Eating lots of foods loaded with salt may do more than raise your blood pressure: Researchers report that it could also contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases, where the body’s immune system mistakenly mounts an attack upon some part of the body. Three new studies suggest salt may be a prime suspect in a wide range of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis of the spine).
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Sunshine Linked to Lower Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk: Study
February 5, 2013
TUESDAY, Feb. 5 (HealthDay News) — Older women who’ve had regular exposure to sunlight may be less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, new findings indicate.
This beneficial effect — which is believed to be due to ultraviolet B (UV-B) in sunlight — was only evident in older women. This may be because younger women are [...]
DNA May Explain Why Women Have More Rheumatoid Arthritis
November 29, 2012
Genes specific to the X chromosome are among newly identified genes linked to rheumatoid arthritis and could help explain why women are more likely than men to develop the disease, researchers say. Women have two X chromosomes while men have an X and a Y chromosome.
Certain Arthritis Patients Fare Worse After Joint Replacement: Study
November 28, 2012
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 28 (HealthDay News) — Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to suffer hip dislocation after hip replacement surgery than those with osteoarthritis, a new study says.
In addition, rheumatoid arthritis patients have a higher infection risk after total knee replacement than osteoarthritis patients, the study authors found.
Xeljanz Approved for Rheumatoid Arthritis
November 7, 2012
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 7 (HealthDay News) — Xeljanz (tofacitinib) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) among people who can’t tolerate, or haven’t been helped by, the drug methotrexate.
RA is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body. In the case of [...]
Elevated Antibody Levels May Predict Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk
September 7, 2012
FRIDAY, Sept. 7 (HealthDay News) — Elevated blood levels of an antibody called rheumatoid factor are associated with an increased long-term risk of rheumatoid arthritis, a new study contends.
Women in their 50s and 60s who smoke appear to have the highest risk, according to the Danish researchers.
The researchers measured rheumatoid factor levels in more than [...]
Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients May Have Higher Risk for Gum Disease
August 9, 2012
THURSDAY, Aug. 9 (HealthDay News) — A small study suggests that gum disease is four times more common among people with rheumatoid arthritis than healthy people, and it also appears to be more severe.
Researchers compared 91 adults with the condition to 93 similar healthy people. All were nonsmokers (smoking boosts the risk of rheumatoid arthritis), [...]
Study Compares Safety of ‘Biologic’ Meds for Rheumatoid Arthritis
August 8, 2012
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 8 (HealthDay News) — A new safety analysis of three powerful “biologic” drugs for rheumatoid arthritis finds no difference in terms of risk of death for the patients who use them.
The study was published Aug. 8 in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.
The three drugs studied include Humira, Enbrel and Remicade, all from a [...]
New Pill Might Relieve Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis
August 8, 2012
By Barbara Bronson GrayHealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 8 (HealthDay News) — A new oral medication may be available soon for people with rheumatoid arthritis who have not gained relief from other medicines.
As rheumatoid arthritis progresses, people often struggle with everyday tasks and find walking difficult. To help combat those issues, patients with severe forms of the [...]
Ultrasound May Detect Heart Disease Earlier in Arthritis Patients
June 6, 2012
WEDNESDAY, June 6 (HealthDay News) — A special type of ultrasound can detect heart disease early in people with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a new study.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are at increased risk for heart disease, and it is important to be able to spot the disease at an early stage and begin treatment before [...]
Previous Rheumatoid Arthritis Stories
Rising Obesity Rates Might Mean More Rheumatoid Arthritis
05/04/2012 - Obesity, Rheumatoid ArthritisTreat Rheumatoid Arthritis Early and Aggressively: Guidelines
04/05/2012 - Rheumatoid ArthritisRheumatoid Arthritis Patients Who Quit Statins May Face Raised Death Risk
03/28/2012 - Rheumatoid ArthritisLupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis Linked to Fertility Woes, Miscarriage
02/16/2012 - Pregnancy and childbirth, Rheumatoid ArthritisToo Many Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Inactive, Study Finds
01/26/2012 - Rheumatoid ArthritisTiming of Aquatic Therapy After Joint Replacement Matters
Mindfulness Training May Help Arthritis Patients Cope
12/20/2011 - Rheumatoid Arthritis
