Psoriasis as a Risk Factor in Heart Disease...

Here is some news about psoriasis that is taking some time to filter into the general public knowledge: there is a link between psoriasis and heart disease.

"You're At Risk  (for heart disease) If...

You smoke; load up on saturated fats; don't exercise; or have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease. But these habits and hazards are also dangerous:

1. Psoriasis Because it triggers inflammation inside the body, this chronic skin disease boosts your chances of cardiovascular disease nearly as much as smoking does.

2. Skimping on sleep Getting 5 or fewer hours a night more than doubles the danger, even in otherwise healthy people.

3. Gum disease People who have periodontal disease—bacterial infection of the gums—are nearly twice as likely to have a fatal heart attack as those who don't. Almost 75% of adults have unhealthy gums—many without realizing it, because oral infection is painless in the early stages.

4. Pregnancy complications Having preeclampsia (high blood pressure and protein in the urine) doubles the odds of a heart attack later in life; developing gestational diabetes ups this risk by 70%.

5. Workplace stress Women with demanding jobs but little control over how to perform them have a 40% higher risk of heart attack and stroke than those with low-stress jobs. Job insecurity is linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and weight gain, all of which take a toll on heart health…."

From: http://health.yahoo.net/rodale/PVN/what-you-don-t-know-about-statins

And yes, psoriasis is not just a skin disease, but an autoimmune disease with systemic inflammatory properties. That inflammation can lead to joint pain (psoriatic arthritis) and hypertension and diabetes. That systemic inflammation prompts the body to lay down excess plaque in the arteries to reduce the inflammation of the arteries. And then that plaque narrows the arteries creating hypertension.

So homeopathy takes a completely systemic approach to psoriasis and thus to hypertension. There is no ‘one size fits all’ homeopathic remedy for psoriasis. There is an individualized approach to your systemic problem. Every aspect of your health must be considered: food, sleep, hormones, stress, your personality, your digestion and elimination and of course your immune status. Homeopathy can change psoriasis. Homeopathy can change hypertension. We just dig deeper to do it.

First published 9 March 2011