These are some common shadow diseases that you need to know about.

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Shadow Diseases

Reported April 15, 2010

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It's difficult enough to deal with just one chronic disease and then you add another, often more serious one on top of it. Researchers are learning more and more about why two diseases that don't seem to be related at all travel in pairs. These are some common shadow diseases that you need to know about.

Sam Jonas has psoriasis, a skin disease that leaves scaly patches on his body.

"It can be very embarrassing," Jonas told Ivanhoe.

In 2006, Sam also had a heart attack. Until now, he didn't know the two conditions were linked.

"Very surprised. I had no idea," Jonas explained. Dr. Ancona says psoriasis can double the risk of a heart attack.

"There are diseases that exist that, for some reason or another, seem to follow one another like a shadow," Dr. Ancona, FACC cardiologist at Memorial Hospital West in Pembroke Pines, Fla., said.

One study showed women with endometriosis are 62 percent more likely to develop melanoma.

"It's becoming more clear to us that these diseases don't exist in isolation." Dr. Ancona said.

What's less clear is why some diseases shadow others. "Certain diseases might be genetically linked," Dr. Ancona explained.

Having just one migraine a month gives you a 50 percent higher risk of a heart attack. Having one a week gives you four-times the risk of a stroke. And having three of the five traits linked to metabolic syndrome ups the risk of kidney stones.

"The benefit of the patient knowing that they could be at risk for another disease would be that they'd be evaluated for that other disease," Dr. Ancona added.

Sam wishes he knew psoriasis raised his heart attack risk. "Had I known that at that time, I probably would have gotten a stress test much earlier," Jonas said.

That step might have saved his heart. Instead, he'll take daily drugs to treat both conditions.

Having either psoriasis or insomnia increases the chance of developing diabetes, and research shows nearly 50 percent of people with asthma also have a psychological condition like depression.

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Shadow Diseases -- Research Summary

Reported April 15, 2010

BACKGROUND: For many years, doctors have noticed patients with one illness may develop another condition that seems to be unrelated. The second problem is often known as a "shadow disease." Although they don't know the exact reason for the development of shadow diseases, some believe genes or poor health behaviors can be contributing factors. In other cases, one disease may create damage that causes the second illness. Awareness about common shadow diseases can help patients by promoting early diagnoses and treatment.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND DIABETES: After following 38,000 women for 10 years, Harvard researchers found constantly elevated blood pressure doubles a person's risk of developing diabetes. The risk of diabetes goes up if a person's blood pressure increases over time even if it stays under the "hypertension threshold." Experts say if you have mild high blood pressure or are at risk for it, get tested for diabetes. You can prevent diabetes by getting more exercise, losing excess weight, limiting salt and quitting smoking.

ASTHMA AND DEPRESSION: Research on military veterans found those with the most post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were more than twice as likely to have asthma than those with the mildest cases. Some speculate that breathing difficulties may cause anxiety or depression. Others believe psychological problems may make asthma worse. Experts say if you have either asthma or a mental health disorder and suspect you have the other condition as well, get tested for it.

ENDOMETRIOSIS AND MELANOMA: In 2007, French researchers confirmed that women with endometriosis are 62 percent more likely to suffer from melanoma. Researchers are unsure why the connection exists but say one possibility is a genetic defect that triggers both conditions. Experts say if you have endometriosis, ask your doctor to check your skin for melanoma.

MIGRAINES AND STROKE OR HEART ATTACK: A study conducted in 2007 revealed that frequency matters in determining whether your migraine episodes put you at risk for a heart attack or stroke. The study showed if you have fewer than one migraine a month, you're still 50 percent more likely to have a heart attack than people who don't suffer from migraines. If you experience migraines at least weekly, you have four-times the risk of having a stroke. To lower these risks, doctors say eat right, control weight and cholesterol levels and exercise often.

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