Preliminary research from Israel has indicated that a small number of patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases developed shingles after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, but more research is needed to prove causation. Here’s what you should know.
By The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Blood Clot Issue: What Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disease Patients Need to Know
Although a thorough safety review has determined that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is safe, people with certain chronic diseases may still have special concerns, given their medical history and risk factors for blood clots.
By Kelsey Kloss
What the CDC’s New Guidance on Travel for Fully Vaccinated People Means If You’re Immunocompromised
Is it safe to travel if you’re fully vaccinated but have an autoimmune or inflammatory disease or take immunosuppressant medication? Here’s what experts say, plus tips for staying safe if you travel.
The recommendations for mask wearing are becoming more lax, but people with compromised immune systems may need to continue standard mitigation efforts.
By Who’s Using Telehealth During the Pandemic? Research Shows It’s High-Income City Dwellers, Not Rural Residents
Although telehealth could greatly benefit people in rural areas who have less access to doctors, telemedicine care during the COVID-19 pandemic was commonly used among people who have high incomes and/or live in metropolitan areas.
By More Than 40% of Chronic Illness Patients Often ‘Double Mask,’ According to New Poll
In the Global Healthy Living Foundation’s latest COVID-19 Patient Support Program poll, more than 40 percent of patients surveyed said they wear two masks at the same time for better COVID-19 protection. Most started doing so within the last two months.
Experts believe the research into this topic will lead to a better understanding of autoimmunity.
Keeping Your Arthritis Disease Activity Low Might Reduce Your Chances of Dying from COVID-19, Study Shows
The key takeaway of this study is really that rheumatic patients with lower disease activity seem to fare better than those in high disease activity if they contract COVID-19.
By Kelsey Kloss
‘Long-Hauler’ Symptoms Are Common After COVID-19 — and May Resemble Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Researchers are finding more evidence that many recovering coronavirus patients go on to experience symptoms that last for months and may need additional long-term treatments.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way rheumatology patients communicate with their doctors and manage their health. But it’s important to know when to use a telehealth visit vs. when you need to see the doctor in person.
By Susan Jara
How Rheumatologists’ Offices Are Keeping Patients Safe During COVID-19
If you’ve been worried about going to a doctor’s office in person, it’s important to know the steps that rheumatology practices are following to keep patients safe from coronavirus exposure.
By Kelsey Kloss
People Who Regularly Use Aspirin to Prevent Heart Disease May Be Less Susceptible to COVID-19 Infection, Study Shows
It’s not a reason to start using aspirin or to stop following standard COVID-19 mitigation efforts, but it does call for future studies to investigate the role aspirin plays in COVID-19.
A new study found that many patients who tapered their meds wound up flaring.
Suspect Rheumatoid Arthritis? Seeing a Rheumatologist Within 6 Weeks Is Key
Time is of the essence when RA symptoms strike.
EULAR 2020: 50+ Updates That Could Change the Way You Treat Your Arthritis
Held virtually, the 2020 medical meeting from the European League Against Rheumatism shared important medical breakthroughs and updates about managing rheumatic conditions.
As people rush to return to “normal” Laurie Ferguson, PhD, clinical psychologist and Director of Education Development at the Global Healthy Living Foundation, shares her advice for rethinking your priorities in a post-pandemic world.
Recovered COVID-19 Patients May Be at Greater Risk for Psychiatric and Neurological Illnesses, Study Finds
In a new study that analyzed the records of more than 230,000 COVID-19 patients, researchers found that one in three COVID-19 patients experienced a psychiatric or neurological illness, including anxiety, insomnia, and stroke.
By The Next Chapter of COVID: 3 Ways for Chronic Illness Patients to Cope with the ‘Return to Normal’
As people rush to return to “normal,” Laurie Ferguson, PhD, clinical psychologist and Director of Education Development at the Global Healthy Living Foundation, shares her advice for handling the mix of emotions you may be feeling.
In the Global Healthy Living Foundation’s latest COVID-19 Patient Support Program poll, the vast majority of respondents said they have not had caregivers attend in-person or virtual medical appointments during the pandemic.
Will the New ‘Post-Pandemic Normal’ Be Accommodating to Chronic Illness and Disabilities? A New Poll Shows Patients Are Worried About Being Left Behind
In the Global Healthy Living Foundation’s latest COVID-19 Patient Support Program poll, the vast majority of respondents said they believe virtual and social distance options will remain available as society enters a new “normal,” but they are concerned that there will be fewer of them.
Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine Brings a Mix of Emotions for Immunocompromised People, Poll Shows
In the Global Healthy Living Foundation’s latest COVID-19 Patient Support Program poll, more than 75 percent of patients who received the COVID-19 vaccine feel hopeful about the future. But anxiety still looms, as well as for people who have not yet received any doses of the vaccine.
In the Global Healthy Living Foundation’s latest COVID-19 Patient Support Program poll, the vast majority of respondents said they have not had caregivers attend in-person or virtual medical appointments during the pandemic.
By Kelsey Kloss
Monoclonal Antibody Treatments for COVID-19: What Immunocompromised and Chronic Illness Patients Should Know
Experts hope these effective treatments will be used more frequently by high-risk patients, including those who are immunocompromised.
Think About Returning to ‘Normal’ as an Opportunity to Reprioritize Your Happiness
As people rush to return to “normal” Laurie Ferguson, PhD, clinical psychologist and Director of Education Development at the Global Healthy Living Foundation, shares her advice for rethinking your priorities in a post-pandemic world.
A new study from ArthritisPower shows that patients are very engaged when it comes to using a smartwatch along with short surveys to better understand rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
What Prompts Axial Spondyloarthritis Patients to Change Their Treatment? New Research Examines This Complicated Condition
Many axial spondyloarthritis patients are talking with their providers about their treatment plan — and wanting to prevent long-term damage is a major factor in how they think about it.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in High Disease Activity Don’t Change Their Treatment Regimen Very Often
Only about one-third of RA patients in high disease activity were offered a treatment change at their rheumatologist visit, according to a recent study in the ArthritisPower research registry.
A new study suggests that NSAIDs, a common osteoarthritis pain treatment, could be making symptoms worse. But more research is needed.
Xeljanz Study Raises Some Concerns About Heart and Cancer Risks: What Patients Need to Know
The medication, used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis, already had a boxed warning for blood clots, infection, and certain cancers. Now more research is needed to understand potential additional risks.
FDA Approves Voclosporin (Lupkynis), First Oral Treatment for Lupus-Related Kidney Disease
The medication helped improve kidney function in people with lupus nephritis significantly compared with those taking a placebo.
A new study examined the effectiveness of digital exercise programs, which may be especially beneficial for osteoarthritis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To Boost Bone Density, Doing More High-Intensity Exercise in the Teenage Years Seems Key
More time spent in moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity in adolescence was associated with greater hip bone mineral density at age 25 years, a new study found.
By Lupus Patients Who Don’t Exercise Are 3 Times More Likely to Become Depressed
Depression is common with lupus, but engaging in even just a little physical activity may significantly reduce your risk.
Rheumatoid arthritis patient Eileen Davidson has had her share of doctor visits virtually and in person. Here’s her take on the good and bad of telehealth — and why it’s transformed her care.
By Susan Jara
Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain: 7 Things You Should Tell Your Rheumatologist
Communication is the key to getting your RA pain under good control. Here’s what you need to discuss with your doctor if you’re experiencing an increase in RA pain.
By Susan Jara
How to Discuss Your Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain During a Telehealth Visit
Pain isn’t as easy to manage when providers can’t see and touch your joints in person, but you can effectively discuss and treat RA pain during virtual visits. Here’s how.
