New research reveals that depressive symptoms, stress, anxiety, anger and lack of social support in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) were linked to atherosclerosis- a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries that contributes to cardiovascular disease. The study suggests the screening and the treatment of psychosocial symptoms which may curb the cardiovascular disease burden in RA patients. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 1.5 million Americans are burdened by RA -- an autoimmune disease that causes fatigue along with joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Previous studies have shown that cardiovascular disease is more prevalent in RA patients compared with the general population, and contributes to greater mortality in this patient group. However the reasons for this increased risk of heart disease in those with RA remains unknown. "Understanding the…
