Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic autoimmune condition that affects the joints and skin. Individuals suffering from psoriatic arthritis are at risk of developing heart disease. The one-million-dollar question is how much does psoriatic arthritis increase the risk of heart disease?
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) isn’t just about joint pain and skin issues; it can lead to heart disease. Therefore, one must understand this connection. So, what is the connection between psoriatic arthritis and heart disease, and what can you do to reduce your risk?
What Is Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a persistent autoimmune disorder that causes the skin to develop red, scaly rashes. This type of arthritis can cause inflammation in the joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling. The disease spreads through different body parts of the body, such as the eyes, kidneys, and heart.
One of the characteristics of psoriatic arthritis is that it can affect any joint in the body, like the fingers, toes, wrists, and knees. Living with the condition makes it difficult for patients to handle routine activities.
Causes of Psoriatic Arthritis
Certain factors can cause this kind of arthritis. In this review, we will examine the causes and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis to help you know how to manage the condition.
1. Genetics
According to studies, genetics is strong evidence in the formation of psoriatic arthritis. The risk of developing psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis is higher among people with psoriatic conditions in their family lineage.
2. Immune System Dysfunction
Medical experts identify psoriatic arthritis as an autoimmune disease because improper immune system activity attacks healthy body cells, causing joint inflammation and skin damage.
3. Environmental Triggers
Infections or injuries can trigger or activate psoriatic arthritis in people who are genetically predisposed to the condition.
Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis
1. Joint Pain and Stiffness
The primary symptom of psoriatic arthritis includes joint pain with stiffness that affects some parts of the body, particularly fingers, toes, knees, and spine.
2. Swelling or Redness
Swelling and Redness: Inflamed joints may appear swollen, warm to the touch, and red, indicating increased inflammation and potential damage to the joint.
3. Skin Color Changes
Persons with psoriatic arthritis may also experience changes in their skin color, such as thick, scaly patches known as psoriasis plaques; such skin conditions can be itchy and painful.
4. Nail Abnormalities
Psoriatic arthritis can cause changes in the nails, such as pitting, discoloration, or separation from the nail bed, which both appear abnormal and produce discomfort.
5. Fatigue
Chronic inflammation and pain from psoriatic arthritis may degenerate to extreme tiredness, which makes it hard to perform daily activities.
How much does psoriatic arthritis increase the risk of heart disease?
PsA patients have 43% higher risks of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This is why Medical experts believe psoriatic arthritis shares a link with heart disease due to the underlying inflammation in both health conditions. Inflammation can damage the blood vessels and increase the risk of plaque buildup in the arteries, which there result in heart disease
This inflammation can affect not just the joints but also the blood vessels, and when this happens, it develops other conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. In addition, there is a higher chance that anyone with psoriatic arthritis will get other risk factors for heart disease, like obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
Symptoms of heart disease
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Palpitations
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet
- Lower back or abdominal pain
- Coughing or wheezing
- Extreme anxiety or nervousness
Why Does PsA Elevate Heart Disease Risk?
Chronic inflammation is the main reason PsA raise the chance of one getting a heart disease. When the immune system attacks healthy tissue incorrectly in PsA patients, it results in continuous inflammation in the entire body. The continuous inflammatory response from PsA does not stop at skin or joint damage because it actively damages the cardiovascular system.
Also, the risk factors for heart disease increase because inflammation damages blood vessels while promoting the formation of arterial plaques through atherosclerosis.
Plaque formation with atherosclerosis gets worse for PsA patients due to their multiple cardiovascular risk elements, which extend beyond inflammation. In this situation, it can lead to obesity in PsA patients, thereby increasing their heart disease risks according to medical research.
The occurrence of diabetes is greater among people with PsA. This causes an increased risk of heart disease. The strain on the heart and blood vessels occurs when hypertension appears together with PsA.
How To Manage PsA
Controlling psoriatic arthritis can prevent other health conditions associated with it. The use of anti-inflammatory therapies helps to reduce cardiovascular hazards. Psoriatic arthritis medications, according to studies, help lessen arterial inflammation, so, it reduces the risk of heart disease.
The European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) advices that patients with PsA should endeavour to go for cardiovascular risk assessments program at least once in five-year periods. Several methods can help manage cardiovascular risks in patients diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. They include the following:
- Regular monitoring: Regular blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels sugar check should be done routinely to help manage cardiovascular risks. When you detect any anomalities on time, it prevents the condition from worsening.
- Healthy diet: Eating nutritious foods helps reduce cardiovascular risks in patients. Patients with psoriatic arthritis need to eat foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Also, they should go for lean proteins. Limit the intake of processed foods, saturated fats, and added sugars.
- Regular exercise: A patient needs to perform regular exercise because it helps the heart to fution well. People who have psoriatic arthritis should perform moderate exercise, this includes walking, swimming, or cycling at least 150 minutes weekly. Such an exercise program helps people build cardiovascular fitness while decreasing their chances of getting heart disease.
- Stress management: An affected person can use stress management techniques to manage PsA. Stress can intensify inflammation and heighten cardiovascular disease risk among patients with psoriatic arthritis. Cardiovascular health improves as stress declines when psoriatic arthritis patients use stress management strategies like mindfulness meditation, yoga practice, and deep breathing exercises.
- Medication management: Patients with psoriatic arthritis can also manage their symptoms through medication because taking TNF inhibitors reduces arterial plaque formation. Patients should monitor their condition with healthcare providers to find suitable treatments that minimize cardiovascular risk.
Lifestyle Changes to Ease Risk
Implementing heart-healthy practices with medical care produces a valuable effect on health. Here are things that you can do:
- Eat well: Eating a balanced diet made up of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins protects both your joints and heart condition.
- Exercise regularly: Participating in regular physical exercise enables people to maintain better weight control while decreasing blood pressure levels and building stronger cardiovascular functions.
- Quit Smoking: Smoking represents a big problem because both PsA symptoms and heart disease risk become more severe when someone quits smoking despite their PsA diagnosis.
Final Thoughts
Research indicates that suffering from psoriatic arthritis leads to a 100 percent increased chance of developing cardiovascular disease. The disease-associated inflammation in PsA creates damage to artery walls, which raises the risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.
Recognizing the connection between psoriatic arthritis and heart disease with early preventive measures helps people control their health condition and minimize cardiovascular risks.
