Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an autoimmune disease affecting the skin and joints. People who have PsA suffer from chronic inflation, particularly in the joints of the fingers and toes. The condition can also do damage to tissues. Other symptoms include scaly, itchy patches on the skin, and stiff, sore joints, all caused by the hyperimmune response. This inflammation and immune response also affects your eyes, lungs, heart, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Research has connected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and PsA. In addition, IBD includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which both inflame the GI tract.
How Are PsA and IBD Linked?
Around 15% of people who have PsA also have psoriasis. Both of these are autoimmune diseases. A study revealed that people with IBD were at high risk of getting psoriasis and PsA.
IBD and psoriasis also share some genes connected to inflammation. People who have IBD and PsA also suffer from issues with their microbiome, a collection of micro-organisms inside the gut that’s home to around 100 trillion bacteria and organisms. Most of these bacteria are good bacteria, but others can cause illness when there’s an imbalance of the good and bad bacteria, which is the case in IBD and PsA. Research has revealed that microbiome changes in IBD and PsA look alike.
What Are Symptoms of IBD and PsA?
If you are wondering whether you have IBD or PsA, here are their symptoms.
Symptoms of PsA include: Feeling stiff when you wake up. Extreme tiredness. Swollen, painful, stiff joints. Swollen toes and fingers that resemble sausages. Changes to nails. White, silvery, or red patches on light skin, brown, purple, or gray patches on dark skin.
Symptoms of IBD include: Stomach cramps or pain and diarrhea. Bloody poop. Extreme tiredness and unexpected weight loss.
Ways to Reduce IBD and PsA Symptoms
Some ways you can reduce IBD and PsA symptoms include sticking to your medications, quitting smoking, watching your diet, reducing stress, and eating healthy.
