Is There a Relationship Between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Smoking or Alcohol Use?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune condition that, according to the Arthritis Foundation, affects about 1.5 million people in the U.S. While there are effective treatments for RA, there isn’t a cure.

Lifestyle factors such as smoking may play a part in the development and worsening of symptoms of RA. Although we don’t know for sure, research suggests that RA has environmental and lifestyle triggers. But this relationship isn’t well understood, especially when genetic factors are taken into consideration. Read on to learn more.

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Autoimmune conditions — such as RA — happen when the body’s immune system becomes confused and attacks its healthy cells. Left untreated, RA can result in damage to joints and organs over time.

Inflammation of the joints due to RA can cause uncomfortable symptoms such as:

• Pain

• Swelling

• Stiffness

• Warmth 

• Redness 

RA commonly affects joints on both sides of the body, including hands, wrists, fingers, and feet.

There are a variety of other early symptoms associated with RA, including fatigue and sleep disturbances. Catching RA symptoms early, and getting treatment for them, is important for a person’s future health. Treatments can help to decrease joint damage and pain while improving mobility. 

Who gets RA, and can I stop it?

Anyone can get RA, although women are two to three times more likely to be diagnosed with it than men. RA is also more common in adults 65 years of age and older. 

Other factors, or a combination of them, may be involved in the development of RA — such as genetics, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices. While there isn’t a cure, effective treatments and medications for RA can relieve symptoms and slow progression of the disease.  

Is smoking linked with rheumatoid arthritis? 

Yes. Research suggests that smoking, especially heavy smoking, may be the biggest controllable risk factor in the development of RA. This means that people who smoke have an increased risk of developing RA.

There may also be a genetic-environmental connection between smoking and RA. This means that someone who is genetically susceptible to RA, and is a smoker, may have an increased risk of getting RA.

Is alcohol linked with rheumatoid arthritis? 

Studies suggest a moderate amount of alcohol intake may actually decrease a person’s risk of developing RA. The key here is “moderate.” This means one drink a day for women, and two drinks a day for men. This effect may be due to how alcohol affects the immune system, but, for now, the relationship remains poorly understood.

It’s important to know that drinking alcohol can cause harm. So, if you don’t drink, don’t start — especially for a possible health benefit. Awareness of the impacts that alcohol can have on autoimmune disease is growing, and there’s more to learn in this area. 

Can smoking or drinking alcohol make my rheumatoid arthritis worse?

The relationship between smoking, alcohol, and wellness in those with RA is complicated. While there isn’t a clear-cut answer to this, there does seem to be a connection. 

Anything that puts stress on a person’s body can cause inflammation. With RA, this could lead to worsening of symptoms. The following provides a look at how smoking and drinking may affect the wellness of a person with RA. 

Smoking 

Research suggests that continued smoking can affect how well an individual manages and functions with RA. Smoking may also affect how effective RA medications are for disease treatment. 

In addition, smoking can lead to other health issues, such as heart disease. And people with RA may already be at higher risk, because of disease-related inflammation.

Alcohol 

After diagnosis, it may also help to decrease inflammation associated with it, although research is ongoing. Regardless, alcohol is not for everyone.

Alcohol consumption is associated with other health conditions, such as stomach bleeding and liver disease. If you’re taking over-the-counter pain medicine (acetaminophen, ibuprofen) or a prescribed medication for RA, you may have been advised to limit or avoid alcohol by your provider. This is because alcohol can interfere with some medications used to treat RA and cause side effects.

What if you smoke and drink? Research suggests that the combined effects of smoking and drinking may increase the risk of developing RA. However, these effects aren’t fully understood, and more research is underway.

How can you promote better health with RA?

If you’ve been diagnosed with RA, there are steps you can take to improve your overall health:

• Exercise regularly.

• Eat healthy foods such as fruit, veggies, whole grains, and healthy fats.

• Take medications as prescribed.

• Manage stress and anxiety with coping strategies.

If you haven’t already, consider having a conversation with your healthcare provider about lifestyle factors. It’s good to know if any habits may be related to new or worsening RA symptoms. You may experience health and disease-related benefits if you stop smoking and drinking.

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Written by:

Jewels Doskicz, RN, BA

Jewels Doskicz, RN, BA, is an Arizona-based registered nurse with 22 years of hospital-wide clinical nursing experience and 11 years of medical writing and editing experience. She was a former healthcare content creator for a digital health tool at HealthLoop and director of clinical content operations at GetWellNetwork.

Edited by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined her interests in clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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