Cardiovascular Disease refers to a category of diseases that affect the blood circulatory system of the body. Most of the time, these diseases take years to evolve and show up. Sometimes this can develop even in adolescence. Therefore, prevention and education are critical to everyone.
Among the diseases commonly included in this category are: Coronary Artery Disease, Congestive Heart Failure, Myocardial Infarction (MI or Heart Attack), Cerebrovascular Accidents (Stroke), Angina, Aneurysm, Atherosclerosis and Peripheral Vascular Disease. The effect of these conditions can range from death to blindness, or loss of brain function or loss of the ability to move the limbs on one side of the body.
Among the common associated links to cardiovascular disease are chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, as well as high cholesterol, being obese, smoking and more recently – periodontal disease.
ONLINE RESEARCH ARTICLES:
ABSTRACT:
Toothbrushing, inflammation, and risk of Cardiovascular disease: Results from a Scottish Health Survey
Published in British Medical Journal: http://www.bmj.com/content/340/bmj.c2451.full
In a study of 11,869 people over an 8 year period, it was found that those people who brushed less than twice a day had a significantly higher risk of having a cardiovascular event than those who brushed more than twice a day. The inflammation from periodontal disease contributed to increasing the C-reactive protein and other biomarkers in the bloodstream increasing the burden on the system.
ABSTRACT:
The Association of Periodontal Disease, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease
British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease 2008 8: 187-8. Author: Roger Gadsby
The link between periodontal disease and several systemic diseases is growing rapidly. Periodontal disease is caused by specific bacteria from the biofilm within the periodontal pocket. There are two potential pathways this can lead to systemic problems. One is via passage of the periodontal pathogens and their byproducts into the ulcerated epithelium into circulation. The other is via the passage of locally produced inflammatory mediators from the pocket into the systemic circulation.
Periodontal Disease as a Risk Factor for Ischemic Stroke.
Stroke. 2004 Feb;35(2):496-501. Epub 2004 Jan 5.[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14707235 ]
A study conducted in Germany on 303 patients, published in this journal in 2004 indicated there indeed was a 4.3 higher risk of stroke in patients with severe periodontal disease (those with several areas with greater than 6+mm pockets) than with those without periodontitis (average less than 3mm pockets). Interestingly, they found that the risk was somewhat higher in younger people than in people over age 60. The risk was also found to be higher in men than in women as well.
Sleep Apnea as a Risk Factor for Stroke and Death.
National Institutes of Health – Nov. 9, 2005.[http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/new/press/05-11-09.htm]
An observational study of more than 1,000 patients at the Yale Center for Sleep Medicine found that obstructive sleep apnea significantly increases the risk of stroke or death from any cause, and that the risk is linked to sleep apnea severity. The researchers found the increased risk to be independent of other factors, including hypertension. Participants were over age 50 without a history of heart attack or stroke at the start of the study.
Periodontal Infections and Cardiovascular Disease: The Heart of the Matter
Published in J Am Dent Assoc – October 2006, Vol. 137
After two decades of research, it has been firmly established that an association exists between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. Among participants in one study age 55 and younger, there was an approximately 50-80 percent increased risk of developing coronary heart disease associated with periodontitits.
