If you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and experience digestive issues on top of it, you are not alone. Studies have found that people with RA have more gastrointestinal (GI) problems than people who do not have RA.
Higher levels of inflammation and impaired immunity due to the disease likely play a significant role. Additionally, medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis ? including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids and most disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) ? can all cause GI problems as a common side effect.
To minimize the risk of serious GI complications, you should speak with your doctor right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of a GI problem. And if you haven?t done so yet, stop smoking and start eating right.
Upper-GI problems in RA patients have been partly attributed to the use of NSAIDs. An increased awareness of the side effects of NSAIDs, their wiser use and the addition of proton pump inhibitors to control upper-GI symptoms have helped to reduce the incidence of upper-GI problems associated with RA.
Timely treatment of upper-GI disease, minimizing exposure to corticosteroids, avoiding smoking, and screening for lower-GI disease, all of which may help reduce the incidence or seriousness of lower-GI issues.