heart disease

Oral Bacteria May Lead to More Heart Disease

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An interesting article titled “Associations of genetic and infectious risk factors with coronary heart disease” appears in eLife published on February 14, 2023, written by Flavia Hodel and et. al. The article discusses how common bacteria that has been linked with periodontal disease, oral cancers, and bad breath increase the chance of developing heart disease. In the past it has been discussed on this site how Brushing Teeth Twice a Day to Help Prevent Heart Disease and Bacterium goes from the mouth to the heart to cause disease. In the current article, the authors mention how cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality in the world and it is believed 17.9 million people die from CVD each year. The authors performed multiplex serological testing for persistent or frequently recurring infections and genome-wide analysis in a prospective population study. … Read more

Heart Infections on the Rise in Dental Patients After Antibiotic Reductions

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In March 2008, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence issued guidelines recommending that dentists should no longer give antibiotics before invasive treatments to people who are considered at risk of developing a life threatening heart infection. The life threatening heart infection is known as infective endocarditis and 40% of all cases are caused by bacteria in the mouth. Researchers at the University of Sheffield set out to explore the impact of these guidelines. It was found that an increase in cases of infective endocarditis was observed above what was expected. In March 2013, this increase accounted for an extra 35 cases of infective endocarditis per month. The researchers found that the number of  prescribed antibiotic prophylaxis fell by 89% from 10,900 prescriptions per month, before the 2008 NICE guidelines, to 1,235 a month by March 2008. The researchers … Read more

Periodontal Disease and Cardiovascular Risk

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In a post many years ago I discussed Patients With Moderate To Severe Periodontitis Need to Be Evaluated For Cardiovascular Problems. In a new study, periodontal disease has again been looked at as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In the study conducted, more than 15,000 patients with chronic coronary heart disease gave information on their dental health with results showing periodontal disease indicators were common. The study included self reported dental health information from the STABILITY trial, a clinical trial with 15,828 participants from 39 countries all with chronic coronary heart disease and a risk of cardiovascular disease.  All study participants had a physical exam and blood work up, and completed a lifestyle questionnaire. They reported their remaining number of teeth and frequency of gum bleeding. The results indicated a high prevalence of tooth loss with 16% reporting having no … Read more

Treating Gum Disease in Australians Leads to Better Vascular Health

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According to a new study in the journal of Hypertension, a single session of gum treatment in Aboriginal Australians can lead to a significant decline in the thickening of the wall of the carotid artery a year later. The thickness of the wall of the arteries is a risk factor for heart disease. Aboriginal Australians are generally thought to have poorer oral health and higher rates of cardiovascular disease when compared to other Australian groups. The researchers say that the effect is comparable to a 30% fall in low density lipoprotein cholesterol which is known as bad cholesterol and associated with a decreased risk of heart disease. The researchers also note that such an effect is equivalent to reversing four years of aging or 25 mm Hg lower systolic blood pressure. Periodontal or gum disease is an inflammatory disease which affects … Read more

Women Who Receive Dental Care Have Lower Heart Disease Risk

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A recent article by Sarah Yang at University of California Berkeley suggests that women who receive dental care can reduce their risks of stroke, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular problems. The study was published in the journal Health Economics in September 29, 2010 and examined data from men and women enrolled in the Health and Retirement Study. No link between men and dental care and their chance of cardiovascular events was found in this study. Nearly 7,000 people were in the study ranging from ages of 44 to 88. The data in the Health and Retirement Study followed the same individuals over a period of time and surveyed them every two years with questions such as if they have visited the dentist and if they had experience any anginia (chest pain), stroke, heart attack, or congestive heart failure during the … Read more