The first steps in CV risk control should be lifestyle changes, as they are the most important non-pharmacological interventions in CV prevention in ARDs and chronic inflammatory disorders. Improving the QOL should be one of the main goals. Patients should be encouraged to stop smoking, and they should be encouraged for including daily physical exercise in their schedule. Aerobic activity and physical fitness provide significant impacts on the endothelial system, both acutely and chronically
[16]. Exercise has multiple CV benefits in ARD patients, according to evidence from lifestyle programs
[17]. Regulated exercise therapy improves cardiorespiratory health as well as macrovascular and microvascular functionality, and, indeed, it reduces CV risk. Exercise, in fact, can invert endothelial dysfunction by enhancing anti-oxidative processes and increasing vascular endothelial growth factor, endothelial progenitor cell, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and prostaglandins synthesis, thereby boosting angiogenesis, local blood flow, and endothelial growth
[18]. The higher eNOS activity is accompanied by a decrease in the up-regulation of adhesion molecules, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and endothelin-1, which have all been shown to favor the infiltration of inflammatory cells, especially T cells and monocytes, to the capillary endothelial wall, thereby facilitating atherosclerotic wall injury. Finally, it has been shown that daily physical exercise has a significant systemic anti-inflammatory effect. Undoubtedly, mild muscular exercise decreases the size of adipose tissue, which can lead to an increase in pro-inflammatory molecules like (CRP) and (IL)-6
[17]. Muscular exercise enhances overall muscle hypertrophy and coordination, decreases adipose tissue, and enhances the immune response in RA patients, especially those with structural joint injury. Furthermore, regular exercise has been shown to decrease disease severity and activity, as it is very beneficial for different disease outcomes
[19]. Although the CV benefits of physical activity are well documented, there are a few studies that contradict the conclusions pertaining to associations between exercise and subclinical markers of ATS, or those pertaining to the impact of exercise on CV outcomes in patients with ARDS
[18]. In a recent study involving women with SLE, poor physical activity was linked to an increased risk of subclinical ATS, as measured by increased carotid IMT and plaque development. Furthermore, in the same population, less physical activity was correlated with the existence of pro-inflammatory HDL, a molecule recently implicated in the induction of subclinical ATS in SLE. Previous research suggests that physical activity may contribute to a decrease in the inflammation associated with ATS, and to influencing inflammation markers in these patients
[18][17]. It should be noted: people with RA and other chronic systemic inflammatory disorders are known to have a lower degree of physical activity due to articular discomfort and joint deformity. Given the proof of the importance of physical exercise in suppressing disease activity and optimizing disease outcomes, routine physical activity should be incorporated into the basic treatment of patients with chronic ARDs. Even so, further research is needed to examine and analyze the effects of physical exercise and muscle fitness on CV outcomes in these patients
[20].
The Mediterranean diet or plant-based diets, rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and low in saturated fats and sodium, might help reduce symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis. There is a strong scientific rationale for the use of dietary n-3 fatty acid supplementation to modulate inflammation
[21]. A recent review revealed a significant reverse association between fish consumption and risk of RA
[22].