholesterol increases. Blood pressure increases due to damage to the arteries and increased cholesterol. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart disease.

How can I stop it?

Arthritis patients should take medicines regularly and consult doctors to manage inflammation and heart-related problems, says Dr Sharma. Lifestyle changes are also important to manage arthritis.

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins should be included in the diet to help lower cholesterol. Along with this, regular exercise is also important. Exercise reduces inflammation and keeps the heart healthy. Apart from these, it is important not to smoke, control stress and control blood pressure and blood sugar.

It is important for patients with psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis to get their heart health checked regularly. This can help in early detection of any problem and better treatment. It is important to consult a doctor regularly and adopt a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of heart disease in arthritis patients.