If you have psoriasis, you may eventually develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a chronic disease that affects approximately 30 percent of psoriasis sufferers. Although doctors are not sure why this condition occurs, they do know that it affects about one million Americans, and that it stems from a malfunction in the immune system that causes painful swelling in the joints, hands, feet and connective tissues. It can also lead to inflammation in body tissues, such as tendons and cartilage, eyes, heart, lungs and kidneys.
Psoriatic arthritis is not a condition to be ignored. Left untreated, it can progress to the point where debilitating joint damage severely diminishes quality of life. Inflammation can also cause pain in the eyes and in the chest wall, making breathing difficult. If the inflammation reaches the heart, it can eventually lead to heart failure.
Although there is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, it can be treated. After recognizing the initial symptoms and immediately starting effective treatment, people with psoriatic arthritis can learn to relieve the pain and control the damaging inflammation.
Unfortunately, many people with psoriatic arthritis do not know they have it. A survey conducted by the National Psoriasis Foundation found that up to one-third of people with psoriasis said they had suffered from persistent joint stiffness for at least 3 months, but had yet to be diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis may go undiagnosed because it ca...
Copyright 2009 NBC Health
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