|
Dental
Preaching :
Did you know that gum disease can increase your risk of
heart disease, stroke, and premature birth ?
Yes, it's true. An ever-growing body of research links advanced gum disease and the occurrence of heart attacks and strokes.
In studies conducted in the United Stales. Canada, Great Britain, Sweden and Germany, researchers found that
people with advanced gum disease also had a 25% -100% increased risk of suffering from a heart attack than those without advanced gum
disease!! That is an alarming increase in the percentage risk. By comparison, those who smoke have a 60% increased risk when compared to non-smokers.
On average, people who have advanced stage gum disease carry as much risk for a heart attack as people who smoke. This makes the prevention of advanced stage gum disease a very serious matter.
A similar relationship exists between advanced gum disease and the development of strokes. These studies suggest that advanced gum disease may be a potential risk factor for the development of strokes as well as heart attacks.
How Gum Disease May Increase Your Risk of Heart Attacks and Strokes.
Researchers have several theories as to how gum disease
may lead to strokes and heart attacks. Gum diseases
represent a bacterial infection of the gums, ligaments and
bones that hold the teeth in place.
Gum disease also damages the small blood vessels running through your gums that supply your gums and teeth with oxygen and nutrients. Bacteria and their toxic products are able to enter these damaged blood vessels and gain access to the body's general circulation.
Plaque Bacteria May Cause an Increase in Blood Clotting
Once in the bloodstream, certain bacteria trigger substances in your blood called platelets. When you cut yourself, platelets get activated and clump together to form scabs that slop the bleeding.
Certain bacteria can activate platelets and cause them to clump together and form blood clots while they are still in the bloodstream.
This is very dangerous. These blood clots are formed in the
larger arteries but as they travel through the bloodstream
they enter in to the smaller capillaries where they can get
lodged inside the walls and block blood flow to a particular
region. If this blockage occurs in the heart, it could lead
to a heart attack, if it occurs in the brain it could lead
to a stroke.
Bacterial Toxins May lead
to Increased Inflammation of Blood Vessles.
Inflammation may represent another mechanism that could work in conjunction with clot
formation. It has been well known that inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries. As the arteries harden they begin to narrow and the risk of developing a heart attack or stroke increases due to the reduced blood flow through the narrowed arteries.
The longer gum disease lasts, the more inflammatory molecules are produced in order to fight off the bacteria associated with the gum disease.
Normally such an increase in inflammatory molecules doesn't affect the body. However, because gum disease can last for long periods of time if not
detected, researchers believe that, over time, inflammatory molecules begin to trigger
atherosclerosis.
Alternatively, bacteria alone may damage the lining of the blood vessels, an event which could also lead to atherosclerosis. More research is currently
being conducted to study the potential relationship between gum disease and heart attacks and strokes. |
