Psoriasis is a long-term skin condition that affects millions of people worldwide.
It causes skin cells to grow much faster than normal, leading to thick, red, scaly patches that can itch, crack, or become painful.
While many people think psoriasis only affects the skin, doctors now know it is an immune system disease that can cause inflammation throughout the body.
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or infection, but when it continues for a long time it can damage healthy tissues.
Scientists have been investigating whether this ongoing inflammation could also harm the heart and blood vessels. A new study provides more evidence that this may be the case.
The research was led by Ning Gao and colleagues at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Immunology.
The researchers used genetic information from a large group of people of European ancestry. They applied a method called Mendelian randomization, which uses naturally inherited genetic differences to help determine whether one condition is likely to contribute to another rather than simply being linked by chance.
The study found that people with a higher genetic risk of psoriasis were also more likely to develop several serious heart conditions. These included heart failure, atrial fibrillation, heart attack, heart valve disease, and strokes affecting the large arteries that supply the brain.
The researchers did not find evidence that psoriasis increased the risk of every type of stroke. In particular, they found no clear link with strokes caused by small blood vessel disease or blood clots that travel from the heart. This suggests that psoriasis may affect some forms of cardiovascular disease more than others.
The team also carried out extra analyses to check whether other factors could explain the results. Their findings remained consistent, making it less likely that the connection was caused by outside influences. This strengthens the evidence that psoriasis itself may play a role in raising the risk of certain heart diseases.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in many countries. If psoriasis increases this risk, people living with the condition may benefit from regular checks of blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and other heart health risk factors. Detecting these problems early can help prevent serious complications.
Managing psoriasis is also important for overall health. Treatments such as medicated creams, light therapy, and medicines that calm the immune system can help control symptoms. At the same time, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and attending regular medical check-ups can all help lower the risk of heart disease.
Although more studies are needed to understand exactly how psoriasis affects the heart, this research adds to growing evidence that the disease is much more than a skin problem. Looking after both skin health and heart health may help people with psoriasis enjoy healthier and longer lives.
If you care about skin health, please read studies about top signs of diabetic skin disease, and Mediterranean diet could help lower the skin cancer risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies about eating fish linked to higher risk of skin cancer, and results showing how to combat the effects of aging on your skin.
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