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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : October 16, 2014 6:55 PM IST
According to a recent study, patients suffering from severe psoriasis, a common skin disease, are likely to have uncontrolled hypertension. Individuals are said to have uncontrolled BP if the blood pressure reading is more than 140/90 mm Hg. Further findings indicated a positive correlation between uncontrolled hypertension and psoriasis meaning the likelihood of uncontrolled hypertension increases with greater psoriasis severity. (Read: Natural alternatives for high blood pressure medication)
The patients with the highest risk of having uncontrolled blood pressure, are those with moderate to severe psoriasis, which is defined as having at least three percent of one's body surface affected by the disease, the findings showed. 'To our knowledge, ours is the first study to evaluate the effect of objectively determined psoriasis severity on blood pressure control,' said co-first author on the study Junko Takeshita from the University of Pennsylvania in the US. The researchers examined data from a random sample of psoriasis patients included in The Health Improvement Network (THIN), an electronic medical database based in Britain. (Read: Do natural remedies for psoriasis actually work?)
'Over the last several years, studies have shown that psoriasis, specifically severe psoriasis, is an independent risk factor for a variety of comorbidities, putting patients suffering with this common skin disease at an increased risk of other conditions such as heart attack and stroke,' Takeshita added. 'Knowing that psoriasis is tied to other health conditions, it's vital that we have a better understanding of the systemic effects it has on other areas of the body so that we can more closely monitor these patients and provide better and preventative care' Takeshita concluded. (Read: Psoriasis tips to take care of it at home)
The findings appeared in the journal JAMA Dermatology.
What is psorasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that causes skin to flake off leading to skin redness and irritation. Most people with psoriasis have thick, reddened skin with flaky, silvery patches called scales.
What are the causes of psoriasis?
The exact causes of psoriasis are unknown. However, there are some findings that point to psoriasis being an autoimmune disorder (the body s defence cells start attacking the body s own skin cells). Moreover, psoriasis is quite unpredictable and may affect people of any age. That being said, the diseases is commonly seen between the ages of 15 and 35. Psoriasis also seems to have a hereditary predilection and is most definitely not communicable. Read more about Psoriasis symptoms, triggers, treatment and management
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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