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What does knee pain have to do with heart problems? It turns out that research links joint health and heart health in many ways, including:

• People with arthritis have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks, stroke, and heart failure.
• People with joint pain are less likely to exercise, which is key to preventing heart problems.
• Some treatments for joint pain come with side effects that aren’t good for your heart.

Though arthritis may put you at a higher risk for heart problems, joint pain isn’t usually a symptom of heart disease. That said, pain in the arm or shoulder could suggest a heart attack if it comes with other symptoms.

What’s the Link Between Long-Term Joint Pain and Heart Disease?

Many studies show that people with long-term joint pain have a higher risk of cardiovascular issues.

These include:

• Heart attack — When blood flow to the heart is suddenly blocked.
• Heart failure — When the heart can’t pump blood as well as it should.
• Stroke — When blood flow to the brain is suddenly blocked.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, people with osteoarthritis are almost three times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. Studies show people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are 1.5 times more likely to have heart-related problems.

What’s the link between chronic joint pain and heart problems?

In patients with joint pain from RA, inflammation in the body links the two diseases. The same inflammatory reaction that causes joint pain can cause swelling elsewhere and damage the blood vessels.

Another reason for this link is that people with arthritis are more likely to be overweight and have high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and cholesterol. These factors may put people at risk for both cardiovascular disease and joint pain.

Finally, people with joint pain might think exercising will worsen their joint damage or pain. (This isn’t true — there are safe ways for people with joint pain to exercise.)

Exercising and not smoking are the most important things people can do to lower their risk of heart problems. So, if people don’t exercise because of joint pain, their risk of poor heart health increases.

How Do Medications for Joint Pain Affect Your Heart?

Some medicines for joint pain increase the risk of heart problems, while others lower them.

Joint pain meds that worsen heart health

People who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) more often and over a long time have a higher risk of heart problems. These include heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.

Though no one knows exactly why, long-term use of NSAIDs can increase the risk of blood clotting and can increase blood pressure. These drugs can also increase fluid retention in the body, worsening heart failure. Examples of NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve).

Steroids, like prednisone, can also raise blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Doctors may also prescribe Januse kinase (JAK) inhibitors to those with inflammatory forms of arthritis. JAK inhibitors such as tofacitinib, baricitinib, and upadacitinib increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Joint pain meds that help heart health

If you have arthritis, treating it with the right medications could help your heart. Studies show that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors reduce the risk of heart problems in people with RA.

Adalimumab and etanercept are TNF inhibitors. They likely help by reducing inflammation throughout the body, including in the joints and blood vessels.

How Do I Lower My Risk of Heart Problems?

The following steps can help prevent heart problems if you have chronic joint pain.

Exercise regularly

Not only does exercise greatly reduce your risk of a heart problem, but it can also reduce inflammation in the body. This can, in turn, reduce arthritis pain.

If you have joint pain, low-impact exercise is best. Look for low-impact aerobics and strength-training videos. Cycling and swimming are also great forms of low-impact exercise.

If your knees hurt from everyday activity or joint pain makes it too hard to exercise, ask your doctor about joint replacement. For some people, joint replacement allows them to return to daily walks and other forms of exercise.

Eat a heart-healthy diet

Heart-healthy diets are low in saturated fats, sugar, and salt.

Take these steps to improve your diet:

• Add more vegetable-based protein, like legumes, beans, and tofu.
• Avoid highly processed foods, like packaged snacks and chips. These are often high in salt and sugar.
• Focus on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, such as multigrain bread and pasta, brown rice, and quinoa.
• Limit full-fat dairy, desserts, candies, and sugary beverages to occasional treats.
• Try to eat lean meats like fish and chicken (instead of red meat) more often.

For more inspiration for a heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory diet, check out the Mediterranean diet and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet.

Avoid NSAIDs and other medicines that can affect the heart

If you have joint pain, take NSAIDs like Advil sparingly. These can affect your long-term heart health.

You can also try nondrug options, such as ice, heat, physical therapy, and massage.

If your doctor prescribes medications like JAK inhibitors or steroids, talk to your doctor about your concern over heart impacts. They may then prescribe alternatives.

See your doctor routinely

Monitor your heart health by regularly checking your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and weight at the doctor. If these numbers are abnormal or changing from one visit to the next, your doctor can help you get back on track.

They can suggest lifestyle changes you can make to improve your health. Medicines for high blood pressure, blood sugar, or cholesterol can also lower your risk of heart disease.

Is Joint Pain a Symptom of Heart Disease?

Can heart problems cause aching joints? No, joint pain isn’t a symptom of chronic heart diseases like arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), heart failure, or heart valve disease.

What are the early warning signs of heart disease?

If you have heart disease, you may not experience symptoms. If you do experience symptoms, they may include:

• Chest pain.
• Fatigue.
• Palpitations or fluttering in the chest.
• Shortness of breath.
• Swelling in the feet, legs, abdomen, or neck.

If you experience any of these symptoms, see your doctor.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on February 5, 2025, and was last reviewed on January 5, 2026.