When you have lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks healthy tissues. Also known as systemic lupus erythematosus, it doesn’t just cause joint pain or rashes—it quietly increases your chance of heart attacks, strokes, and artery damage. People with lupus are up to five times more likely to develop heart disease than people without it, even when they’re young and otherwise healthy. This isn’t just about high cholesterol or being overweight. It’s about inflammation—constant, invisible, and damaging.
The same immune system that attacks your kidneys, skin, or lungs also attacks the lining of your blood vessels and heart muscle. This leads to accelerated atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in arteries that can block blood flow, and pericarditis, inflammation around the heart that causes chest pain. Many people don’t realize their heart is under attack until they have a serious event. That’s why monitoring your cardiovascular health isn’t optional—it’s part of managing lupus.
Some lupus treatments, like long-term steroids, can raise blood pressure, blood sugar, and bad cholesterol, adding more pressure on your heart. But stopping meds isn’t the answer. The key is balancing control of lupus with protection of your heart. Regular blood pressure checks, cholesterol tests, and tracking inflammation markers like CRP aren’t just routine—they’re lifesavers. And if you smoke, quit. Smoking doubles your risk of heart disease with lupus.
You’ll find real-world advice in the posts below: how to spot early warning signs of heart trouble, what tests actually matter, which medications help or hurt your arteries, and how lifestyle changes—like diet and movement—can cut your risk without adding more pills. These aren’t generic tips. They’re based on what people with lupus are actually dealing with, and what doctors are seeing in practice.
