A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania indicates that for the 2-4% of the general population affected by psoriasis, an inflammatory skin disease, the health concerns from the condition could be much more than skin deep.
In the report published in JAMA Dermatology, scientists found a link between the severity of psoriasis and the risk for uncontrollable high blood pressure, which they defined as registering above 90/140 mmHg. Among the patients studied, those with more severe cases of this skin disorder were at a higher risk for uncontrollable high blood pressure. In other words, the severity of the skin condition was equally proportional to the risk of high blood pressure.
Severe psoriasis is also suspected of being associated with an increased risk of heart attack, heart disease, obesity and stroke.
The results from the study point to a need for patients with psoriasis to closely monitor their blood pressure, especially if the skin disease affects more than 3% of the body surface. It also raises the question of whether improved blood pressure regulation could alleviate the symptoms of this condition, a topic that researchers plan on investigating in the near future.
Read more about the report here.
