Out of Rhythm

Rheumatoid arthritis may cause problems that go far beyond painful joints.

Doctors have known that people with rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk of serious heart problems. And some research has also found a higher risk of stroke. A new study sheds more light on how this joint disease may affect your heart and brain.

Researchers in Denmark included more than 4 million people, among them more than 18,000 who developed rheumatoid arthritis. These people were 41 percent more likely to also develop a condition called atrial fibrillation. This throws off the heart's normal rhythm and keeps it from beating properly. As a result, blood can collect in the heart and form clots. If these clots travel to the brain, they can cause a stroke.

Strokes also seemed to be more of a problem for people with rheumatoid arthritis. They were 32 percent more likely to have this problem than people without the joint disease. The researchers point out that long-term inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis could set the stage for atrial fibrillation. And this inflammation along with the heart condition could help explain the higher risk of stroke.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, wishing you and your family the best of health.

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