How does psoriasis affect your heart?
James Craig
Published Jan 11, 2026
Some psoriasis treatments can result in irregular cholesterol levels. This can harden the arteries and make a heart attack even more likely. People with psoriasis have also been found to have an increased risk of coronary heart disease, according to the British Journal of Dermatology .Some psoriasis treatments can result in irregular cholesterol levels. This can harden the arteries and make a heart attack Overview. NSTEMI stands for non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, which is a type of heart attack. Compared to the more common type of heart attack known as STEMI, an NSTEMI is typically less damaging to your heart. › health › nstemi
Can psoriasis cause heart problems?
Psoriasis causes inflammation on your skin and inside your body. Long-lasting inflammation inside your body may affect your heart and blood vessels, putting you at greater risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke.
What organs can psoriasis affect?
They're red or purple, and covered with silvery white scales. Plaques most often occur on the scalp, knees, elbows, and lower back. They also show up in or around the belly button. Psoriasis affects the fingernails or toenails of about half of people who have it.
Can psoriasis clog arteries?
(Reuters Health) - People with psoriasis may be at increased risk of calcium buildup in the arteries – an indicator of heart disease risk – comparable to that of people with diabetes, according to a new study.
Can psoriasis shorten your life expectancy?
Psoriasis by itself doesn't affect life expectancy. However, if you have the condition, you're at higher risk of other diseases that may have a higher mortality risk, such as heart disease.
22 related questions foundCan psoriasis affect the brain?
Psoriasis affects your brain chemicals.
These make skin cells grow out of control and form scaly plaques. They also change levels of chemicals in your brain that affect your mood. A cytokine called TNF-alpha may affect brain chemicals like serotonin in a way that could lead to depression.
Can psoriasis cause death?
Conclusions. Severe psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of death from a variety of causes with cardiovascular death being the most common etiology. These patients were also at increased risk of death from causes not previously reported such as infection, kidney disease, and dementia.
Can psoriasis cause other health problems?
If you have psoriasis, you're at greater risk of developing other conditions, including: Psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints. Eye conditions, such as conjunctivitis, blepharitis and uveitis. Obesity.
Does psoriasis worsen with age?
Most people develop psoriasis between the ages of 15 and 35. While psoriasis may get better or worse depending on different environmental factors, it doesn't get worse with age. Obesity and stress are two possible components that lead to psoriasis flares.
Does aspirin make psoriasis worse?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Aspirin and ibuprofen are common NSAIDs. People with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis may frequently use NSAIDs. Using NSAIDs can sometimes lead to an increased risk of psoriasis. Some people with psoriasis have seen their symptoms worsen after using NSAIDs.
What does psoriasis do to the inside of your body?
It causes white blood cells to become overactive and produce chemicals that trigger inflammation in the skin. This inflammation can also affect other parts of the body, including the lungs. Researchers believe that psoriasis is related to insulin resistance .
Can psoriasis be life-threatening?
Psoriasis is not generally considered life-threatening, except in cases of erythrodermic psoriasis. This rare type of psoriasis can affect the entire body. Erythrodermic psoriasis can cause shivering and fluid retention, and may increase the risk of pneumonia and heart failure.
Can psoriasis affect lungs?
Emerging evidence also suggests that patients with psoriasis may be more susceptible to a variety of respiratory (lung) diseases and that some of the systemic drug treatments for moderate-severe psoriasis, may themselves have pulmonary side-effects, such as cough and breathlessness.
Can psoriasis cause high BP?
In fact, more than half (54 percent) of the psoriasis patients had high blood pressure. Results from a patient database in the United Kingdom revealed that people with moderate or severe psoriasis were 20 and 48 percent, respectively, more likely to have uncontrolled high blood pressure.
What should you not say to someone with psoriatic arthritis?
10 Things You Should Never Say to Someone Living with Psoriatic Arthritis
- “It's all in your head.” ...
- “Maybe you should change your diet.” ...
- “But, you look fine and healthy!” ...
- “Do you need to take all that medicine for psoriatic arthritis?” ...
- “I have arthritis, too.” ...
- “You were fine yesterday.” ...
- “You're just being lazy.”
How long can you live with psoriasis?
Among patients who died, those with severe psoriasis died at a younger age than controls. For example, men with severe psoriasis died 3.5 years (95% CI, 1.2-5.8 years; P < . 001) younger than men without psoriasis, and women with severe psoriasis died 4.4 years (95% CI, 2.2-6.6 years; P < .
Why did I get psoriasis in my 60s?
Researchers believe late-onset psoriasis is caused by a combination of genes and other factors such as stress, skin injuries, previous infections, and certain medicines. For example, beta blockers, the medicine used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions, can make psoriasis worse.
Can you get psoriasis at 60?
The thick, scaly patches are called plaques. Psoriasis usually starts in early adulthood, though it can begin later in life. People of any age, gender or race can get psoriasis. It can get better and worse throughout your life.
Does having psoriasis mean you have a weakened immune system?
Psoriasis itself doesn't weaken the immune system, but it's a sign that the immune system isn't working the way it should. Anything that triggers the immune system can cause psoriasis to flare up. Common ailments like ear or respiratory infections can cause psoriasis to flare.
Is there a link between psoriasis and Parkinson's?
People with psoriasis may be at a higher risk to develop Parkinson's disease due to the detrimental effect of chronic inflammation on the neuronal tissue. Parkinson's is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects your brain. Eventually, it can cause tremors, rigid limbs, balance issues, and gait problems.
Does psoriasis cause Parkinson's?
Patients with psoriasis might be at a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD) as a result of the detrimental effect of chronic inflammation on the neuronal tissue.
Is psoriasis a death sentence?
Dec. 17, 2007 -- Psoriasis is not generally thought of as life-threatening, but it just might be for those with the severest forms of the disease. People with severe psoriasis had a 50% increased risk of death compared with people without the inflammatory skin disease in a newly reported study.
What happens if you leave psoriasis untreated?
Without treatment, the symptoms of psoriasis can worsen, and it can lead to other complications, such as psoriatic arthritis and diabetes. Psoriasis causes the body to produce new skin cells in days rather than weeks. These cells accumulate on the skin's surface, producing thick and scaly patches that can be itchy.
What is the root cause of psoriasis?
Psoriasis occurs when skin cells are replaced more quickly than usual. It's not known exactly why this happens, but research suggests it's caused by a problem with the immune system. Your body produces new skin cells in the deepest layer of skin.
Can psoriasis cause dementia?
Conclusion. In summary, patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are at a high risk of developing both non-vascular and vascular dementia. Those with severe psoriasis may not have a higher risk of death from dementia.