Treating gum disease may help lower BP
Aggressively treating gum disease may help lower blood pressure in people at high risk for high blood pressure, according to new research.
The study involved 107 Chinese women and men, aged 18 and older, who had pre-hypertension (blood pressure on the high end of normal) and moderate to severe gum disease. Half received intensive treatment for gum disease, and half received standard
treatment.
Standard treatment included basic oral hygiene instructions and teeth cleaning with plaque removal above the gum line. Intensive treatment included standard treatment as well as cleaning down to the roots of teeth, antibiotic treatment and removal of teeth, if necessary.
One month after their gum disease treatment, systolic blood pressure (the top number in a reading) was 3 points lower in the intensive treatment group than in the standard treatment group. There was no difference in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number), the study findings showed.
Three months after treatment, systolic blood pressure was nearly 8 points lower and diastolic pressure was nearly 4 points lower in the intensive treatment group. Six months after treatment, systolic blood pressure was nearly 13 points and diastolic blood pressure was almost 10 points lower in the intensive treatment group.
The findings were scheduled for presentation Tuesday at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association (AHA), in Anaheim, Calif.
The present study demonstrates for the first time that intensive periodontal intervention alone can reduce blood pressure levels, inhibit inflammation and improve endothelial function, lead author Dr. Jun Tao said in an AHA news release. Tao is chief of the department of hypertension and vascular disease at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China.
About one of every three adults in the United States -- nearly 75 million people -- has high blood pressure, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke.
When high blood pressure is not under control it becomes a serious health problem that can endanger your life.
Known as hypertension, or the silent killer, this is a cardiovascular disorder thats affecting countless people around the world.
An estimated 78 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure, approximately 16 million of which remain undiagnosed.
The big problem is that without detection it makes treatment difficult, increasing your risk of a heart attack, stroke, or other serious diseases.
This is why its important to learn about high blood pressure and find out what you can do to reduce it.
Blood pressure is the force that is required for the heart to pump your blood through a network of arteries, veins, and capillaries to reach your organs.
Normal systolic (upper number) blood pressure in an adult is around 120 mm Hg during physical activity and 80 mm Hg while resting.
Blood pressure is said to be high when systolic blood pressure exceeds 140 mm Hg and diastolic (lower number) blood pressure is over 90 mm Hg.
This can occur when the arteries and arterioles become narrow, as their function is to regulate blood flow throughout the body.
When they contract, your heart must work harder to supply blood to your body, resulting in increased blood pressure.
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