Earlier this year, I wrote about a study demonstrating that people with psoriasis are at higher risk for heart attack. Now another study has linked psoriasis to diabetes and atherosclerosis, the hardening and narrowing of the arteries that can lead to heart disease. According to Daily Health News contributing medical editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, this has been seen anecdotically for years — but now there’s research to back it up.
RESEARCH FINDINGS
Researchers in Israel conducted a case-controlled study that compared 46,095 patients with psoriasis with 1,579,037 patients without psoriasis. They found a significantly higher proportion of diabetes and atherosclerosis in psoriasis patients compared with the control group, even after adjusting for their age since that can be a factor. The study supports previous research that demonstrated an association between psoriasis and these medical conditions.
Does this study mean that people who have psoriasis should worry about diabetes and heart disease? Does psoriasis actually cause diabetes and heart disease, or vice versa? I asked Joel M. Gelfand, MD, MSCE, assistant professor of dermatology and medical director of the Clinical Studies Unit at the University of Pennsylvania Health System — and he said the cause/effect relationship isn’t yet clear. “Psoriasis is a classic model of an immune-mediated disease,” he said, adding that “the type of inflammation that leads to psoriasis is the same type that occurs in blood vessels leading to clogged arteries and heart attack, and also the type that leads to insulin resistance and diabetes.”
In other words, psoriasis is a visible manifestation of the same process — it’s on the skin, where you can see it, rather than in the blood vessels, where you can’t.
SELF-DEFENSE
Even though it isn’t shown that psoriasis causes diabetes or heart disease, those with psoriasis, particularly if it is severe, should be aware of their potential increased risk for diabetes and heart disease and alert to the symptoms of these diseases. Since psoriasis is usually treated as a skin problem and many dermatologists do not screen for these medical conditions, it is important to see your primary care physician to evaluate your risk and monitor cardiovascular health.
Psoriasis is a complicated illness. And, like so many diseases, lifestyle is a factor. “Psoriasis sufferers ought to take a look at their risk factors that are modifiable,” said Dr. Gelfand. “Smoking and obesity are important risk factors for heart disease and diabetes. Many people who have psoriasis also smoke and become overweight over time, due to the burden of coping with the disease.”
A healthful lifestyle is the best way to reduce your risk for heart disease and diabetes, and it can also combat inflammation, notes Dr. Rubman. His advice on natural strategies: Get regular exercise and eat a nutritious diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids such as fish, borage or flaxseed oil, and avoid all foods that contain trans fats.
You may also benefit from relaxation techniques that reduce stress, such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing or listening to soothing music. “There is some data that shows that stress exacerbates psoriasis, but this may be a chicken and egg situation because having psoriasis can be very stressful,” said Dr. Gelfand. “Some studies show that relaxation techniques such as meditation not only help patients feel better, but also improve patients’ response to psoriasis treatments.”

Source(s): ?
Joel M. Gelfand, MD, is assistant professor of dermatology and associate scholar at the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics and medical director of the Clinical Studies Unit at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr. Gelfand’s epidemiologic research focuses on the natural history of psoriasis and the risk of diseases associated with psoriasis. He has published extensively on the risk of obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, lymphoma and myocardial infarction associated with psoriasis.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, April 2007.

I don’t have a damn clue what she did/did not tell her kids about sex (obviously not all that much, but you can’t blame every mother for these things either, where’s dad, he’s her parent also, oh yeah, we’ll rail him later, he’s not running for veep)…

My kid is 9 and knows the basic birds and bees dealio, all age appropriate info, all spoken within the context of the two parties being in a loving, committed relationship. When it is appropriate she’ll have all the knowledge she needs, I think some people (women and MEN)have trouble discussing sex, sexual health, female/male parts and their possible slang terms, all of it…and yet, we leave basicically clueless kids to sort this s**T for themselves or rely on sex education in schools, (health class which they do twice a year and everyone giggles through? That’s ok with you?) to me, it’s a nice addition to the home talking and it is on-going here (just as it should be between a couple btw) you don’t just do the basic rap to your kid and send them on their way, BUT, you must have established an open casual chatty type sitch in your home long before they’re teens…or fugget about it.

About her abilities, I can only say that I do not want a bible-thumping evangelical christian woman, period. She’s anti-abortion, and pro-lifer’s talk a good game but where are they when 17 year old’s do keep their babies, are they there to help, oh F**K no. & that’s just more nonsensical BS. I’m pro-mind my biz, just give women good health care no matter their choice (that’s always what this is about to me, women not having to fly out of the country to get a hanger job, c’mon it’s 2008 not 1960) that decision is between her and her man and her doc, ’nuff said, and men (and women either) I do not care if you agree with that or not. She’s anti-gay, again it is 2008, to each his own. To go up agianst her experience would just bring up more backlash about Obama having no experience either, but Mccant brought this on, I just wish Obama had done what I thought he’d do and bring Hill back out at the last second, and ya nevah know ; ) Biden could ‘back out’ ‘unexpectedly’ hahaha…

Doug, it’s true you should not fly last trimester, I did fly 12 days before Lily was born, had to bury my father, just couldn’t go with the docs on that one, I’m stubborn, they conceded based on her going breech 2 weeks ealier, she was happily practicing her yoga namaste move in there. I had to get up and walk around every 15 minutes, a total hassle on a red eye. I have never ever heard of flying after water breaking though…that’s not normal, at all.

Ok, someone is urgently texting me, better go see what’s up!

Ciao Ciao, Zen Lill

AND you over-educated, elitist a-holes continure to make fun of “real” Americans (you know,, us stupid rednecks living in the Midwest and South who keep tipping the national elections to the Republican candidates), the ones who saturate the population base throughout the heartland (WHAT,,,You mean there REALLY ARE huge blocks of voters living outside NYC, SF and LA????? How uncivilized!!)

PULLLLLEASE,,,,Keep making degrading remarks about honest, hard-working Sarah Palin and her family, WE CONSERVATIVES LUVVVV WHEN YOU DO THIS,,, because you’re just pissing off more people in the heartland who will vote to keep your two EMPTY SUITS out of the oval office,,,,,,,,,,thanks for your help!!!!!!!!!

Mccan’t-help-f**k-up is way passed having a senior moment. But the really scary thing is how the repubs rally around an obvious stupid choice. What does it say about this party and its followers?

This is the kind of group that encourages dictatorships. Nuts who will always support their party line are usually natural xenophobes. Hence they are easily manipulated into a “strong” military man who will protect them from other countries and peoples.

The repubs have practically handed the country over to the dictates of the executive branch of government. Their part in the framers checks and balances of our federal government has been lost on them. We can not count on the Supreme Court to do their part because 4 of them sold out for the job.

When you hear some women say they see this unwanted pregnancy as an even more reason to vote for Palin it makes me sick. I know why the repub men are supporting the choice. But for a woman to say that this opens up dialogue between their children and them about sex is ludicrous.

If they needed an unwanted pregnancy by the repub vice presidential candidate to begin talking about sex with their children, how incompetent as a parent and a how stupid are they?

I am waiting to hear one woman say “this is stupid on so many levels.” This sets a poor example for all families. It is not a good thing. Where are these “wise” women we hear so much from on this blog?

Who are these inept anchor women that do not have the guts to ask the real question. Palin since you advocated no sex, and no condom and no abortions why didn’t you institute sex education in your own home. And if you say you don’t believe in sex education even in the home. Then can you not admit that this is the result of that foolish stand?

It seems that women refuse to ask the tough questions on the air and they want to prevent the men from asking them. Women are all action when it comes to jumping on men’s bad behavior. Yet, when it comes to their own, they are just all talk and no substance. I don’t want to hear your bullshit anymore. Clean your own house before you give me any advice.

Somebody needs to tell the dumb bitch that forcing her teenager to have a baby is terrible mothering.

Thomas

If this child is Sarah Palin’s, this means that she was in planes during her final phase of pregnancy. With some of the speeches and public appearances she was giving at that timeframe this shows a complete lack of responsibility as a parent – flying in her third term. If this is the case, and she is so adamant about abortion yet she will put the unborn child’s safety in such question by getting on a plane?

If Clinton and Edwards are in question on their promiscuity, perhaps we should delve substantially deeper into this situation since Sarah’s entire platform is on family values. I would not want her values to become a national example of what is our nation’s desire for family values if any of these allocations are deemed correct.