Psoriasis News Storm – Heart Attacks, Guidelines, NSAIDs and Kalekye Mumo

Psoriasis News

Kalekye Mumo Opens Up About the Chronic Disease She Has Been Battling With

A well-known radio host has opened up about her difficulties with psoriasis after being called out on social media. Kalekye fought back against those ridiculing her.

She fights psoriasis with natural means.

However, there were those people in her comment section who were more concerned with her arms which had a few patches and some rudely asked her to cover up. Little did they know that the patches were as a result of a chronic and incurable autoimmune disease known as . A condition that causes skin cells to grow at an uncontrollable rate resulting in scaly skin and patches on the skin surface which can be itchy and at times painful.

Responding to the trolls, Kalekye wrote  “WAAAAAOO KENYANS…. so now my arms have hurt your entire existence… waooo did you forget, I DON’T DO LIFE TO PLEASE YOU!!” She then went on to add “But let me educate you.”

Source: Kalekye Mumo opens up about the chronic disease she has been battling with

A New Look at Pediatric Psoriasis Guidelines

This is a great article for parents of children with psoriasis. It’s one thing for adults to have psoriasis, it’s completely different for parents that may not have psoriasis but have children that do.

If you’re a parent of a child with psoriasis, I urge you to do some research and educate your child about what to expect as they grow up.

psoriasis
thumbnail courtesy of medpagetoday.com

Afib and Ablation; Herbs and Drugs: This Week’s PodMed Double T D.C. Week: Congress Passes Spending Bill People Often Overdo it with NSAIDS ‘Soft’ Chemo Plus Targeted Therapy Works in HER2 Breast Cancer A multi-specialty panel of physician experts has released the first comorbidity screening guidelines for pediatric psoriasis. The consensus statement, released last July, comes out amid increasing evidence that — like adults with psoriasis — children with the disease are at elevated risk for systemic and behavioral comorbidities.

“There is increasing evidence that psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition where other organs are affected. Data has shown higher rates of heart attacks, strokes in adults with psoriasis and evidence of vascular inflammation. Psoriatic arthritis, hepatic disease, obesity, depression, and anxiety are also associated with psoriasis,” said Lawrence F. Eichenfield, MD, chief of pediatric and adolescent dermatology at the University of California, San Diego and Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego.

Source: Pediatric Psoriasis Guidelines

5 Reasons You’re More Likely To Have A Heart Attack

This is another secondary risk that we need to be aware of. An increased risk of heart disease is something that doesn’t initially make sense to associate with psoriasis, but it’s one of the most deadly side effects.

People with psoriasis are more likely to have heart disease.Eating a lousy diet and spending too much time in couch-potato mode are surefire ways to raise your risk of having a heart attack. But there are other less obvious factors that may be contributing to the 1.5 million heart attacks—and 500,000 deaths—that occur each year. Here are five you’re probably not familiar with, along with easy ways to sidestep their risk and keep your ticker ticking.

5 signs your heart isn’t working as well as it should:

The effects of psoriasis may be more than skin deep: Studies show the risk of developing heart disease is two to three times greater in people with this skin problem. The common denominator is inflammation, says Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. “The same chronic inflammation that’s in the skin [of people with psoriasis] can also damage arteries, leading to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke,” says Gohara.

Source: 5 Surprising Reasons You’re More Likely To Have A Heart Attack

 What You Need to Know About NSAIDs

Many of us take NSAIDs on a regular basis for aches and pains. Just make sure you know the potential side effects.

thumbnail courtesy of medshadow.org

NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are some of the most commonly used pain relievers and can either be prescribed by your doctor or purchased over the counter (OTC). They’re used to treat a wide range of illnesses, from arthritis to headaches to sprains to postsurgical pain. Like any medication, NSAIDs can cause side effects, some of them serious.

Common Names

Aspirin (Bayer, Bufferin, etc.), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.), naproxen sodium (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn), celecoxib (Celebrex), fenoprofen (Nalfon), indomethacin (Indocin), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), diclofenac (Voltaren), salsalate (Disalcid)

How They Work

NSAIDs block proteins called cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX enzymes) that help make prostaglandins, hormone-like chemicals that cause pain by activating the inflammatory response. Blocking COX enzymes decreases the level of prostaglandins, reducing pain. NSAIDs also lessen inflammation like swelling, redness and fever.

Side Effects and What to Do About Them

The most common side effects of taking NSAIDs are stomach issues like irritation, pain, heartburn, gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea. These side effects can usually be relieved by taking your NSAIDs with food or milk or by also taking antacids such as Mylanta or Tums. Dizziness, mild headaches, problems concentrating, balance issues and lightheadedness are also common.

More serious side effects can include high blood pressure, ulcers, allergic reactions, retaining fluid (which can cause swelling in the face, hands, lower legs, feet or ankles), bloody or cloudy urine, rashes, blurry vision, jaundice, exhaustion, difficulty breathing, ringing in the ears, vomiting blood, weakness in one side of the body, light sensitivity, extremely painful headache or back pain, a change in balance or ability to think clearly, chest pain and faster heartbeat. Let your doctor know right away if you experience any of these.

The FDA strengthened its warning about non-aspirin NSAIDs in 2015, saying they can increase the risk for heart attacks and strokes, even in the first weeks of use. The increased risk of heart attack or stroke still applies if you don’t have heart disease, though the risk is generally higher for those with heart disease or risk factors for heart disease.

Source: Need to Know: NSAIDs

For more psoriasis news, check out our psoriasis news page.

Be sure to read our reviews of the best shampoo for psoriasis and the best over the counter psoriasis cream.