Brush Up On Your Heart Health
Oral health expert Dr. Edgard El Chaar addresses the perio-cardio connection and new health guidelines
New York, NY, February 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — If you have gum disease, you're not alone. Approximately 80 percent of American adults have some form of the disease. Gum (periodontal) diseases are chronic bacterial infections that affect the gums and supporting structures of the teeth and, if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems including heart disease. Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease compared to those without periodontal disease. In recognition of American Heart Month, health professionals across the country are raising awareness about the strong link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease.
Leading periodontist, Dr. Edgard El Chaar, DDS, MS, based in New York City, specializes in the prevention and treatment of gum disease and is an active advocate in educating patients about the perio-cardio connection and new treatment guidlines. These guidelines, part of a consensus paper recently published online in the American Journal of Cardiology and the Journal of Periodontology, suggest that managing one disease may significantly reduce the risk for the other. As a result of the paper, cardiologists are encouraged to perform oral health examinations and periodontists should inquire about their patients' heart health and family history of heart disease.
"There's no longer any question about the strong relationship between the two diseases, and patients with one condition should be checked immediately for the other," said Dr. El Chaar. "Researchers theorize that either the inflammation caused by periodontal disease increases plaque build-up and contributes to the swelling of the arteries, or that oral bacteria enters into the blood stream, attaches to fatty plaques in the heart blood vessels and contributes to clot formation, which may lead to heart attacks."
Heart disease is not the only health risk associated with periodontal disease. Clinical studies have linked gum disease to respiratory conditions, premature births and diabetes due to the bacteria in the mouth traveling throughout the body. Patients that experience symptoms such as bleeding, tender or receding gums or persistent bad breath should not only consult a periodontist, but consider discussing their symptoms with a primary care physician as well.
Oral health expert Dr. Edgard El Chaar addresses the perio-cardio connection and new health guidelines
New York, NY, February 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — If you have gum disease, you're not alone. Approximately 80 percent of American adults have some form of the disease. Gum (periodontal) diseases are chronic bacterial infections that affect the gums and supporting structures of the teeth and, if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems including heart disease. Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease compared to those without periodontal disease. In recognition of American Heart Month, health professionals across the country are raising awareness about the strong link between gum disease and cardiovascular disease.
Leading periodontist, Dr. Edgard El Chaar, DDS, MS, based in New York City, specializes in the prevention and treatment of gum disease and is an active advocate in educating patients about the perio-cardio connection and new treatment guidlines. These guidelines, part of a consensus paper recently published online in the American Journal of Cardiology and the Journal of Periodontology, suggest that managing one disease may significantly reduce the risk for the other. As a result of the paper, cardiologists are encouraged to perform oral health examinations and periodontists should inquire about their patients' heart health and family history of heart disease.
"There's no longer any question about the strong relationship between the two diseases, and patients with one condition should be checked immediately for the other," said Dr. El Chaar. "Researchers theorize that either the inflammation caused by periodontal disease increases plaque build-up and contributes to the swelling of the arteries, or that oral bacteria enters into the blood stream, attaches to fatty plaques in the heart blood vessels and contributes to clot formation, which may lead to heart attacks."
Heart disease is not the only health risk associated with periodontal disease. Clinical studies have linked gum disease to respiratory conditions, premature births and diabetes due to the bacteria in the mouth traveling throughout the body. Patients that experience symptoms such as bleeding, tender or receding gums or persistent bad breath should not only consult a periodontist, but consider discussing their symptoms with a primary care physician as well.
posted by Prezioso Dental at
8:25 AM
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