If you suffer from psoriasis, you may want to pay even greater attention to your heart health. A study published in the April 1 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology found that psoriasis patients are at a greater risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) than those without the chronic skin disease. And the longer youve had psoriasis, the higher your heart risks. But how are the conditions linked? Coronary artery disease is believed to have an inflammatory basis, says Richard Krasuski, MD, a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic. Atherosclerotic plaques may be triggered by inflammatory changes in the vessel wall and changes to cholesterol particles in the blood are seen with inflammation that leads to greater cholesterol deposition in the vessel. Inflammation may even trigger plaque rupture, which can lead to occlusion of a heart vessel and a heart attack.
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