Scientists say rheumatoid arthritis medications reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in sufferers from the debilitating disease.

Previous studies had reported that individuals suffering from rheumatoid arthritis are at a greater risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events.

Scientists believe chronic inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis is a possible underlying cause for increasing the above-mentioned risks.

According to the article published in Arthritis Research & Therapy, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs and biological agents reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

Universidad de Las Palmas researchers claim these drugs include methotrexate, sulfasalazine, glucocorticoids, leflunomide and TNF-alpha blockers.

Findings showed long-term methotrexate use reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke by 18 and 11 percent, respectively.

PKH/HGH