Inflammation is a major part of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It's also linked to heart disease and the chance of having a heart attack.
Some experts think the inflammation in RA may raise inflammation throughout the body, including in the coronary arteries, which supply blood to your heart.
Ask your doctor if your RA medicines will make you more likely to get heart disease. Ask what you can do to manage that risk.
Your doctor can help you decide if your medications and doses are right for your heart health. If you have other conditions that raise your odds of having heart disease, such as high cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe other drugs. These could include statins, which lower your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol.