Smokers run the risk of getting rheumatoid arthritis
30 May 2013
Are you running the risk of getting rheumatoid arthritis? If you are a smoker, then the answer is yes!
There are many risks associated with smoking – cancer, lung and heart disease, problems with reproduction and fertility, osteoporosis, diabetes and more. Rheumatoid arthritis must be added to this list.
Arthritis New Zealand Chief Executive Sandra Kirby reminds people that if you smoke, you are significantly increasing your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Research shows that smoking is the most important environmental risk factor for developing rheumatoid arthritis and that risk remains elevated 10-20 years after you’ve quit.
“Smoking tobacco not only damages your lungs, heart and skin, you are also damaging your joints. In fact, most studies show a link between smoking and joint damage and an association with rheumatoid nodules.
“The severity of rheumatoid arthritis is also greatly amplified by smoking. There are 125,000 New Zealanders who live everyday with the pain and disability of rheumatoid arthritis, which also increases the risk of dying from a heart attack. If you add the damage that smoking does to the cardiovascular system, that risk goes up.
“If these risk factors aren’t enough to put you off smoko, I’ve got more bad news. Smoking also makes rheumatoid arthritis more resistant to treatment.
Arthritis New Zealand is proud to be supporting research through Otago University to develop a programme to help people with rheumatoid arthritis to give up smoking.
On World Smokefree Day (31 May 2013), rheumatoid arthritis is another reason to be smokefree and I would strongly discourage anyone with a relative who is affected by rheumatoid arthritis from smoking. In fact, I would strongly discourage anyone from smoking full stop,” says Ms Kirby.
About Arthritis New Zealand
Arthritis
New Zealand is a national organisation whose mission is to
improve the health and well-being of people who are affected
by arthritis.
There are 530,000 New Zealanders living with arthritis
There are more than 140 different forms of arthritis of which osteoarthritis, gout and rheumatoid arthritis are the most prevalent
You might be surprised to learn there are over 1,000 children and young people living with the pain of arthritis.
Chances are someone you love lives with arthritis.
Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in our country, and there is no cure. It can affect anyone, at any age, at any time.
There are 17,940 people receiving sickness or invalids benefits as a result of musculo-skeletal conditions, the bulk of which will be arthritis.
Arthritis New Zealand receives only 12 per cent of its funding from government agencies. Without the generosity of our donors and volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to help the over 530,000 New Zealanders who live with the pain of arthritis every day.
Arthritis New Zealand is the leader in the provision of awareness, education, services and advocacy for arthritis in New Zealand.
ENDS