Psoriasis and Heart Disease
The first time I became aware of the skin condition, psoriasis, I was at the beach. As a young teenager, it was difficult for me not to stare at the raised, pink, scaly lesions that covered this sunbather’s body. It looked to be so very uncomfortable—not to mention unsightly.
When I discretely asked a friend of that poor “skin sufferer” what type of skin condition he had, I was told it was psoriasis. Since then, I have come across many people afflicted with the same condition: friends, patients, and even a few of my physical therapy students.
Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease which speeds up the formation of skin cells leading to the scaly patchwork of lesions which are most predominantly found on the scalp, knees, elbows, and lower back.
Living with this disease is no walk in the park. Those skin patches can be inflamed, tender, and itchy! Psoriasis is, unfortunately, a lifelong disease which, while it can be managed, cannot be cured.
Years ago, my daughter, who was in medical school at the time, told me of a correlation between psoriasis and heart disease which I was unaware of: Persons with psoriasis have a 3x greater risk for heart disease than those who do not have this condition. This significantly increased risk of vascular problems included heart attacks, strokes, and, particularly for those with psoriatic arthritis— coronary arrhythmias*.
The connection between the two diseases lies in the inflammatory nature of psoriasis. When the body is in a state of inflammation, so is the inner lining of one’s blood vessels. Inflamed vessels over-react to scratches they get when red blood cells and circulating fats (i.e., low density lipoproteins, or LDLs) scrape by during circulation. These minor injuries can lead to excessive plaque formation (atherosclerosis).
So, what’s the good news here? It’s this: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Knowing your condition puts you at increased risk may prompt you to get serious about improving your heart health. Don’t become “a statistic.” Lose weight, if need be, exercise more, eat a heart-healthy diet, and work towards removing (or better managing) the stressors in your life. And, by all means, keep your psoriasis well-managed. The less inflamed your body is, the better.
*Journal of American Academy of Dermatology, September 2015, British Journal of Medicine, September 2014, JAMA, October 2006.
