Have gum disease? Beware of heart attack

Did you know that having gum disease (periodontitis) is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD)? It’s been found that people with periodontal diseases are twice as likely to get coronary artery disease than those without any gum disease. Almost 92% of people who have CVD also have severe to moderate periodontitis, according to a 2004 study.

Some studies suggest that oral bacteria can enter the bloodstream and contribute to a thickening of the arterial walls or clot formation. Any blockage of the arteries can lead to heart attacks.

But a new study found that gum and heart disease may actually share the same variation of a gene! The researchers found that a locus on chromosome 9p21. is associated with both heart attack and gum disease. Both diseases share several risk factors including smoking, diabetes and obesity. So people with periodontal disease should take care to reduce their risk factors and keep the disease from progressing.

Image: flickr