People with more severe cases of psoriasis may be at increased risk of uncontrolled high blood pressure, a large study finds and reported by WebMD.
According to the study, researchers looked at over 13,000 adults in the United Kingdom and found that those with severe psoriasis were 48 percent more likely to have poorly controlled blood pressure, versus people without the skin condition.
The findings, reported online Oct. 15 in the journal JAMA Dermatology, confirm an association between psoriasis and cardiovascular health. But the precise reasons are not clear, and a cause-and-effect link was not proven.
"We still don't fully understand why we see a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in people with psoriasis," said study leader Dr. Junko Takeshita, a clinical instructor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia told WebMD. .
People with psoriasis develop thick, scaly patches on their skin that are often itchy or sore. Experts believe the problem arises from an abnormal immune system attack on healthy skin cells -- a reaction that causes chronic inflammation.
The strong suggestion is to make sure your blood pressure is under control and see your doctor regularly.