Smoking is unhealthy - so far, so well known. What is less well known, however, is that smoking increases the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis and worsens the course of the disease. rheumatoid arthritis and worsens the course of the disease. Seven cigarettes a day more than doubles the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. The German Society for Rheumatology (DGRh) therefore strongly advises patients to refrain from smoking tobacco.
It is not known exactly why smoking is particularly harmful for rheumatics. "However, we suspect that smoking causes malfunctions of the immune system, which in certain people can provide the final impetus for the development of rheumatoid arthritis," says Professor Hanns-Martin Lorenz, MD, President of the DGRh and Head of the Rheumatology Section at Heidelberg University Hospital. According to the expert, smoking could promote the formation of the antibodies that attack the synovial membrane and thus initiate the destruction of the joints. Women are particularly at risk, he said. Smokers also have a higher risk of being affected by Cardiovascular diseases affected than non-smoking rheumatism patients. In addition, therapies have a weaker effect: "Smoking can weaken the effectiveness of rheumatism medications, especially the newer biologics," explains Professor Lorenz. "The first months and years after the onset of symptoms are a crucial phase in rheumatoid arthritis." A Stop smoking is one of the most important accompanying measures of rheumatoid therapy in this phase: "All patients should stop smoking at the latest when they first start taking the medication." This is advice that everyone must treating rheumatologist patients this advice as part of their treatment.
