February is American Heart Month, which is a very important
month to recognize. According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of
death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are
caused by heart disease.
However – the good news is that making positive, impactful
decisions involving your day-to-day health can prevent heart disease.
Additionally, it’s important to know about the potential link between gum
disease and heart disease.
Many health experts attest that healthy gums have various
ramifications on a healthy heart, and vice-versa, most notably in the
similarities between the bacteria and inflammation patterns associated with
both conditions.
According to the American Heart Association, both conditions
often host the same catalysts: “Periodontitis and
heart disease share risk factors such as smoking, age and diabetes,
and both contribute to inflammation
in the body. Although these shared risk
factors may explain why diseases of the blood vessels and mouth can occur
simultaneously, some evidence suggests that there may be an independent
association between the two diseases.”
Some of the latest research finds that gum
disease has a direct link to higher risk of inflammation around the heart,
which increases the risk of heart attack. It’s important to note that it’s
still somewhat that research is ongoing and it does not mean everyone with gum
disease will develop heart disease. However, “’The mouth can be a good warning
signpost,’ said Ann Bolger, M.D., William Watt Kerr Professor of Clinical
Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. ‘People with
periodontitis often have risk factors that not only put their mouth
at risk, but their heart and blood vessels, too.’”
Interesting food for
thought – just make sure that the food you eat this month is good for your
gums, as well as your heart.