I don’t see any recent conversations regarding hypertension and PsA. When I was first diagnosed in 2019, my BP was typically 110/70 at rest. I have kept records and since then my BP has been climbing. In the last year I have struggled with pain and pressure around my eyes, including my eyes and sometimes my whole face hurts. NSAIDS don’t help much even though I was using Celebrex for number years….sometimes continuously or sporadically as needed. Because I don’t want another med, I’ve been in elevated BP denial. In the GP’s office it has been consistently around 170/110. At home in an ideal setting I can get it down to 148/97. So…I stopped fighting and am on day 4 of BP medication…and my head is clearer, headaches down to a 2/10 and feel better and BP was 127/80 yesterday. There are numerous articles that indicate that PsA can cause high BP…even apart from the pain factor. But my rheumy doesn’t agree. AND…now I find out that extended use of Tacrolimus (Protopic, Prograf) can cause elevated BP, which I have been using as needed (quite often) for psoriasis. And, Voltaren (diclofenac) can also elevate BP. So if I add it all up and consider the price of groceries…do I stand a chance? Comments/experience is welcome.
PsA is clinically known to raise BP due to the effects of persistent inflammation on it. I consider it’s indefensible to say it doesn’t. All autoimmune inflammatory conditions do this. So someone with Crohn’s or UC etc will similarly be affected.
I was one of those lucky ones that in my early 50’s before PsA struck me down suddenly too , I suffered low BP. I had been like that all my life. 18 months into PsA it was reading on the high side of normal. It rose higher and then actually caused me to feel unwell so off I went down the BP med route too. I’m on the lowest dose possible and my BP reads normal now.
And of course many meds also increase BP. And BP generally increases a little at least as we age. It is a given that most PsA patients will also suffer higher BP though.
That’s wonderful that you’re having such a good response @Amos
There is familial high blood pressure that develops in the '40s and '50s in my family. For the moment I’ve reversed it with a 70 lb weight loss, but it doesn’t mean that it’ll stay that way
But based on what you’re saying @Poo_therapy I’m now wondering if it’s really familial or if it’s from the shared autoimmune History.
Regardless, treating is appropriate and I’m glad to hear what a difference it’s made