Smokers are at greater risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis than those who do not smoke. It is worse if they were exposed to tobacco during childhood.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of autoimmune origin.
- Rather feminine, it affects around 200,000 French people. Most often, it appears between the ages of 40 and 60.
- The disease is characterized by progressive deterioration of the joints. These swell, are painful and stiff in the morning. Cartilage and bone damage is seen in the later stages of the disease.
- The life expectancy of patients is reduced from 4 to 7 years compared to the general population.
These health warnings are now essential. All the messages on cigarette packs warn of the risks of infertility, impotence or even cancer of the respiratory tract.
Rheumatoid arthritis could be added to the long list of harmful effects of smoking. A study presented at the European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR), which was held from June 14 to 17 in Madrid (Spain), suggests so.
This work is based on the French E3N cohort, which follows more than 70,000 women during their existence. Of these, 1,239 developed rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers looked at the impact of smoking, direct or passive, on these patients. A link emerges in a solid way in both cases.
Passive smoking involved
Smoking alone increases the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Compared to non-smokers, fans of the cigarette break are 37% more likely to suffer from this chronic inflammatory disease.
It is the first time that such a link has been so vividly highlighted. But in 2010 already, a swedish team has shown that heavy smokers are twice as likely to have severe forms of rheumatoid arthritis. According to their estimates, tobacco was responsible for 35% of diagnoses of the pathology.
But when they were exposed to smoke as a child, smokers are even more vulnerable. Compared to non-smokers who did not experience secondhand smoke, they are 73% more likely to be diagnosed.
“Our study shows the importance of avoiding exposing a child to tobacco, particularly if family members suffer from rheumatoid arthritis”, concludes Professor Raphaèle Seror, coordinator of the study conducted at the Paris-Sud university hospitals. . This provides yet another reason to quit a cigarette in the presence of a toddler.
Fish slows disease progression
Fish on the plate for healthier joints. Compared to people who eat them infrequently, those who consume these seafood twice a week have less severe rheumatoid arthritis. This good habit reduces the activity and progression of the disease, as shown in a study published in Arthritis Care & Research, conducted on 176 patients.
Beyond two intakes per week, the benefits will increase. “The beneficial effects of fish on health are numerous, and these results give patients a real reason to increase their consumption,” said Dr Sara Tedeschi, who signed this work. What to encourage to respect the nutritional recommendations, which advise to adopt this rhythm of consumption.
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