Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States. It is estimated that more than 50 million Americans have some form of arthritis. Nearly half (47 percent) of American adults with arthritis have at least one other disease or condition. And 49 percent of adults with heart disease also have arthritis.

What Is Arthritis?

The term arthritis refers to more than 100 different rheumatic diseases and conditions that affect joints, the tissues that surround joints and other connective tissue. The two most common categories of arthritis are non-inflammatory and inflammatory. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, a non-inflammatory type. It happens when the material between the joints wears away, causing stiffness and pain.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an example of inflammatory arthritis. RA is an autoimmune disease, which means the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body. In the case of RA, the immune system attacks the tissues lining the joints, causing inflammation that leads to pain, swelling and stiffness.

Arthritis and Heart Disease

Inflammatory arthritis is considered a risk factor for heart disease, just like high blood pressure and diabetes. In fact, people with the inflammatory types of arthritis may have as much as double the average risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is an umbrella term for diseases of the heart and/or blood vessels.

Although the arthritis-heart disease connection isn’t well understood, inflammation may play a role. Inflammation is a part of inflammatory types of arthritis, and it also plays a part in heart attacks and strokes. Body-wide inflammation irritates blood vessel walls and causes the buildup of various types of cells and molecules, including cholesterol, in vessel walls. This causes artery walls to get narrower and leads to the formation of artery-clogging plaque.

Coping with both conditions together poses some special challenges, especially when it comes to exercise and medications.

What Can You Do?

There are steps you can take to reduce your arthritis symptoms and lower your risk for heart disease.

Exercise. Exercise is generally recommended and is important for both conditions. But according to Dr. Robert H. Shmerling, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and clinical chief of rheumatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, “People with both conditions are more likely to be inactive than people with either disease alone.” Thirty minutes of aerobic exercise on at least five days per week can lower your heart disease risk. If your arthritis pain is keeping you from being active, try swimming. Swimming doesn’t put any pressure on the joints, so it’s a good exercise option for people with arthritis.

Recumbent bike riding or walking is usually recommended, except for people with very severe arthritis who are wheelchair-bound or awaiting knee or hip replacement. Dr. Shmerling recommends mall walking for those who are able because it’s inexpensive and can be done in any weather. Grab a partner or join a walking club to keep you going.

Lose weight and eat a healthy diet. Being overweight or obese increases your risk for heart disease. And losing weight can reduce arthritis symptoms.

Eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products. Adding fish that is high in omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce inflammation in the body. Types of fish high in omega-3s include salmon, tuna, herring and mackerel.

Sip some green tea. The polyphenols in green tea may help control inflammation and prevent joint damage.

If you take medicine for your arthritis, you may need to limit or avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol while taking some medicines can cause serious problems. Check the interaction information for your medicine and ask your doctor and/or pharmacist if it’s safe to have alcohol while taking it.

Quit smoking. For those with RA, the risk for heart disease may be even greater if you smoke. But even if you don’t have RA, smoking increases your risk for heart disease. Quitting smoking reduces your risk for heart disease by almost half.

Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program. If you need help creating an exercise routine, talk to your doctor.