Date: 01.05.2014
From: Ken
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Subject: My theory, stopping smoking at 55 triggered my RA
I am not advocating starting smoking but I implore people not to start. I developed RA Less than 12 months after stopping smoking. My wife's thyroid went bananas when she stopped smoking and final my wife's father who quit smoking at 70 after a life time of heavy smoking was dead 18 months later after contracting moto neurone disease. Not sure this information is useful but I would be delighted see if anyone else has had a similar experience. My only advice to anyone who has just been diagnosed with RA is to pressurise you consultant to get you on to Humira type injections within 6 to 12 months. I was left 3 years by which time all my joints were shot and deformed. I went to see another consultant privately in a different area only to be told I should have been offered these drugs much soon. They are expensive and is very much a postcode lottery as to when they will be offered to you.
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Date: 01.05.2014
From: Sean
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Subject: Re: My theory, stopping smoking at 55 triggered my RA
Hi Ken - I believe that this is possible My pet subject is intestinal permeability - which I believe is the pathway to many autoimmune diseases. Including my own. It is quite well documented in studies that smoking limits intestinal permeability - and stopping smoking therefore creates changes to the way the gut processes proteins. http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/00365528909089259?journalCode=gas Smoking cessation also greatly changes the gut bacteria - http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0059260
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Date: 01.05.2014
From: rhona
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Subject: Re: My theory, stopping smoking at 55 triggered my RA
Hi Ken, I stopped smoking about 7 years ago and I have had RA for a lot longer. I have read that smoking can sometimes cause RA but anything is possible I suppose. I have read that smoking can protect people from getting Parkinson's disease.
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Date: 01.05.2014
From: ker
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Subject: Re: My theory, stopping smoking at 55 triggered my RA
Why is it that everyone on this site holds so much respect for their rheumys ? At uni it was considered the idiots option if one wanted to enter a career in medicine.
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Date: 01.05.2014
From: bsk
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Subject: Re: My theory, stopping smoking at 55 triggered my RA
You can say that again, Sean! Ker (or is that a typo?) That is an appalling thing to say on an arthritis site. If you are so clever, why are you even visiting a site like this?
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Date: 02.05.2014
From: marlene
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Subject: Re: My theory, stopping smoking at 55 triggered my RA
Ken, how angry are you??????
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Date: 02.05.2014
From: Mollynoodles
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Subject: Re: My theory, stopping smoking at 55 triggered my RA
I agree. I stopped smoking and developed arthritis too. I'm convinced there's a link. In fact I didn't have any health issues as a smoker but now....
I also think it depends on how long you've smoked for. Long time smokers are more at risk of triggering something I believe. My advice? Don't start!
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Date: 02.05.2014
From: Linda
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Subject: Re: My theory, stopping smoking at 55 triggered my RA
My mother quit smoking, gained a lot of weight and then developed diabetes. Perhaps it is wiser not to start, but sometimes stooping can be detrimental for older people. My husband quit smoking, he went cold turkey after an operation, and six months later, he had problems with his bowel, something doctors don't tell you. He now uses e cigarettes.
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