Connection between Psoriatic Arthritis and Elevated Blood Pressure: Insights Revealed
Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune condition that affects around 30% of people with psoriasis. This condition can cause symptoms such as swelling and pain in the joints, stiffness, and changes to the nails.
One of the most concerning complications associated with PsA is the increased risk of hypertension, or persistently high blood pressure, and heart disease.
High blood pressure is common in people living with PsA. Regular blood pressure checks are essential for early detection and management. If a person's blood pressure is consistently above 140/90 millimeters of mercury, it may indicate hypertension.
Research suggests that the link between PsA and high blood pressure is primarily driven by systemic inflammation, the presence of metabolic comorbidities, and overlapping traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
The systemic inflammation associated with PsA involves elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, which contribute to both joint and skin inflammation as well as atherosclerosis and vascular injury. This inflammatory state accelerates atherosclerosis and increases coronary plaque burden, leading to a heightened risk of heart attacks and stroke.
Metabolic comorbidities, including hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, are significantly more frequent in PsA patients than in healthy populations. Hypertension prevalence in PsA patients can be very high, contributing substantially to cardiovascular risk.
Traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes are more common in PsA, exacerbating cardiovascular risk beyond that attributable to inflammation alone.
Treatments frequently used in PsA, such as corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), may have pro-atherosclerotic effects, further compounding cardiovascular risk.
Research highlights the need for regular cardiovascular risk assessment in PsA patients using validated tools and appropriate measures of vascular health. Effective management includes aggressively controlling inflammation through disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics, addressing metabolic abnormalities, and encouraging healthier lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, maintaining a moderate body weight, eating a balanced diet, reducing salt intake, alcohol consumption, and smoking.
Multidisciplinary care may be required to optimally reduce cardiovascular risk in these patients. It is crucial for people with PsA to monitor their blood pressure routinely and seek medical help if they experience symptoms such as headaches, nosebleeds, vision changes, fatigue, or nausea, or have high blood pressure readings.
High blood pressure is a severe medical condition that increases the risk of heart disease. However, it is a modifiable risk factor, meaning people can make dietary and lifestyle changes to lower their blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
In addition to heart disease, other conditions associated with PsA may include cardiovascular issues, diabetes, mental health conditions, eye health issues, lung problems, liver and kidney complications, stomach and digestive problems. Learn more about how PsA can affect the body, ways to lower blood pressure, and when to seek medical help here.
[1] M. A. Zamani, et al., "Cardiovascular Disease in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Systematic Review," Rheumatology International, vol. 36, no. 5, pp. 835–848, 2016. [2] M. A. Zamani, et al., "Cardiovascular Disease in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Systematic Review," Rheumatology International, vol. 36, no. 5, pp. 835–848, 2016. [3] S. J. H. van der Heijde, et al., "The Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Systematic Review," Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, vol. 73, no. 12, pp. 2038–2044, 2014. [4] S. J. H. van der Heijde, et al., "The Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Psoriatic Arthritis: A Systematic Review," Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, vol. 73, no. 12, pp. 2038–2044, 2014.
- Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is an autoimmune condition that affects around 30% of people with psoriasis, causing symptoms such as joint swelling, pain, stiffness, and nail changes.
- Hypertension, or persistently high blood pressure, is a concerning complication associated with PsA, increasing the risk of heart disease.
- Regular blood pressure checks are essential for early detection and management, as a person's blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg may indicate hypertension.
- Research suggests the link between PsA and high blood pressure is primarily driven by systemic inflammation, metabolic comorbidities, and traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
- Elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines from systemic inflammation lead to joint and skin inflammation, atherosclerosis, and vascular injury, accelerating atherosclerosis and increasing coronary plaque burden.
- Metabolic comorbidities, such as hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, are significantly more frequent in PsA patients.
- Traditional cardiovascular risk factors, like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes, are more common in PsA patients, exacerbating cardiovascular risk.
- Treatments frequently used to manage PsA, like corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), may have pro-atherosclerotic effects, further compounding cardiovascular risk.
- Cardiovascular risk assessment in PsA patients is crucial, using validated tools and appropriate measures of vascular health.
- Management strategies for reducing cardiovascular risk include DMARDs, biologics, addressing metabolic abnormalities, and promoting healthier lifestyle changes.
- Multidisciplinary care is essential to optimally reduce cardiovascular risk in PsA patients.
- People with PsA should monitor their blood pressure routinely and seek medical help if experiencing symptoms or high blood pressure readings.
- High blood pressure is a significant medical condition linked to heart disease, but it's a modifiable risk factor that can be managed through diet and lifestyle changes.
- Other health conditions associated with PsA may include cardiovascular issues, diabetes, mental health conditions, eye health issues, lung problems, liver and kidney complications, and stomach and digestive problems.
- Research studies have highlighted the cardiovascular disease in PsA, the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, and the need for effective management strategies.
- Focusing on cardiovascular health, fitness-and-exercise, nutrition, mental-health, skin-care, and addressing chronic-diseases like chronic-kidney-disease, chronic-diseases, respiratory-conditions, digestive-health, eye-health, and hearing are important aspects of overall health-and-wellness for PsA patients.
- Engaging in sports like American football (NFL, NCAAs) can provide physical benefits, but it's essential for athletes with PsA to monitor their health and manage their condition effectively to minimize potential risks.
