PORTLAND, Ore., Oct 29, 2009 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- National
Psoriasis Foundation asks Americans affected by psoriatic diseases to take
action
Today is World Psoriasis Day and the National Psoriasis Foundation is asking all
Americans affected by psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis to raise awareness about
these diseases by going to www.psoriasis.org/wpd and taking action.
Psoriasis, a painful and disfiguring autoimmune disease that appears on the
skin, affects an estimated 125 million people worldwide. In the U.S., psoriasis
impacts as many as 7.5 million Americans, making it the most prevalent
autoimmune disease in the country. Up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis
also develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, swelling and stiffness
around the joints.
New findings show that psoriasis frequently occurs with a range of other health
concerns including Crohn's disease, diabetes, hypertension, heart attack,
depression, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, metabolic syndrome and
obesity.
"World Psoriasis Day helps draw attention to the seriousness of psoriatic
diseases," said Kathleen Gallant, member of the National Psoriasis Foundation
Board of Trustees and executive committee secretary of the International
Federation of Psoriasis Associations. "Psoriasis not only impacts people
physically, but also emotionally and financially as well."
During the sixth annual World Psoriasis Day, awareness activities will occur all
over the world to help increase understanding, improve access to treatments and
build unity among the psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis community.
To learn more about World Psoriasis Day activities in the U.S., visit
www.psoriasis.org/wpd.
About World Psoriasis Day
Held on Oct. 29, the purpose of World Psoriasis Day is to raise awareness of
psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. World Psoriasis Day is sponsored by the
International Federation of Psoriasis Associations, a global consortium of
patient associations, including the National Psoriasis Foundation. Visit
www.worldpsoriasisday.com to learn more.
About the National Psoriasis Foundation
The National Psoriasis Foundation is the world's largest nonprofit patient
advocacy organization, and the voice for millions of Americans who are affected
by psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Our mission is to find a cure for
psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and to eliminate their devastating effects
through research, advocacy and education. For more information, call the
Psoriasis Foundation, headquartered in Portland, Ore., at 800.723.9166, or visit
www.psoriasis.org.
SOURCE National Psoriasis Foundation
URL: http://www.psoriasis.org
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