Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease, as the pathology progresses it leads to erosion and destruction of the joint surface, and eventually to joint deformity. Because it is a systemic disease the inflammatory process is not confined only to joints, it may cause fibrosis in the lungs, kidney damage, scleritis, dry eyes, gastrointestinal problems, peripheral neuropathies, carpal tunnel syndrome, vasculitis, lymphoma, osteoporosis , and cardiovascular disease.
Many studies have been done concerning the incidence of cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It has been noted that in some incidences cardiovascular events have occurred long before the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis has been made.
It has been found that heart disease may not present with the usual symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Perhaps the usual symptom of chest pain which presents in those who do not have rheumatoid arthritis, may still be present in those who have rheumatoid arthritis, however, because RA patients suffer intense pain in their joints chest pain may go unnoticed.
The cardiovascular disease in RA patients appears to be either a natural progression of rheumatoid arthritis, or it occurs simultaneously with RA, or may even precede Ra. It is most important that patients with rheumatoid arthritis have regular heart checks in order to avoid a life threatening event.
The inflammatory process at work in this disease is the one to be treated, not with drugs, but with a healthy diet. This book, the Inflammation Syndrome, will teach you how to overcome your disease by eating natural anti-inflammatory foods. The rapid rise of rheumatoid arthritis in the US is more than likely the result of the modern day diet of convenience foods. It’s a very small price to pay for a solution to a disease, go check it out and read some of the reviews.
