Psoriatic arthritis-types, symptoms and management
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects around 30% of people suffering from psoriasis. It is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused due to inflammation that is triggered due to faulty immune response. This inflammation causes stiffness and swelling at joints. The inflammation can affect the entire body causing irreversible damage to joints and tissues if not treated properly.
In most of the cases, the joints symptoms are seen after skin, but in some cases, stiffness of joints is felt before the appearance of any skin symptoms and there are cases where only joint symptoms are observed without any skin symptoms.
Types
- Symmetric psoriatic arthritis: Around 50% of people who are affected suffer from symmetric psoriatic arthritis in which joints of both the sides of the body are affected at the same time. This type of arthritis resembles very much to rheumatoid arthritis.
- Asymmetric psoriatic arthritis: Around 35% of people who are affected suffer from asymmetric psoriatic arthritis. In this type of arthritis, the joints that are affected are not the same on both sides of the body.
- Distal psoriatic arthritis: This type of arthritis mainly involves the toes and fingers causing inflammation and stiffness. Pitting, white spots and lifting from the nailbed is also seen on fingernails and toenails.
- Spondylitis: Pain and stiffness along the spine.
- Arthritis mutilans: It is the rarest and most dangerous form of psoriatic arthritis causing deformity or complete destruction of small joints especially, fingers and toes.
Causes
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. It is thought that the following causes result in psoriatic arthritis:
- Genetic
- Family history
- Environmental factors
Symptoms
Psoriatic arthritis if not treated then the damages caused due to the disease is irreversible. The symptoms experienced are:
- Swelling in fingers and toes.
- Pain and stiffness in affected joints.
- Pain in feet or spine.
Risk factors
- People who are suffering from psoriasis are at higher risk of developing this, especially people who are affected by psoriasis on their nails.
- Family history. People with close relatives suffering from psoriasis are at higher risk of developing this disease.
- Adults between the age of 30-50 years are at higher risk.
Complications
It affects the musculoskeletal system. People with psoriatic arthritis are at higher risk of developing chronic conditions like:
- Certain Cancer (All you need to know about cancer)
- Cardiovascular disease
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Osteoporosis
- Uveitis or inflammation of eyes.
Lifestyle modifications to relief symptoms
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Manage stress
- Exercise regularly
- Do not smoke tobacco
- Do not consume an excess of alcohol
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Control blood pressure and blood sugar levels
- Rest enough
- Drink plenty of fluid
- Take medicines as directed by your doctor
It did catch my attention when you said that those who are suffering from psoriasis can end up getting affected by an autoimmune disease called psoriatic arthritis. This must be what my sister has been suffering from since she has been dealing with swollen fingers and toes since last week. She suffered from psoriasis in the past, so it will make sense for her to consult a medical professional for treatments.