Gum diseases significantly more common in heart attack patients
Gum Disease Linked to Increased Risk for Heart Attack
January 27, 2016CardioSmart News
Gum disease increases risk for heart attack by nearly 50%, according to a recent study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.
Known as the PAROKRANK study (Periodontitis and its Relation to Coronary Artery Disease), this study tested the link between gum disease and heart attack risk. Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums that affects the bone that surrounds and supports the teeth. According to a 2012 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gum disease affects nearly half of American adults over the age of 30.
However, this common condition doesn’t just affect the teeth and gums. Many studies have linked gum disease to heart disease, likely due to its inflammatory properties. Just as gum disease causes inflammation of the gums, heart disease is associated with inflammation of the heart’s arteries, leading many to wonder whether gum inflammation triggers or worsens heart disease, or vice versa.
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