Several studies have linked rheumatoid arthritis with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as strokes and myocardial infarctions (heart attacks).

One study, published in the journal Circulation in 2003, involved 114,342 women from the Nurses Health Study who were followed for 18 years. At the end of the study, 7,786 women (7%) reported to have developed symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers found that both heart attacks and strokes were more common in women with rheumatoid arthritis compared to those without the disease.

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It is well known that arthritis sufferers are more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. A new study has found that switching to a vegan diet may both reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in those with the illness.

The study, lead by researchers at the Karolisnka Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, followed 66 volunteers who had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

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A recent study in the United Kingdom has isolated a gene, that causes people with rheumatoid arthritis to be as much as three times more likely to die prematurely from cardiovascular disease.

The study which was funded by the Arthritis Research Campaign and led by Dr. Tracey M. Farragher at the University of Manchester involved over 1,000 individuals with arthritis.

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