Does The Health Of Your Gums Affect The Health Of Your Heart?

A recent article in the International Journal of Cardiology discussed a study that was done on 2 groups of people. One group had suffered recent heart attacks and the second was a control group. Their findings said that the heart patients had noticeably worse oral health than the control group. While the study didn't prove that bad gums and teeth caused heart attacks, it indicated that there was an association between the two.

In gingivitis (a milder form of gum disease) infection leads to chronic inflammation where the gums are red, swollen and sometimes bleeding. In periodontitis (the more severe form) the infection affects the bones that support the teeth, leading to tooth loss. In both cases, disease is caused by the accumulation of plaque/bacteria in the gums. These organisms release toxins that can circulate throughout the body.

The body's arterial system may be affected according to the Journal of Clinical Periodontology. "The more sever the gum disease, the thicker and harder the walls of the arteries". This is true even for young, healthy adults that have no other symptoms of heart problems. Gum disease threatens more than the heart. Scientists are finding more links between oral health and conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, preterm labor, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease and certain types of cancer.

Source: Parade

Men and Osteoporosis

Ads on television for osteoporosis are targeted towards women but men are just as susceptible to it's ravages. Osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) is associated with loss of calcium and bone minerals. The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that 2 million men suffer from the disease and millions more could be at risk. The New England Journal of Medicine states that osteoporosis on men is under-diagnosed and under-treated.

According to the Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, about 60% of all men under 50 will experience a hip fracture and about 5% will fracture a spinal bone as the result of osteoporosis. They also state that breaking a bone may be more serious for men than women and men who break a hip are more likely to die within a year than a woman. If men regularly take medicines (such as steroids), have chronic kidney, lungs or intestinal diseases, are excessive alcohol drinkers or have a sedentary life style, they should be tested for a bone-mineral deficiency.