Increased Health Risks Of Psoriasis Patients

Psoriasis patients are at higher risks of many diseases and health issues. The effects of depression can be one cause leading to the increased risk. To recap, let’s run through what psoriasis is.

There are several variations of psoriasis but the most common is known as plaque psoriasis. Its symptoms usually include itchy and red thick patches of silvery and flakey skin. Psoriasis is a chronic disorder that commonly affects 1% to 3% of the world’s population. lthough more than 5 million Americans have psoriasis, most are not inflicted severely.

Unfortunately, the exact cause of this skin disorder remains unknown and hence there is no exact cure. It is thought to arise with an overreaction of the immune system, which targets and destroys the body’s own cells.

Usually, in a normal immune system, white blood cells produce antibodies to bacteria and viruses. These white blood cells also produce chemicals which help to aid in healing and fighting infective agents. Psoriasis causes special white blood cells, called T-cells, to become overactive. T-cells attack the skin, causing skin cells to multiply quickly so they start to stack up on the surface of the skin. Normal skin cells are typically sloughed off every thirty days, but in plaque psoriasis, the skin goes through the entire process in three to six days.

Patients with psoriasis are typically depressed over their appearance. In fact, it has been found that men who have this skin disorder turn to drinking and smoking, to numb their unhappiness. Hence, an increased mortality rate has been linked to those with psoriasis and who drinks and smokes heavily. Men with postular psoriasis tend to fall into this category.

Other health risks are also increased with psoriasis patients. They are found to be more likely to have diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Studies have also shown that patients with psoriasis often have key components seen in metabolic syndrome, including hypertension, obesity, elevated lipids, and insulin resistance. The inflammatory process in psoriasis is similar to the inflammatory process that occurs in atherosclerosis, a condition commonly referred to as hardening of the arteries.

Severe psoriasis can also cause a deficiency in folic acid. A folic acid deficiency is tied to high levels of homocysteine, increasing the stakes for heart disease. The fact that psoriasis is related to a high risk for heart disease suggests that psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disorder. Whether conventional treatments for psoriasis can reduce this increased risk of heart disease is unfortunately, not yet known.

Comments

2 Responses to “Increased Health Risks Of Psoriasis Patients”

john Goh on May 10th, 2008 7:08 am

Dear Ms Evelyn Lim
According to your blog,you related psoriasis are high heart risk: diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and heart problem. Due to atherosclerosis, a condition commonly referred to as hardening of the arteries. (good finding)
I agree to the above statement, I need to clarified that how it link to psoriasis and diabetes?
My personal view that if any person who does not take care their diet, anybody can easily high chance suffer diabetes.
Or you may other view point which you want to share.
Thanks
goh
fruzan on May 12th, 2008 10:39 am

please send me the latest version of remedy for psorisis
thank you

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