Smoking tobacco also increases the risk of rheumatism

World No Tobacco Day: Smoking increases the risk of rheumatism

According to experts, although there are fewer and fewer smokers in Germany, many Germans are still regularly using cigarettes and jeopardizing their health. Smoking not only increases the risk of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, but also of rheumatism. In addition, tobacco consumption makes rheumatic damage worse.

Tobacco consumption endangers the health

Smoking is dangerous for your health. This is not only on cigarette packs, but has also been proven in numerous scientific studies. Tobacco users not only get sick and die of lung cancer, but also of various other types of cancer, lung disease and cardiovascular disease. In addition, smoking doubles the risk of rheumatism, as experts report on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day on 31 May.

Smoking not only increases the risk of cancer, lung and cardiovascular diseases, but also for rheumatism. In addition, the use of tobacco aggravates rheumatic damage. Health experts advise smoking cessation. (Image: mbruxelle / fotolia.com)

Over a quarter of a million Germans have rheumatoid arthritis

Under the generic term "rheumatism" several hundred diseases are summarized, some of which are very similar.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory joint disease, according to the German Society of Rheumatology (DGRh). About 550,000 Germans suffer from the disease, which is often associated with constant joint pain.

Women are affected three times more often. The onset of illness is possible at any age, usually between the 40th and 50th year of life.

As DGRh reports in a press release, seven cigarettes a day more than double the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis.

The experts therefore advise patients to stop smoking on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day on 31 May.

Smoking damages all tissues and organs

With every pull on a cigarette, a mixture of about 4,000 substances enters the lungs. Most of the pollutants are distributed through the bloodstream in the body. That is why smoking damages not only the respiratory tract, but all tissues and organs, explains the DGRh.

Among the lesser-known consequences is the bad influence on rheumatic diseases.

The reasons are, according to information from med. Hanns-Martin Lorenz, President of the DGRh and Head of the Department of Rheumatology at the University Hospital Heidelberg, not exactly known:

"However, we suspect that smoking causes immune system dysfunction that may be the ultimate trigger for some people to develop rheumatoid arthritis."

According to the expert, smoking could promote the formation of antibodies that attack the skin and thereby initiate the destruction of the joints.

According to the report, the study results are clear: heavy smokers are significantly more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Women are particularly at risk.

Even less than seven cigarettes a day increase the risk of disease more than twice. The risk increases after only a few years and lasts for up to 15 years after quitting smoking.

Effectiveness of medication is weakened

In addition, smokers are at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease than non-smoking rheumatic patients. And therapies are worse off:

"Smoking can also weaken the efficacy of rheumatism drugs, especially the newer biologics," explains Professor Lorenz.

"These patients may therefore require higher dosages and are therefore increasingly exposed to the side effects of rheumatism."

Progression of the disease is accelerated

Earlier research has shown that smoking also speeds up the progression of the disease. A recent study from Sweden found that smokers can be more likely to have their joints destroyed at the onset of the disease.

Emil Rydell from the University of Lund and co-workers have accompanied a group of rheumatoid patients for more than five years.

According to the scientists, in every fifth patient during this time, despite treatment, there was a rapid deterioration, which showed on the X-ray images as increasing narrowing of the joint space and by erosions of the bone.

Smokers were particularly affected. As the researchers report in the journal "Arthritis Research & Therapy", active smokers experienced a 3.6-fold more frequent rapid damage to the joints. In earlier smokers the risk was increased by a factor of 2.79.

Early treatment can prevent damage to the joints

"The first months and years after onset of symptoms are a crucial phase in rheumatoid arthritis," said Professor Lorenz. Early treatment today can save many patients from joint destruction and a loss of quality of life.

"In smokers, unfortunately, we often observe that the disease can not be sufficiently controlled," says the rheumatologist. A smoking cessation is therefore one of the most important accompanying measures of rheumatism therapy:

"All patients should stop smoking at the latest with the first intake of the drugs." This advice must give each treating rheumatologist to his patients in the context of the treatment on the way. (Ad)