When most people think about psoriasis, they picture red, scaly patches on the skin. These patches can be itchy, painful, and make people feel self-conscious.
But there is much more to psoriasis than what you see on the outside. What many people don’t know is that having psoriasis can also raise the risk of heart disease.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body’s immune system, which normally protects you from germs, starts attacking healthy parts of your body by mistake.
In psoriasis, the immune system targets the skin, causing it to grow too fast and form thick, scaly areas. But the effects of this immune problem don’t stop with the skin.
The reason psoriasis is linked to heart problems is because of something called inflammation. Inflammation is your body’s way of fighting off infections or healing wounds. But in diseases like psoriasis, inflammation becomes long-term or “chronic.” Instead of helping, this long-term inflammation can cause damage.
In people with psoriasis, the inflammation is not only in the skin—it can also happen inside the body, including in the heart and blood vessels. This hidden inflammation can lead to serious heart conditions like blocked arteries, heart attacks, and strokes.
Researchers have found strong links between severe psoriasis and heart disease. Some studies show that people with serious psoriasis are up to 58% more likely to have a heart attack and 43% more likely to have a stroke than people without psoriasis. These risks are seen not only in older adults but also in younger people with severe psoriasis.
Psoriasis can also make other risk factors for heart disease worse. For example, people with psoriasis are more likely to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity. They are also at greater risk of developing diabetes. All of these health problems increase the chances of heart disease.
Because of this, it’s important for people with psoriasis to keep an eye on their heart health. Managing psoriasis well can help lower the overall inflammation in the body, which may also reduce the risk of heart problems. Some treatments for psoriasis, especially those that fight inflammation, can improve both the skin and the heart.
Living a heart-healthy lifestyle is also key. Eating healthy foods, getting regular exercise, not smoking, and finding ways to reduce stress can make a big difference. These habits are good for everyone, but they are especially important for people with psoriasis.
Psoriasis is not just a skin condition—it’s a whole-body condition that can affect many parts of your health, including your heart. That’s why it’s important to treat psoriasis not just on the surface but also by taking care of the rest of your body.
By working closely with healthcare providers and making healthy lifestyle choices, people with psoriasis can improve both their skin and their heart health. With the right care and attention, it’s possible to live a healthier, longer life.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
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