People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a nearly 20 percent greater chance of developing heart disease than the general population. And the risk is higher in women and in people younger than 40, according to a study published in March 2014 in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Other research has found that people with UC and Crohn’s disease are 37 percent more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure (especially during a flare) than people without IBD, according to a study published in July 2014 in the journal Circulation: Heart Failure. There are a few reasons people with UC are at risk for heart problems:
The inflammation from IBD isn’t limited to your colon; it also causes damage to the blood vessels. Inflammation triggers the release of cells called cytokines, which are small proteins that regulate the body’s response to disease and infection, says Poneh Rahimi, MD, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist in Mission Viejo, California. The release of these cytokines could eventually lead to atherosclerosis, often called a hardening and narrowing of the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke, she says.Severe diarrhea — a symptom of UC— can lead to dehydration, which interferes with blood vessel function and can cause a drop in blood pressure. This, in turn, can harm your heart.The prolonged use of steroids, which are used to reduce inflammation and treat UC flares, can increase your risk of heart problems. In particular, steroid use can lead to dangerously high blood pressure and low potassium levels, although this isn’t a very common side effect, according to the University of Michigan.
7 Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy if You Have UC
Follow these steps to lower your risk of heart disease and ease your UC flares.
