Q and A - Is it possible for arthritis to cause shortness of breath?

[Guest guest]

Arthritis Foundation

Arthritis Today

01 Jun 2007

Q: Is it possible for arthritis to cause shortness of breath?

A: Yes. Shortness of breath can occur in people with rheumatoid

arthritis for a number of reasons. For one, the disease process itself

can cause inflammation and scarring in the connective tissue of the

lungs. In a very small portion of patients, methotrexate use can cause

pneumonitis -- inflammation of the lung tissue. Also in rare

instances, rheumatoid arthritis may affect the heart and cause heart

failure, which can be associated with shortness of breath. Much more

often people with rheumatoid arthritis develop fatigue and dyspnea

(breathlessness) on exertion simply because of the general disability

associated with this inflammatory condition. It's important that your

physician be aware of your concern about shortness of breath and carry

out appropriate studies to determine its cause.

Hardin, MD, Rheumatologist

http://www.arthritis.org/rheumatoid-arthritis-questions.php

--

Not an MD