does rheumatoid arthritis affect life expectancy?
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Many people can live a healthy, active life with RA. It is difficult to predict the exact impact that RA will have on a person's life expectancy because the course of the disease differs significantly between people. In general, it is possible for RA to reduce life expectancy by around 10 to 15 years.
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No wonder people with rheumatoid arthritis have a 50 percent higher risk of experiencing a heart attack, twice the rate of heart failure and more peripheral vascular disease than those without the condition. In fact, research shows, the heart risks of rheumatoid arthritis are on par with those associated with diabetes.
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes pain and swelling of the joints. The normal role of your body's immune system is to fight off infections to keep you healthy. In an autoimmune disease, your immune system starts attacking your own healthy tissues.
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Depending on a wide range of factors, current life expectancy has been shown to be close to 20 years from the time of diagnosis. Age, overall health, blood cell counts, response to treatment, genetics, and lifestyle choices, such as smoking, all have an impact on the course of the disease and its long-term outlook.
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Having one may mean you're more likely to develop the other. In fact, research shows that RA raises your risk for diabetes by about 50%. And diabetes raises your risk of having arthritis, including RA and arthritis-related issues, by about 20%. Nearly half of American adults who have diabetes also have arthritis.
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Studies have shown that people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more likely to have diabetes than those without RA. RA can cause widespread inflammation throughout the body. This inflammation, in turn, may increase the body's risk of developing insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes.
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Life expectancy and primary Sjogren's syndrome Life expectancy in primary Sjogren's syndrome is comparable to that of the general population, but it can take up to seven years to correctly diagnose Sjogren's. Although life expectancy is not typically affected, patients' quality of life is, and considerably.
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Both diseases are associated with older persons and genetic factors. Besides, the inflammation associated with RA reduced blood flow to vital body organs, which increases the risk of developing dementia. Additionally, the study revealed that medications used by RA patients increase the risk of developing dementia.
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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can affect tiny joints in your face and throat, which leads to problems with your breathing and the way your vocal cords work. About 1 in 3 people with the condition have vocal problems, including a sore throat and loss of voice.
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Having rheumatoid arthritis (RA) does not directly cause people to be overweight. However, people with RA may struggle to maintain a healthy weight or lose unwanted weight because they find it difficult to exercise to burn calories due to joint pain and fatigue.
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In addition, pain and loss of joint function caused by the disease can result in inactivity, further increasing osteoporosis risk. Studies also show that bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis may occur as a direct result of the disease. The bone loss is most pronounced in areas immediately surrounding the affected joints.
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Age. Rheumatoid arthritis can occur at any age, but it most commonly begins in middle age. Family history. If a member of your family has rheumatoid arthritis, you may have an increased risk of the disease.
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For men, acute flare-ups of rheumatoid arthritis temporarily reduce sperm count and function, and can cause erection problems and decreased libido. For both men and women, effective treatment for RA improves sexual symptoms and function.
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Toxicity. Since inflammation is a component of rheumatoid arthritis, medications can sometimes alter a person's immune system functions. “Serious and sometimes fatal infections and cancers can occur.” In most instances, a phrase such as this would raise more than one red flag.
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Women who have uncontrolled rheumatoid arthritis may be at increased risk of complications such as preterm birth and babies that are small for their gestational age. This may increase the likelihood that the baby requires more medical care early in life.
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People in the United States who have rheumatoid arthritis. Women are three times more likely than men to develop RA. In women, RA most commonly begins between ages 30 and 60.
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Osteoporosis is a common feature in adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and may lead to an increased risk of fracture. Patients who fracture are often immobilized for a significant period, and this may have a further adverse effect on bone.