Atopic dermatitis (AD for short), the “uninvited guest” that often makes people itch and redden their skin, seems to be hiding more unknown secrets. It is not only a frequent guest in the allergy family, with pollen, dust mites and other allergens “working together” so that our lives are occasionally plunged into a “red and itchy” chaos, more surprisingly, it is also seemingly unrelated to the cardiovascular disease. Quietly weave an intricate network of contacts.
When you are tossing and turning in the dead of night with the itching of AD, you may not immediately associate it with the heart's incessant beating life force. But in recent years, the veil of mystery between them has been gradually lifted. Epidemiology, the “big data detective”, through countless clues collected and analysed, found that there seems to be a subtle “tacit understanding” between AD and cardiovascular disease. Coronary heart disease, stroke, venous thrombosis ...... These names sound so tight that people's hearts are inextricably linked with AD. Especially when AD worsens and becomes severe, this association is like a taut string, more clearly audible. Studies have shown that the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke is much higher in AD patients than in the general population as if it were an invisible stumbling block on the road to health.
It seems that this “naughty boy” not only wreaks havoc on the skin but also quietly weaves a more complex “risk network” in our bodies. Not only is it associated with cardiovascular disease, but it also seems to be favoured by “invisible killers” such as venous thromboembolism (VTE), which can make the road to health even more difficult for AD patients. When our blood should be flowing smoothly through our veins, AD is like a mischievous mischief-maker, making the blood flow less smooth, and VTE, the uninvited guest, appears silently. Its presence is like planting a “time bomb” in a healthy blood vessel, which makes people have to be vigilant.
And AD's “mischief” doesn't stop there. It and diabetes and metabolic syndrome, the two “hard brothers”, also seem to have an inexorable relationship. Diabetes, the sweet “killer”, and metabolic syndrome, hand in hand, is a common threat to the health of AD patients. So what is the secret behind all this? Scientists, after in-depth research, found that chronic inflammation and immune response may be the “black hand” behind all this. AD seems to be only in the skin “trouble” guys it “claws “The core pathogenesis of AD is the same as that of the disease.
The core pathogenesis of AD is like a “rebellion” of the immune system. Especially Th2 type helper T cells, these should be guarding our health with small guards, but suddenly become “rebellious” and overactive around “trouble”. Not only do they leave the skin in a “red and itchy” mess, but they also trigger a systemic inflammatory response.
This inflammatory reaction, like a burning “war”, not only damages the endothelial cells of the blood vessels but also promotes the formation of atherosclerosis. It is as if a blood vessel that was originally unobstructed is clogged with a thick layer of “grease”, making the blood flow less smooth. This inflammatory state, like other chronic inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, is inextricably linked to a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease.
It seems that the “mischievous” AD has a lot of mischief to do. It's not just our skin that's suffering; it's our cardiovascular health that's being challenged like never before. Perhaps it deserves more attention and understanding. It is not only about the health of the skin but may also affect the health of the whole body. In the face of AD's “formidable opponent,” people with moderate to severe AD need to monitor these indicators regularly, as if they were undergoing a “health checkup.
