A recent study has discovered that those who suffer from certain inflammatory diseases may be at a substantially increased risk for developing cardiovascular complications.

The two diseases named in the study are polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM), both of which are caused by overactive immune responses that attack muscles cells. Severe inflammation can result from these attacks.

The team of researchers discovered that lung and heart muscle cells may also be attacked in these immune system flair-ups, which can cause lasting damage to them. The damage is what puts those with the inflammatory conditions at risk for more serious cardiac events such as heart attacks and strokes.

"Our results indicate that the risk of heart attack is twice as high in these people as in the general population," said Dr. Sasha Bernatsky, a study co-author. "Each year, one out of every 200 people with muscle inflammation, or myositis, succumbs to a stroke and one out of 75 to a heart attack."

Immunosuppressive treatments are the standard for dealing with PM and DM, but they cannot undo damage that is already done. To improve cardiovascular function, patients may want to consider taking supplements that contain fish oil or green tea extract, both of which have been reported by other studies to improve heart health.