Scientists determine the consequences of periodontitis

British and Spanish scientists discovered that people who suffer from periodontitis around the teeth are more likely to have high blood pressure compared to others.

The journal Hypertension, published by the American Heart Association, notes that gingivitis is linked to an infection and can lead to the destruction of the normal structure of tissues surrounding the teeth and thus their loss. Scientific studies had previously confirmed a relationship between high blood pressure and gingivitis, but did not reveal specific digital data.
Scientists at UCL Eastman Dental Institute in London, in collaboration with the Department of Dentistry of the Universidad Internacional de Catalunya in Barcelona, ​​conducted a study involving 250 people with acute gingivitis – involving 50% of teeth, and 250 adults without gingivitis and chronic disease. .

Before the start of the study, all participants, with an average age of 35 years, underwent a comprehensive examination, during which the researchers recorded any sign of gum disease, including plaque deposits, bleeding, and infected sinuses. Each participant’s blood was also taken to look for markers of inflammation – the level of leukocytes and highly sensitive C-reactive protein. In addition, the researchers measured three times the blood pressure of all the participants.

Dr Eva Muños Aguilera of UCL Eastman says, “Patients with gum disease usually complain of high blood pressure, especially in cases of severe inflammation or bleeding from the gums. High blood pressure is usually without symptoms, so many don’t. They know that they are at risk of developing cardiovascular complications, so we sought to determine the relationship between acute gingivitis and high blood pressure in adults who had not been diagnosed with hypertension.

The researchers discovered that periodontal disease is associated with a higher risk of developing high blood pressure, regardless of other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as genetics, age, body mass index, gender, race, and its relationship to smoking and physical activity.

And it became clear to the researchers, that those suffering from gingivitis have twice the chances of high blood pressure compared to those with healthy gums – 14% and 7%, respectively. They also had a high level of glucose and harmful cholesterol in the blood.

Professor Francesco Dayoto of UCL Eastman says these results indicate that gum bacteria cause gum damage, as well as cause inflammatory reactions that can affect the development of systemic diseases, including high blood pressure. And that the relationship between gum disease and high blood pressure begins a period before a person has high blood pressure. The results of our study also confirm that many do not know anything about their health condition.

The researchers believe that, to overcome this problem, a bilateral examination should be performed, in which dentists and cardiologists participate, which allows determining the degree of risk of developing high blood pressure and gingivitis and prescribing the necessary treatment for both.

Source: Novosti