There is currently a considerable amount of research being undertaken to explore the psoriasis-heart connection more fully. Some researchers have described that psoriasis itself may be a risk factor for developing heart disease, or that the risk of heart disease is greater for those who have both psoriasis and inflammatory arthritis. However, other research reports that people with psoriasis have no additional risk of heart disease due to their psoriasis at all.
There are many, well-known, risk factors for heart disease including diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure (hypertension), and increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL), often known as bad cholesterol. Research shows that risk factors for heart disease are more frequently found in people with psoriasis than in people who do not have psoriasis. It is unclear why this is the case but it may explain why some people with psoriasis develop heart disease. The good news is that you can take action. By making positive changes to lifestyle and diet you can reduce many of these risk factors and improve the health of your heart. Read more. Order a free copy of our Psoriasis and the Heart leaflet from our shop.