Heart Disease And RA: Listen To Your Body

I lost a friend recently.  Officially, she didn’t make it through aneurysm surgery, although she hung on for several days trying to get better.

My friend’s name was Winnie, and she was a very young 75 year-old.  Winnie was funny, smart, and kind.  She brought joy to the world.

The reason I say she “officially” died from complications of surgery, is that we all know how hard RA is on our cardiovascular systems.  I have read several articles and studies stating that most RA patients die from cardiovascular disease.

Winnie had RA for several years.  She was once in a wheelchair.  She battled back from that and was walking with a cane thanks to the new biologic drugs.

Everyone who is living with RA should have a cardiologist consult.  Another dear, dear friend of mine had two stents placed in her heart earlier this week.  She is only 46 years old.

Thankfully, my friend had a “gut” feeling that something wasn’t right.  Instead of attributing her chest pressure and shortness of breath to RA, she went to the ER.

So many of us have more than one AI disease, and we often have other complicating disease process.  It is difficult for us to distinguish between RA flares and true health emergencies.

If you would like to read more about my best friend’s experience with chest pressure and heart disease, please click here.  My friend is a retired RN, and offers helpful information that is easy to read and understand.

In the meantime, please be kind to yourself.  Be well!