Posts Tagged ‘heart disease’
Periodontal Disease and Heart Disease
Infective endocarditis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the lining of the heart and heart valves, usually caused by a bacterial infection. Heart valves that have been damaged or are abnormal are at high risk for infective endocarditis, although infection can also occur in normal valves when a large number of bacteria present. Researchers believe that when an individual is diagnosed with periodontal disease, a task as normal as chewing or brushing can injure gum tissue, allowing the bacteria enter the bloodstream. The accumulation of this bacterium in the heart valves, usually leads to a fatal infection, unless treated.
The coronary artery disease is another type of cardiovascular disease in which the walls of the coronary arteries (heart blood vessels) gradually become thicker by the accumulation of fatty protein. Usually, blood clots form in these narrow coronary arteries and normal activity of the blood flow is blocked, depriving the heart of the nutrients and oxygen needed for proper operation. Scientists now believe that bacteria found in the oral cavity entering the bloodstream, binds to fatty plaques and may contribute to clot formation. Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are twice as likely to contract the disease of the coronary arteries, compared with those who suffer from it. The current data leads scientists to believe that periodontal disease is a major risk factor for heart disease, along with other risk factors such as age, smoking, diabetes, hypertension and high of cholesterol in the blood. 1-12
Hispanic Americans and Heart Health
According to the American Heart Association (American Heart Association) and the National Center for Health Information for Women (National Women’s Health Information Center), heart disease and heart attacks are the leading cause of death among adults Hispanic: 13
Heart disease and heart attacks constitute 26.9 percent of deaths among Hispanic men – more than cancer and AIDS combined. 13
Heart disease and heart attacks constitute 33.3 percent of all deaths among Hispanic women – more than cancer, diabetes, pneumonia and influenza combined. 13
Between 43 and the 52 percent of Hispanic women have cholesterol levels above the desired (240 mg / dL). 14
With the increase in the risk of heart health problems, including hypertension, heart disease and stroke, Hispanic Americans should carry out preventive measures against both heart disease and periodontal disease. A Hispanic Americans are advised to talk with their dentist or periodontist about evaluation periodontal and preventive steps to maintain good oral health.
Health begins with the mouth
Recent studies show that there is a strong link between oral disease and other conditions such as diabetes, pneumonia or heart disease.
What do teeth have to do with diabetes? Apparently, a lot. According to a report released Colgate, recent research shows the relationship between periodontitis and certain diseases, such as stroke, heart attack, respiratory disorders or diabetes.
A string of conditions
Although other studies are still needed to complete these investigations, the mouth is located on the first link in a chain of diseases that could potentially be prevented with oral health care. Read the rest of this entry »
The Heart and Oral Hygiene
Apparently, not only obesity, sedentary lifestyle and smoking seem to affect adversely the functioning of the heart causing chronic and dangerous heart disease. Works In Dublin Society for General Microbiology, recently revealed the results of some research linking poor oral hygiene to the health of the muscle that never rests.
Professor Howard Jenkinson has commented that “no matter good health or be thin, if some bad teeth multiply the chances of heart disease,” which clearly realizes the seriousness of the matter. On the other hand, a different research team, has been linked and tested with experiments that poor oral hygiene are also associated with atherosclerosis, ensuring that the colonization of bacteria in the mouth causes a negative reaction to “stress proteins” as they are called, as leukocytes, in these cases, often dangerously accumulate in the arteries and cause the medium to long term, the emergence of the disease known as arteriosclerosis.