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Home Anti-Aging Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis and kidneys: Protecting your kidneys from RA

Rheumatoid arthritis patients are at an increased risk for chronic kidney disease. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have found that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have a higher risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) along with an increase in inflammation within the first year of diagnosis, corticosteroid usage, hypertension, and obesity. The researchers recommend that rheumatoid arthritis patients be tested periodically for signs of kidney problems. Patients should also work to manage blood pressure by avoiding high-salt diets and scaling back on medications that can harm the kidneys.

The study looked at 813 Mayo Clinic patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 813 patients without the condition. Over the course of 20 years, rheumatoid arthritis patients had a one in four chance of developing chronic kidney disease, in comparison to the general public who had a one in five chance.

Senior author Dr. Eric Matteson said, That might not seem like a lot, but in fact thats quite a big difference, and it has important implications for the course of rheumatoid arthritis and for the management of the disease.

Heart disease was also found to be common in rheumatoid arthritis patients with chronic kidney disease. Risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis patients for developing chronic kidney disease include corticosteroid use, severe inflammation, obesity, hypertension, and abnormally high cholesterol.

Dr. Matteson noted that there are currently no treatment guidelines for chronic kidney disease in rheumatoid arthritis, but he warns that doctors should be mindful of the medications they put RA patients on to reduce their risk of CKD. Furthermore, RA patients should undergo routine blood work and urine analysis to monitor kidney function. Kidney disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis can be detected very simply, and the techniques are the same as are used in the general population, Dr. Matteson added.

To further reduce their risk of CKD, the patients should be watchful of their blood pressure and reduce their use of medications that can be toxic to the kidneys.

Inflammation is the key component in the impact rheumatoid arthritis has on the kidneys. Normally, inflammation is a mechanism that the body utilizes to protect and heal the body, but chronic inflammation does far more harm than good, causing stress and destroying cells and tissue.

Other factors that contribute to a higher risk of chronic kidney disease in rheumatoid arthritis include obesity, hypertension, a corticosteroid medication, high cholesterol, and a high-salt diet.

Many of the risk factors for CKD in RA are modifiable, so its important that RA patients partake in the appropriate lifestyle changes in order to reduce their risk of chronic kidney disease.

The symptoms of kidney disease may be similar to those of RA and include fatigue, decreased appetite, itchy or darkened skin, muscle cramps, eye puffiness, shortness of breath, swollen feet and ankles, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, and increased urination.

While there are no set standards for how often doctors should test patients with RA for kidney disease, it is likely your physician will begin testing you more often after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Your risk for kidney disease also increases if you have diabetes, a family history of kidney disease, heart disease, high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol, so your doctor may test you more frequently if you have one or more of these conditions.

An RA diagnosis does not necessarily mean that you will definitely develop kidney disease. In fact, there are ways to protect your kidneys that include exercising regularly, eating a balanced, healthy diet with plenty of fresh produce, limiting your sodium intake, monitoring and controlling your cholesterol levels, and staying hydrated. Regular testing and checkups with your doctor can also help to keep your kidneys healthy and prevent your condition from worsening.

http://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/comorbidities/kidney-disease/rheumatoid-arthritis-and-your-kidneys.php

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Rheumatoid arthritis and kidneys: Protecting your kidneys from RA - Bel Marra Health

February 25 at 10:00 AM

A Web-based program of exercise and coping skills training improves both function and pain in arthritic knees, a new study suggests.

This kind of online therapy can greatly improve access to effective, nonsurgical and non-drug relief for people with osteoarthritis of the knee, researchers say.

Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of chronic knee pain and disability globally, lead author Kim Bennell, a researcher and physiotherapist at the University of Melbourne in Australia, said.

It has a significant individual, societal and economic burden and on an individual level knee osteoarthritis causes loss of function, reduced quality of life, and psychological distress, Bennell said by email.

Exercise is known as the gold standard of conservative management for knee osteoarthritis, she added. Psychological treatments, in particular, pain coping skills training that teaches people strategies to manage and cope with their painful symptoms, have also been identified as important and effective, Bennell said.

Sadly, such effective treatments are highly underutilized in the management of osteoarthritis. One reason for this relates to the challenges of accessing a specialist who delivers these services, particularly for people living in rural areas where services may be limited or non-existent or due to the mobility issues that are experienced by people suffering chronic knee pain, she said.

For the study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Bennell and her colleagues enrolled 148 men and women over age 50 who had Internet access and had knee pain on most days of the week over the previous three months.

Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment group or a control group, both of which received Web-based educational material about exercise and pain management for arthritis.

The treatment group also got access to an online program called PainCOACH and were asked to complete one 35- to 45-minute module each week over the course of eight weeks and to practice the pain-coping skills they learned daily. The interactive program included training in relaxation, problem solving, using pleasant imagery and changing negative thoughts to cope with pain.

In addition, the treatment group had seven Skype sessions with a physical therapist, each lasting 30 or 45 minutes, over 12 weeks. After evaluating each patient, the therapist taught them exercises for lower-leg strengthening and prescribed a regimen to do three times a week.

At the beginning of the study, then three and nine months later, participants completed multiple questionnaires scoring their pain levels and functioning.

At the three-month mark, those who got the online coping skills and exercise training had significantly lower scores for pain, functioning and distress than when they started and compared with the people in the control group. This difference between the groups remained at nine months, though the gap closed somewhat.

The important takeaway message from these findings is that an Internet-delivered intervention that adopts a holistic approach to the management of chronic knee pain and knee osteoarthritis, using freely available computer software, is effective and well received by its users, Bennell said.

These results are encouraging and show that telemedicine is clearly ready for prime time, writes Lisa Mandl, a rheumatologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, in an accompanying editorial.

The real added benefit here is that patients do not have to come in for an appointment. They can access high-quality exercise and coping skills therapy, that is particularly tailored to them, at a place and time which is convenient, Mandl said by email.

Patients may also feel more comfortable asking questions of their therapist when they are asking them from the comfort and privacy of their own home, she added.

They may also be more motivated to follow the programs, knowing that they will receive a personalized follow-up call at home, and cannot avoid talking to the therapist by missing [an] appointment, Mandl said.

Mandl said she thinks this type of intervention would apply to most people, especially patients who live in rural areas or places without easy access to therapists. The fact that the therapist could be located anywhere is especially helpful for patients who may not speak English, she noted.

Reuters

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Online treatment reduces chronic knee pain from arthritis - Washington Post

An in-depth computational analysis of genetic variants implicated in both schizophrenia and rheumatoid arthritis by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh points to eight genes that may explain why susceptibility to one of the disorders could place individuals at lower risk for the other, according to the results of a study published today in the journal npj Schizophrenia.

There is a wealth of genomic data on both schizophrenia and rheumatoid arthritis. Analyzing it jointly with known protein interaction information could provide invaluable clues to the relationship between the diseases and also shed light on their shared roots, said Madhavi Ganapathiraju Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical informatics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and senior author of the study.

While schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder of unknown origin and rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease of the joints that occurs as a result of the bodys immune system attacking its own cells, both disorders are thought to be influenced by multiple genetic risk factors modified by the environment.

Several previous research studies have hinted at a potential inverse relationship in the prevalence and risk for the two disorders, so we wondered if individual genetic variants may exist that could have opposing effects on the risk of schizophrenia and rheumatoid arthritis, said co-senior author Vishwajit Nimgaonkar M.D., Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at Pitts School of Medicine and human genetics at Pitts Graduate School of Public Health.

The researchers first analyzed two large databases of genetic variants significantly associated with either schizophrenia or rheumatoid arthritis. They identified 18 unique variants, also known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were located in the HLA region of the genome that harbors genes associated with immune function. The variants appeared to confer different risk for schizophrenia or rheumatoid arthritis. As the SNPs were located near eight known genes in this region, the authors suggested those genes might lead to dysfunction in both schizophrenia and rheumatoid arthritis. Proteins encoded by two of these eight genes, HLA-B and HLA-C, are present in both brain and immune cells.

Analysis of proteins that interact with these eight genes using a computational model developed last year by Ganapathirajus team called High-Precision Protein Interaction Prediction found more than 25 signaling pathways with proteins common to both rheumatoid arthritis and schizophrenia signaling. Moreover, several of these pathways were associated with immune system function and inflammation.

The findings are encouraging because they support associations of the HLA gene region and immune function with schizophrenia and rheumatoid arthritis that were known over four decades ago, said Ganapathiraju.

Increasing evidence also suggests that a dysfunctional immune system could play a role in the development of schizophrenia.

We believe that the research community studying these two disorders will find our results extremely helpful, Nimgaonkar said.

The authors note that the study only focused on SNPs in known gene regions, and other mechanisms apart from the ones they described may also contribute to the diseases. However, the study has significantly narrowed the list of potential genes for examining the schizophrenia/rheumatoid arthritis relationship. Studying the functional relevance of the gene candidates in cells and tissues will provide insights into the two disorders, according to the researchers.

Other study authors included Tulsi A. Malavia, Srilakshmi Chaparala, Joel Wood, Kodavalli Chowdari, Ph.D., Konasale M. Prasad, M.D., and Lora McClain, Ph.D., all of Pitt; and Anil G. Jegga, D.V.M., of Cincinnati Childrens Hospital.

The research was funded by National Institutes of Health grants MH93480, MH093246, MH084053 and MH094564.

Continue reading here:
Clues to relationship between schizophrenia and rheumatoid ... - ScienceBlog.com (blog)

By Alan Mozes

HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Feb. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Depression in people with the chronic inflammatory skin disease psoriasis increases the risk of getting the joint condition known as psoriatic arthritis by about 37 percent, new research indicates.

The finding raises concerns because depression is not uncommon in people with psoriasis, according to the authors of the study in the Feb. 22 issue of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

"For many years, the rheumatology and dermatology communities have been trying to understand which patients with psoriasis go on to develop psoriatic arthritis, and how we might detect it earlier in the disease course," senior investigator Dr. Cheryl Barnabe said in a journal news release. She is from the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health and the O'Brien Institute for Public Health at the University of Calgary in Alberta.

While the study found a connection between depression and the development of psoriatic arthritis, it wasn't designed to prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

Psoriasis is a condition characterized by red, itchy and scaly skin patches. These patches can sometimes be disfiguring. Psoriatic arthritis generally occurs in people with psoriasis, though it can occur on its own, according to the American College of Rheumatology. The condition causes joint pain and swelling, typically in the large joints and fingers and toes. It can cause joint damage, too.

The study authors noted that prior work has linked having a major depressive disorder with a high risk for systemic inflammation. This could explain why depression would bump up the risk for psoriatic arthritis.

To explore the link, the investigators analyzed information on more than 70,000 psoriasis patients in the United Kingdom that had been collected by a primary care database.

Patients were tracked for upwards of 25 years.

The researchers adjusted the data to account for other factors, such as age and drinking habits. Ultimately, they determined that people who had been depressed faced a much higher risk for psoriatic arthritis than those who hadn't been depressed.

"There is a tendency to think of depression as a purely 'psychological' or 'emotional' issue, but it also has physical effects and changes in inflammatory and immune markers have been reported in depressed people," said Dr. Scott Patten, from the O'Brien Institute.

"Depression may be a risk factor for a variety of chronic conditions, and this research is an example of how big data approaches can identify these associations," he said.

WebMD News from HealthDay

SOURCE: Journal of Investigative Dermatology, news release, Feb. 22, 2017

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Can Depression Up Odds for Psoriatic Arthritis? - WebMD

Are rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis simply the same illness diagnosed at different life stages?

The answer isnt as clear-cut as rheumatologists, patients, and researchers might think.

Juvenile arthritis (JA) also known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, pediatric arthritis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the sixth most common childhood disease, but its often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed.

One reason for this is due to the misconception that arthritis only affects an older portion of the population. Another problem is the national shortage of pediatric rheumatology specialists.

There is also the issue that the umbrella term juvenile arthritis actually encompasses several unique childhood rheumatologic diseases.

Furthering the confusion surrounding JA is whether or not it is actually a separate and distinct disease from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or if it is simply early-onset or pediatric RA, meaning, the same disease diagnosed at a younger age.

Read more: Get the facts on juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

A new study may provide some clarity and guidance about the JA vs. RA conundrum.

In it, researchers say a genetic link has been found between JA and RA.

It was already known among pediatric rheumatologists that some kinds of juvenile idiopathic arthritis have adult counterparts.

Past research also showed that there was a genetic link between juvenile idiopathic arthritis and a chromosomal abnormality, but the sample sizes were weak.

In the new study, genetic associations within juvenile idiopathic arthritis categories were compared with adult inflammatory arthritis.

According to a press release about the study, A major finding was that there were within-category associations for juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Specifically, the study team found that rheumatoid factor (RF)-negative polyarticular and oligoarticular were genetically similar. Comparisons with adult disease showed a shared association of human leucocyte antigen-DRB1 amino acid at position 13 for both child-onset and adult diseases. Moreover, researchers found that associations from a combined dataset for juvenile idiopathic arthritis types oligoarthritis and RF-negative polyarthritis were the same associations seen in adult seronegative rheumatoid arthritis.

The authors of the study added, The results of this study have important implications for understanding disease pathogenesis, aetiology, and potential future therapeutic strategies for JIA categories, but they note that more genetic research will need to be done into JA.

Read more: Antibiotics may play a role in juvenile arthritis

But it is possible that these findings may eventually provide better, more targeted novel treatment therapies for JA and RA patients alike.

Or at least may open up treatment options to JA patients who have been limited by the juvenile component of their diagnosis.

The report states that, There are no specific therapeutic strategies for seronegative RA at this time, but given the rarity of this subphenotype of RA and the JIA categories individually, this study suggests that further comparisons of genetic studies for these diseases could help identify novel pathways and targets for therapy for both adult-onset and childhood-onset forms of inflammatory arthritis.

According to an article in The Hospital for Special Surgery, For more than 95 percent of the children with arthritis, we don't need new drugs or miraculous inventions, we just need proper application of the resources we already have.

But a missed JA diagnosis or delayed treatment can be catastrophic, as evidenced by recent reports out of the United Kingdom.

The same can be said for adult-onset RA.

Whether they share these genetic commonalities or not, both diseases are among the most disabling in their respective age demographic and both can affect more than bones and joints.

Continue reading here:
Adult RA and Juvenile Arthritis May Be More Similar Than Once ... - Healthline

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins at the Arthritis Research UK reception in the House of Commons. Photo by Fergus Burnett.

THE MP for Keighley has supported a campaign to help people who have arthritis return to or stay in employment.

Kris Hopkins attended a reception in Westminster to find out more about arthritis and about Arthritis Research UKs Work Matters to Me initiative.

The charity has argued that what it calls the "Arthritis employment gap" is considerable, with the employment rate amongst people with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions 20 per cent lower than amongst people with no condition or disability.

Mr Hopkins said: The ability to work is something that can be taken for granted but, for people living with arthritis, it can often be a challenge.

Arthritis Research UK advised me that, across Bradford District, 84,273 people suffer from back pain, which is 16.06 per cent of the resident population.

Nationally, back pain costs the economy an estimated 10 billion each year, a figure which jumps to 25 billion when you include osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

I commend Arthritis Research UK on their campaign, and for placing the vital important issues it raises on the agenda.

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Keighley's MP briefed on campaign to help people with arthritis remain in employment - Keighley News

A few years ago, Jennifer Nocito went Toronto with her daughter to their first Power of Movement event.

It is an annual fundraising yoga event benefiting the Arthritis Research Foundation.

There is arthritis in my family both my mother and my grandmother live with it and have seen the effects, so I wanted the opportunity to bring an awareness campaign up to Collingwood, she said.

Last year, she led her first event in Collingwood and had a great response. This year, she would like to see even more people take the opportunity to see how gentle yoga can improve mobility and lives.

I had a great turnout. Some people participated and others just came to donate money, said Nocito. Some even stayed to talk to me about their arthritis, ... Its not only about arthritis but also raising funds for research into related autoimmune diseases.

Research has shown yoga can be beneficial for those living with arthritis because it involves a lot of stretching and strengthening that have been found to ease the pain of inflamed joints.

Theres a meditative element, Nocito pointed out, that helps to calm the mind and relieve some of the stress associated with the condition.

The Arthritis Research Foundation suggests by 2021, 20% of Canadians will have arthritis or one of its 100 related autoimmune disorders including lupus and osteoarthritis.

There are all different kinds of yoga, but this one is definitely designed to encourage people to come to try it for the first time, said Nocito. Even people who have been doing yoga for years will benefit from it.

Nocito, a registered massage therapist and owner of Yoga First and Spa, knows some of the successes she has experienced with some of her clients.

This isnt about body image; this is about getting yourself moving again, Nocito added.

This event on March 5 at the Central Park Arena in Collingwood is open to all ages. And age shouldnt be a deterrent, Nocito said.

My daughter is 14 and does yoga and Pilates every day, she said. And in my classes at Blue Shore, I have one woman who is 79.

The event, Power of Movement, starts with registration at 12:30 p.m., with the class beginning at 1 p.m. The fee is by donation and all proceeds go to the Arthritis Research Foundation.

jmcveigh@postmedia.com

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Event aids Arthritis research - Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin

A web-based program of exercise and coping skills training improves both function and pain in arthritic knees, a new study suggests.

This kind of online therapy can greatly improve access to effective, nonsurgical and non-drug relief for people with osteoarthritis of the knee, researchers say.

"Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of chronic knee pain and disability globally," lead author Kim Bennell, a researcher and physiotherapist at the University of Melbourne in Australia, told Reuters Health.

"It has a significant individual, societal and economic burden and on an individual level knee osteoarthritis causes loss of function, reduced quality of life, and psychological distress," Bennell said by email.

Exercise is known as the gold standard of conservative management for knee osteoarthritis, she added. Psychological treatments, in particular, pain coping skills training that teaches people strategies to manage and cope with their painful symptoms have also been identified as important and effective, Bennell said.

"Sadly, such effective treatments are highly underutilized in the management of osteoarthritis. One reason for this relates to the challenges of accessing a specialist who delivers these services particularly for people living in rural areas where services may be limited or non-existent or due to the mobility issues that are experienced by people suffering chronic knee pain," she said.

For the study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Bennell and her colleagues enrolled 148 men and women over age 50 with internet access and knee pain on most days of the week over the previous three months.

Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment group or a control group, both of which received web-based educational material about exercise and pain management for arthritis.

The treatment group also got access to an online program called PainCOACH and were asked to complete one 35- to 45-minute module each week over the course of eight weeks and to practice the pain-coping skills they learned daily. The interactive program included training in relaxation, problem solving, using pleasant imagery and changing negative thoughts to cope with pain.

In addition, the treatment group had seven Skype sessions with a physical therapist, each lasting 30 or 45 minutes, over 12 weeks. After evaluating each patient, the therapist taught them exercises for lower-leg strengthening and prescribed a regimen to do three times a week.

At the beginning of the study, then three and nine months later, participants completed multiple questionnaires scoring their pain levels and functioning.

At the three-month mark, those who got the online coping skills and exercise training had significantly lower scores for pain, functioning and distress than when they started and compared to the people in the control group. This difference between the groups remained at nine months, though the gap closed somewhat.

"The important takeaway message from these findings is that an internet-delivered intervention that adopts a holistic approach to the management of chronic knee pain and knee osteoarthritis, using freely available computer software, is effective and well received by its users," Bennell said.

"These results are encouraging and show that 'telemedicine' is clearly ready for prime time," writes Dr. Lisa Mandl, a rheumatologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, in an accompanying editorial.

"The real added benefit here is that patients do not have to come in for an appointment. They can access high-quality exercise and coping skills therapy, that is particularly tailored to them, at a place and time which is convenient," Mandl told Reuters Health by email.

Patients may also feel more comfortable asking questions of their therapist when they are asking them from the comfort and privacy of their own home, she added.

"They may also be more motivated to follow the programs, knowing that they will receive a personalized follow-up call at home, and cannot avoid talking to the therapist by missing appointment," Mandl said.

Mandl thinks this type of intervention would apply to most people, especially patients who live in rural areas or places without easy access to therapists. "The fact that the therapist could be located anywhere is especially helpful for patients who may not speak English," she noted.

Read the original here:
Online treatment reduces chronic knee pain from arthritis - Fox News

Psoriasis is a lifelong inflammatory skin disease characterized by red, itchy, and scaly patches of skin. Those who suffer from this disease are also at increased risk for many major medical disorders, including psoriatic arthritis, a type of arthritis characterized by psoriasis plus inflammation of and around the joints.

Now a new Canadian study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology finds that psoriasis patients who develop depression have a 37 percent greater risk of subsequently developing psoriatic arthritis, compared with patients who do not develop depression.

For many years, the rheumatology and dermatology communities have been trying to understand which patients with psoriasis go on to develop psoriatic arthritis and how we might detect it earlier in the disease course, said lead researcher Cheryl Barnabe, M.D., M.Sc., of the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health and the OBrien Institute for Public Health, Cumming School of Medicine, at the University of Calgary.

Depression is quite common among psoriasis patients. Based on recent laboratory findings showing that major depressive disorder is associated with increased systemic inflammation, the researchers hypothesized that psoriasis patients who develop depression may be at increased risk of developing psoriatic arthritis.

There is a tendency to think of depression as a purely psychological or emotional issue, but it also has physical effects and changes in inflammatory and immune markers have been reported in depressed people, commented Scott Patten, M.D., Ph.D., the OBrien Institute for Public Health, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, Cumming School of Medicine.

Depression may be a risk factor for a variety of chronic conditions and this research is an example of how big data approaches can identify these associations.

The researchers evaluated data from primary care medical records in the United Kingdom to find over 70,000 patients with a new diagnosis of psoriasis. Then they identified the patients who subsequently developed depression and those who developed psoriatic arthritis. Patients were followed for up to 25 years or until they developed psoriatic arthritis.

Their findings show that patients with psoriasis who developed major depressive disorder were at 37 percent greater risk of subsequently developing psoriatic arthritis compared with patients who did not develop depression, even after accounting for numerous other factors such as age and use of alcohol.

The research emphasizes the need for physicians who treat patients with psoriasis to actively identify and address depression. This could include rapid, effective treatment of psoriasis and psychosocial management of the cosmetic burden of psoriasis.

The findings also draw into question the biological mechanisms by which depression increases the risk for psoriatic arthritis. These mechanisms may include altered systemic inflammation as a consequence of depression, or even the role of lifestyle behaviors such as physical activity or nutrition, which are typically worsened by depression, and which may place an individual at risk for psoriatic arthritis.

It is evident to physicians who treat patients with psoriasis, that there is a significant psychological and social burden associated with this disease, which is reflected in an increase in the rates of depression, said Laurie Parsons, M.D., of the Cumming School of Medicine.

This study brings us a little closer to understanding the role of chronic inflammation as a systemic player in both the physical and psychological manifestations of psoriasis and underscores the need for closer attention to symptoms of depression in this group of patients.

Source: Elsevier Health Sciences

APA Reference Pedersen, T. (2017). Depression in Psoriasis Patients Ups Risk of Arthritis. Psych Central. Retrieved on February 23, 2017, from https://psychcentral.com/news/2017/02/23/depression-in-psoriasis-patients-ups-risk-of-arthritis/116785.html

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Depression in Psoriasis Patients Ups Risk of Arthritis - PsychCentral.com

BBC News

The people with arthritis struggling to work - BBC News BBC News Some 600,000 people with arthritis are missing out on the opportunity to work, according to the charity Arthritis Research UK. BBC presenter Julian Worricker, ... and more »

Originally posted here:
The people with arthritis struggling to work - BBC News - BBC News

February 22, 2017

Psoriasis is a lifelong disease that is associated with significant cosmetic and physical disability and puts patients at increased risk for many major medical disorders. A multidisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Calgary, Canada, have found that psoriasis patients who developed depression were at a 37% greater risk of subsequently developing psoriatic arthritis, compared with psoriasis patients who did not develop depression. Their findings are published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

Psoriasis is a long-lasting inflammatory skin disease characterized by red, itchy, and scaly patches of skin. Approximately 8.5% of psoriasis patients have psoriatic arthritis, which is characterized by psoriasis plus inflammation of and around the joints.

"For many years, the rheumatology and dermatology communities have been trying to understand which patients with psoriasis go on to develop psoriatic arthritis and how we might detect it earlier in the disease course," explained senior investigator Cheryl Barnabe, MD, MSc, of the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health and the O'Brien Institute for Public Health, Cumming School of Medicine, at the University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Depression is common among patients with psoriasis. Based on recent laboratory work demonstrating that major depressive disorder is associated with increased systemic inflammation, the team of researchers hypothesized that psoriasis patients who develop depression are at increased risk of subsequently developing psoriatic arthritis.

Investigators used The Health Improvement Network (THIN), a primary care medical records database in the United Kingdom, to identify over 70,000 patients with a new diagnosis of psoriasis. Through follow-up records, they identified individuals who subsequently developed depression and those who developed psoriatic arthritis. Patients were followed for up to 25 years or until they developed psoriatic arthritis.

Statistical analysis showed that patients with psoriasis who developed major depressive disorder were at 37% greater risk of subsequently developing psoriatic arthritis compared with patients who did not develop depression, even after accounting for numerous other factors such as age and use of alcohol.

The study highlights the need for physicians to manage patients with psoriasis to identify and address depression. This could include rapid, effective treatment of psoriasis and psychosocial management of the cosmetic burden of psoriasis. The study also draws into question the biological mechanisms by which depression increases the risk for developing psoriatic arthritis. These mechanisms may include altered systemic inflammation as a consequence of depression, or even the role of lifestyle behaviors such as physical activity or nutrition, which are typically worsened by depression, and which may place an individual at risk for psoriatic arthritis.

"There is a tendency to think of depression as a purely 'psychological' or 'emotional' issue, but it also has physical effects and changes in inflammatory and immune markers have been reported in depressed people," commented Scott Patten, MD, PhD, the O'Brien Institute for Public Health, Hotchkiss Brain Institute and Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, Cumming School of Medicine. "Depression may be a risk factor for a variety of chronic conditions and this research is an example of how big data approaches can identify these associations."

Laurie Parsons, MD, of the Cumming School of Medicine, added: "It is evident to physicians who treat patients with psoriasis, that there is a significant psychological and social burden associated with this disease, which is reflected in an increase in the rates of depression. This study brings us a little closer to understanding the role of chronic inflammation as a systemic player in both the physical and psychological manifestations of psoriasis and underscores the need for closer attention to symptoms of depression in this group of patients."

"This study raises important questions on the role of systemic inflammation, which is also elevated in depression, in driving a disease phenotype, which needs to be confirmed in clinical cohorts," concluded Dr Barnabe.

Explore further: Higher risk for depression with psoriasis

More information: "Depression Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Psoriatic Arthritis among Patients with Psoriasis: A Population-Based Study," by Ryan T. Lewinson, PhD, Isabelle A. Vallerand, PhD, Mark W. Lowerison, MSc, Laurie M. Parsons, MD, Alexandra D. Frolkis, PhD, Gilaad G. Kaplan, MD, MPH, Andrew G.M. Bulloch, PhD, Mark G. Swain, MD, MSc, Scott B. Patten, MD, PhD, and Cheryl Barnabe, MD, MSc, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, volume 137, issue 4 (April 2017) dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2016.11.032

(HealthDay)There is an increased risk of depression among women with psoriasis, according to a study published online July 17 in the British Journal of Dermatology.

(HealthDay)Gastric bypass, but not gastric banding, is associated with reduced risk of psoriasis, progression to severe psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in JAMA Surgery.

(HealthDay)The incidence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is 2.7 cases per 100 psoriasis patients, with risk factors including severe psoriasis phenotype and low level of education, according to a study published in the April ...

The chronic inflammatory skin condition psoriasis was associated with the risk of major depression, although the risk was unrelated to the severity of the disorder, according to an article published online by JAMA Dermatology.

(HealthDay)Patients with psoriasis are at higher risk of developing arrhythmia, even after controlling for other risk factors, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of the American Academy ...

Those experiencing psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis are at higher risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and cardiovascular death, according to a multi-institutional study led byPenn ...

A research team led by scientists from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) has carefully scrutinized the immune cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, revealing a striking new subset of T-cells that collaborate with ...

Combining a drug for rheumatoid arthritis with one that targets the chikungunya virus can eliminate the signs of chikungunya arthritis in mice in the disease's earliest stage, according to researchers at Washington University ...

About one million Americans each year undergo total knee or hip replacements, but complications bring as many as 1 in 12 back to the hospital and result in higher use of post-acute services within 90 days.

Using a novel approach for imaging the movement of immune cells in living animals, researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases (CIID) have identified what appear ...

Older adults who suffer from arthritis need to keep moving to be functionally independent. But in an examination of a goal that is daunting for most of this aging population, a new Northwestern Medicine study found that performing ...

(HealthDay)Everybody believes running can leave you sore and swollen, right? Well, a new study suggests running might actually reduce inflammation in joints.

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Depression puts psoriasis patients at significantly greater risk of ... - Medical Xpress

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include a dull ache in the hand or forearm, which can sometimes spread to the upper arm, a sensation in the hand which feels similar to pins and needles.

Other symptoms also include dry skin, swelling or changes in the skin colour of the hand, becoming less sensitive to touch and weakness of the muscles at the base of the thumb.

Experts have said symptoms can get worse first thing in the morning - or even late at night and can stop people getting to sleep.

GETTY

What is CTS?

Arthritis Research UK said carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the median nerve is squeezed where it passes through the wrist.

It added: The median nerve controls some of the muscles that move the thumb; it also carries information back to the brain about sensations in your thumb and fingers.

The nerve controls sensation and movement in the hands.

NHS Choices said: The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage in your wrist made up of small bones and a tough band of tissue which acts as a pulley for the tendons which bend the fingers.

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The median nerve controls some of the muscles that move the thumb; it also carries information back to the brain about sensations in your thumb and fingers

Arthritis Research UK

The condition can be triggered by pregnancy or injuries to the wrist.

However it can also be triggered by strenuous or repetitive work with the hands, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis Research UK said: One of the possible causes include any form of arthritis in the wrist if theres swelling of the wrist joint or the tendons that run through the carpal tunnel.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints and mainly affects the hands feet and wrists.

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Natalie Carter, head of research liaison and evaluation at Arthritis Research UK said: Arthritis Research is currently funding a study at Keele University to find out more about the effectiveness of common treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome, to offer the best treatment options for people affected by this painful condition. We would advise anyone worried about carpal tunnel syndrome to talk to their doctor about their treatment plan. Suggested treatment will depend on how severe the compression of the nerve is.

"There are few simple things that can alleviate symptoms such as a resting splint for your wrist, particularly at night, or a working splint if your symptoms are brought on by a particular activity. A steroid injection can be helpful, although the effect may wear off after few weeks. If theres a severe compression of the median nerve, or if the numbness and pain doesnt improve with other treatments, surgery may be the only option. This relieves pain by reducing the pressure on the median nerve. Surgery is usually completed within a day, and you can expect to recover in less than a month. For most people, the surgery is successful treating the condition. For further information on the condition and helpful exercises, visit http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org.

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Arthritis could be causing THIS common syndrome - causing ... - Express.co.uk

Efficacy of 23-Valent Pneumococcal Vaccine in Rheumatoid Arthritis Questioned Infectious Disease Advisor (registration) The 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) may not be effective for preventing pneumonia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are at risk for infections, according to a study published in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

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Efficacy of 23-Valent Pneumococcal Vaccine in Rheumatoid Arthritis Questioned - Infectious Disease Advisor (registration)

By Staff

Physicians have been advised to err on the side of caution when diagnosing common foot and ankle injuries, or it may result in arthritis, chronic pain and disability, new research suggests.

A new study by orthopedic surgeons published in the February edition of the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, outlined subtleties that complicate identification and treatment of snowboarders fractures (lateral talar process fractures) as well as os trigonum injuries, Lisfranc injuries, turf toe, navicular stress fractures and syndesmotic injuries.

These types of injuries account for more than 3 million emergency room visits in the United States each year are related to common foot and ankle injuries. The authors encourage clinicians to obtain additional imaging or a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon to confirm the initial diagnosis.

These types of trauma are a clinically significant source of morbidity and long-term disability among patients, not just those who are elite athletes. In many cases, the clinical symptoms are vague and tough to detect with standard imaging, said lead author Jessica Reissig, DO, of the Department of Orthopedics at Plainview Hospital in New York in a press release. As an osteopathic physician, I view treatment of foot and ankle injuries as acute and preventative care because a mismanaged injury leads to so many future problems for patients.

The authors noted that the potential for severe pain and disability, as well as a high correlation to future arthritis are associated with untreated snowboarders fractures. Additionally, improper treatment of other foot and ankle traumas can result in compensation injuries and other issues including tendinitis and recurrent ankle sprains.

While in many cases, these injuries can be resolved with a combination of medication, immobilization, ice and rest, some require surgical intervention. Elite athletes may also opt for surgery in order to resume their sport sooner, said co-author Adam Bitterman, DO, of the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine.

Once the diagnosis is confirmed, in many cases patients can be offered a range of treatment options from conservative to surgical. Choosing the best treatment for the individual can prevent the injury from decreasing the patients future quality of life, Dr. Bitterman explained.

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Misdiagnosed Foot and Ankle Injuries May Result in Arthritis and Chronic Pain - National Pain Report

Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can take multiple forms, and sometimes even switches from one type to another in the same patient. A condition that often affects people with psoriasis (a different autoimmune disorder that affects the surface of the skin), psoriatic arthritis tends to present as achy, swollen, or stiff joints throughout the body.

Are you wondering whether youre at risk for these uncomfortable aches and pains? Turns out there are eight things that might up your chances of developing psoriatic arthritis.

Heres one: A third of psoriasis patients also suffer with psoriatic arthritis--and the association goes both ways. That is, the majority (about 80%) of people who have psoriatic arthritis will also have psoriasis on their nails.

RELATED: 10 Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms

And while we already know that being overweight is bad news for your health, research confirms that people who are obese during their teens are more likely to develop psoriatic arthritis later on. Similarly, being diagnosed with psoriasis at a young age also raises ones chances of experiencing psoriatic arthritis symptoms later in life.

Another surprising sign you might run into psoriatic arthritis? Strep throat. Some experts believe the infection, which comes with that tell-tale scratchy sensation, may actually trigger psoriatic arthritis in some. Talk about a double whammy.

Curious about the other warning signs of the autoimmune disease? In this video, were highlighting eight important things that could elevate your psoriatic arthritis risk.

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8 Signs You May Be at Risk for Psoriatic Arthritis - Health.com

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a serious illness

This post is a reaction to the many times I have heard At least its nothing serious. Well, some things about Rheumatoid Arthritis are downright serious. So, I want to place a warning to my readers that today I am utterly serious. For once, I have found something that is not a joking matter at all.

A few months ago, I read an old interview with Mrs. Daniels about her mother who had RA. The author said that she had died of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Mrs. Daniels mom is not the first, of course. My own grandfathers life was cut short and RA apparently was part of that.

To write faster, I will shorten Rheumatoid Arthritis to AR

Lets look at a few RA facts: http://bit.ly/RAsolutions

You do not need to read the all links to understand my point, but even though it was tedious, I wanted to provide them for anyone who may need to begin a particular search. And they prove my point, too.

Rheumatoid Arthritis can attack the spine. When the C-1 vertebra is affected, pressure on the spinal cord can lead to paralysis or death. Inside of the larynx are the Cricoarytenoid joints (the vocal cord joints) which bring the characteristic hoarseness of RA. Both the swelling and the nodules can interfere with ability to breathe. Sometimes, a tracheotomy is required. Here is a discussion of this.

Rheumatoid Arthritis of the pericardium (heart lining) interferes with heart function. There are also nodules and inflammation of the muscle itself. RA can attack the lungs in a similar way to the heart, inflaming the lining, or causing nodules. The pleurisy and the scarring both can be life threatening. Rheumatoid Arthritis patients sometimes die from infections because the treatments suppress the immune system.

Heart attack and heart disease risk is much higher. And much less recognized. RA causes inflammation and blockages of arteries. Rheumatoid Arthritis is associated with a shortened lifespan. Some reasons, like constant inflammation, are obvious. Others are not yet known. Studies show that the mortality gap is not improved by treatments.

More widely known is the greater risk of cancer for RA patients. Some attribute this to the treatments used, but this is uncertain. There are dozens of other lesser known complications of Rheumatoid Arthritis which can contribute to early death including involvement of blood vessels, nerves, and other vital organs.

Some of these problems are rarer than others, especially with mild disease. Some of them are fairly low in incidence when measured separately. However, taken together, there is reason for concern. Risk increases with the severity of the disease; RA patients with a severe form of Rheumatoid Arthritis are more likely to see one of these in their future. http://bit.ly/RAsolutions

Maybe we do not talk about this because we do not want to dwell on fearful things. Maybe it is because we are too busy with learning to walk on knee replacements or trying to get our insurance to pay for the shots.

No one can assure you what will happen with RA since disease progression varies, possibly due to genetics. But the goal of treating RA is the same for everyone: to interfere with the disease process. Slow progression, delay disability, and extend life.

You Can Get The Solution Here =) http://bit.ly/RAsolutions

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Why untreated rheumatism arthritis can lead to death and what to do about it - NAIJ.COM

BALTIMORE

Arthritis of the big toe can be very painful and debilitating.

But now there is a new procedure, approved by the FDA in July that has patients back on their feet, pain-free in no time. The procedure is now available at Mercy Medical Center.

For Marilyn Karr, being able to bend her big toe is a big deal. For a long time she suffered with debilitating arthritis in her big toe, but not anymore.

I love it, Karr said. I'm out of pain for the first time in several years. I've had pain for a long time.

Karr said she is free of pain thanks to a new surgical procedure using a synthetic cartilage implant called cartiva.

I saw a significant difference within hours, Karr said.

Mercy Medical Center surgeon Dr. Clifford Jeng said fusing the joints together used to be the gold standard for treating arthritis in the big toe. That procedure took away the pain, but patients lost range of motion.

Now there is cartiva, which is made out of the same material as contact lenses.

It just so happens that this material called poly-vinyl alcohol has the same mechanical properties as human cartilage, Jeng said. And we just push it in. And you can see, that keeps the arthritis surfaces apart so they don't rub and grind and cause pain, and it allows you to keep your range of motion.

Jeng said the new procedure makes for a much easier recovery.

With the fusion, you have to wear a special shoe for 12 weeks and walk on your heel, Jeng said. This one, two weeks in a little protective shoe and you're back to sneakers.

Karr said she can now take long walks again, and can even do yoga.

I'm pretty much fully functioning for an old lady, Karr said.

WEBVTT MINDY: FOR MARILYN KARR, BEINGABLE TO BEND HER BIG TOE LIKETHIS IS A BIG DEAL.FOR A LONG TIME SHE SUFFEREDWITH DEBILITATING ARTHRITIS INHER BIG SHOW.NOT ANYMORE.>> I LOVE IT.I AM OUT OF PAIN FOR THE FIRSTTIME IN SEVERAL YEARS.I HAVE HAD PUT PAIN FOR A LONGTIME.MINDY OUT OF PAIN THANKS TO A: NEW SURGICAL PROCEDURE USING ASYNTHETIC CARTILAGE IMPLANTCALLED CARTIVA.>> I SAW SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCEWITHIN HOURS.MINDY: MERCY MEDICAL CENTERSURGEON DR. CLIFFORD JENG SAYSTHIS USED TO BE THE GOLDSTANDARD FOR TREATING ARTHRITISIN THE BIG TOE FUSING THE JOINTSTOGETHER.IT TOOK AWAY THE PAIN, BUTPATIENTS LOST RANGE OF MOTION.THIS IS CARTIVA, IT'S MADE OUTOF THE SAME MATERIAL AS CONTACTLENSES.>> THIS MATERIAL HAS THE SAMECHEMICAL PROPERTIES AS HUMANCARTILAGE AND WE JUST PUSH ITIN.YOU CAN SEE AND THAT KEEPS THEARTHRITIC SURFACES APART SO THEYDO NOT RUB AND GRIND AND CAUSEPAIN.IT ALLOWS YOU TO KEEP YOURMOTION.MINDY DR. JENG SAYS IT'S A MUCH: EASIER RECOVERY.>> FUSION YOU HAVE TO WEARSPECIAL SHOE AND WALK ON YOURHEEL.THIS ONE YOU ARE BACK ON SEEKERSWITH A PROTECTIVE SHIELD.MINDY MARILYN SAYS NOW SHE CAN: TAKE LONG WALKS AGAIN, CANEVEN DO YOGA.

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Woman's Doctor: New procedure helps treat big toe arthritis - WBAL Baltimore

Medics are using a new technique to treat the form of arthritis - which involves extending a metal nail in the shin bone using a remote-controlled magnet.

The procedure has so far been trialled on three patients.

Arthritis of the joints is known as osteoarthritis, the most common form of the condition in the UK. Knee osteoarthritis specifically affects more than 4.7 million people.

In the most severe cases, it requires total replacement surgery, with around 80,000 carried out in England and Wales every year.

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Amir Ali Qureshi, a consultant knee and limb reconstruction surgeon at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, has performed intramedullary high tibial osteotomy (IM HTO) at Southampton General Hospital.

"This is potentially a fantastic development in our options for patients with early-stage arthritis of the knee as it enables us to control the amount of opening throughout the course of treatment and can fine-tune as needed, he said.

"We are seeing more younger people, from the age of 35 onwards, suffering knee pain and movement problems as a result of arthritis and all that can be done to delay a partial or total knee replacement needs to be done as they could go on to require another two or three repeat operations.

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This is potentially a fantastic development in our options for patients with early-stage arthritis of the knee as it enables us to control the amount of opening throughout the course of treatment and can fine-tune as needed

Mr Qureshi

The procedure is being used as more younger patients are suffering from the condition and in a bid to decrease the need for full joint replacement operations.

The technique involves inserting a nail, or rod, into the tibia and lengthening it externally with a magnet to relieve pressure on the damaged side of the knee.

This enables clinicians to treat the condition and delay the need for partial or total replacements of the joint.

Usually people with the early stages of the condition find the inner part of the knee is affected.

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This occurs when cartilage protecting the end of the thigh and shin bones wears out and causes bowing.

Medics would normally opened up a wedge out of the tibia to straighten the leg.

This redistributes weight from the affected part of the knee.

Mr Qureshi added: While standard high tibial osteotomy using a plate enables us to avoid replacement surgery and prolong the life of the joint, the fact it is fixed means any issues with the angle of the bone requires further operations."

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Arthritis CURE - this procedure could TREAT knee pain avoid joint ... - Express.co.uk

Home General Health Weekly health news roundup: Arthritis treatment, diabetic kidney disease, numbness, and tingling in legs

In case you missed it, here is Bel Marra Healths weekly health news roundup, featuring information on arthritis treatment, diabetic kidney disease, and numbness and tingling in the legs.

Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis are developing a new treatment for arthritis that can ease symptoms and make existing medications more effective. Injuries such as a twisted ankle, broken hip, and torn knee cartilage can have long-term side effects including arthritis, joint degeneration, osteoarthritis, and inflammation that could result in chronic pain. The team, led by professor Lori Setton, have found that silk particles can aid in the delivery of existing medications to affected areas that are sometimes hard to reach. Continue reading

Diabetic kidney disease is very difficult to treat, though a new study from Karolinska Institutet has shown promising results in preventing this disease from worsening.

The disease is also referred to as diabetic kidney failure, and is the biggest reason patients undergo dialysissometimes, they may even require kidney transplantation. It is often detected through the leakage of plasma proteins into the urine, as well as through issues in the filtration of waste from the blood and reduced urine production. Patients withdiabetic kidney diseasehave a buildup of lipid droplets in the kidneys, though previous research had not been able to determine the reason for this or whether it accelerated the deterioration of the kidneys. Continue reading

Numbness and tingling can occur in one or both legs and comes with a variety of symptoms. Continue reading to learn why this sensation occurs, potential complications that may arise, and when you should notify your doctor, as well as some common remedies to treat your pain. Continue reading

As we age, bone health becomes a big concern. The older we get, the more susceptible we become to bone diseases likeosteoporosis. The loss of bone density puts our bones at risk for fractures and breaks, which can negatively impact the quality of our life.

Developing a disability in old age as a result of broken bones can leave us bed-ridden, which has been linked to aggravation of existing health conditions or even contributing to the development of new problems. Old-age disability is also associated with a loss of autonomy, as we are no longer able to do things for ourselves and have to rely on the help of others. Breaking a bone is even linked to mental health issues, as a bed-ridden patient is more likely to become depressed or anxious. Continue reading

Menopause is a natural part of aging for women, beginning on average at the age of 51. The period that is often referred to as menopause is actually called perimenopause, one of the three stages of menopause. Perimenopause is the time when a womans body begins to transition into menopause, and it is marked by hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. This lasts until the last menstrual period, which is typically three to five years after perimenopause begins. Perimenopause often begins in the 40s, but some women can even enter it in their 30s, and it can last for up to 10 years.

There are a few reasons for early perimenopause, the biggest being smoking, having never been pregnant, and living at high altitudes. Also, if you have your ovaries removed, your menopause will appear suddenly. Continue reading

Related: New research links Crohns disease to arthritis

Related Reading:

Osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis): Causes, symptoms, and treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis and feet: The connection and feet arthritis pain relief tips

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Weekly health news roundup: Arthritis treatment, diabetic kidney ... - Bel Marra Health

Cardiovascular disease describes a set of conditions which affect the heart or blood vessels - which includes life-threatening problems such as heart attacks and stroke.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints and mainly affects the hands feet and wrists.

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) - has set out to help people with rheumatoid arthritis to understand why they are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease - and the impact the condition can have on the heart.

Dr Holly John, consultant rheumatologist, said: The increased risk of CVD for RA sufferers has the same level of severity as those who suffer with type 2 diabetes.

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Its astonishing how many people with RA don't know that their condition could be detrimental to their heart.

The NRAS has launched a programme Love Your Heart, developed in partnership with Dr Holly John.

The organisation is making the programme widely available to everyone with this serious autoimmune condition so that they have the opportunity to lower their CVD risk.

Dr John said: Once aware, its very easy to manage risk factors from home with a healthier lifestyle, so Love Your Heart will be able to significantly raise awareness of this and help to address this major co-morbidity which can shorten the lives of those with RA.

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Its astonishing how many people with rheumatoid arthritis don't know that their condition could be detrimental to their heart

Dr Holly John

While experts said it is not clear exactly why people with rheumatoid arthritis are at increased risk, experts suggest people can reduce their risk of the condition by making sure arthritis is well controlled and even stopping smoking, eating more healthily and exercising regularly.

People with diabetes also have a higher chance of developing diabetes.

Blood vessels are damaged by high blood glucose levels, high blood pressure, smoking or high levels of cholesterol.

This is why it is important for people with diabetes to manage these levels by making lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet, taking part in regular activity, reducing weight if you are overweight and stopping smoking.

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The online programme will help sufferers understand why RA increases risk, calculate a score as to why rheumatoid arthritis increases risk and learn how to reduce the risk of CVD.

Ailsa Bosworth, Founder of NRAS said: In spite of the numbers of people with rheumatoid arthritis in the UK - 690,000- it does not have the public awareness of diseases such as Parkinsons and Multiple Sclerosis.

"It is still a relatively misunderstood and invisible disease.

Getting to a diagnosis can therefore often be challenging as people dont recognise the symptoms as a medical emergency. Equally, the increased risk of CVD is relatively unknown andso Im really excited to be working with Dr. John and hope that the Love your Heart programme will help all those with RA, like myself, to lead a longer and healthier life by addressing those risk factors that are within our own control.

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Diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis - conditions put YOU at greater risk of THIS disease - Express.co.uk