Periodontitis and blood pressure
People with gum disease are more likely to experience hypertension
Evgenia Efimova, Vesti
Recently, there is more and more evidence that gum and dental diseases increase the risk of developing other ailments. Now, a group of researchers from the UK has found out that people with periodontitis risk facing another problem: high blood pressure.
According to various data, hypertension affects 30-45% of adults. More than 50% of the world's population faces periodontitis. We are talking about periodontal inflammation – bone tissue at the root of the tooth (periodontitis should not be confused with periodontitis). Such an inflammatory process destroys the near-root tissues of the gums and the outer layers of the roots of the teeth, and is also accompanied by the release of pus and bleeding, and as a result, severe pain.
Although these two states may seem completely unrelated to each other, experts have suggested that there is still a connection.
"Hypertension can be the cause of heart attack and stroke in patients with periodontitis. Earlier, experts suggested that there is a link between periodontitis and hypertension, and that dental treatment can improve blood pressure indicators. But today it is impossible to say for sure," says the senior author of the study, Professor Francesco D'Aiuto (Francesco D'Aiuto) from the Eastman Dental Institute at University College London.
As part of a recent work, researchers conducted a meta-analysis that used data from 81 scientific papers by scientists from 26 countries. It turned out that the indicators of average blood pressure, as a rule, are much higher in people with periodontitis.
Recall that two values of blood pressure are usually measured. Systolic, or upper, pressure shows the load on the vessels at the moment when the ventricles of the heart contract and expel blood. The lower indicator, or diastolic pressure, shows the pressure in the arteries at the moment of relaxation of the heart muscle. Both indicators are traditionally measured in millimeters of mercury.
Both systolic pressure and diastolic pressure were, respectively, 4.5 millimeters of mercury and 2 millimeters of mercury higher in patients with gum disease.
According to the study's lead author Eva Munoz Aguilera, such differences matter.
"An average increase in blood pressure by 5 millimeters of mercury is associated with a 25% increased risk of death from a heart attack or stroke," the researcher emphasizes.
Moreover, the stage of periodontitis also plays a significant role. It turned out that the average periodontitis increases the risk of increased blood pressure by 22%, and severe – by 49%.
"We observed a linear association: the more severe periodontitis, the higher the likelihood of hypertension," explains D'ayuto.
So far, researchers cannot say whether periodontitis treatment can reduce blood pressure. Only five of the 12 interventional studies included in the review showed that the treatment of gum disease can lead to a decrease in blood pressure. In this case, changes occurred even in people with normal blood pressure.
However, experts point out the importance of conducting future research in this area in order to get an accurate answer.
As for the potential causes of such an unusual connection, scientists suggest that a role is played here oral bacteria. Gum disease and related bacteria lead to inflammation throughout the body, which can affect the function of blood vessels.
But other factors may also play a role: genetic predisposition, smoking and obesity.
"The data obtained show how important it is for patients with gum disease to be aware of this risk. They should be given recommendations on lifestyle changes to prevent high blood pressure, for example, exercise and adhere to a healthy diet," notes D'ayuto.
He adds that scientists have studied gum disease as a potential risk factor for hypertension, but the opposite phenomenon may also occur.
"Further work is needed to investigate whether patients with high blood pressure are more likely to develop gum disease. So far, it seems reasonable to recommend that patients with hypertension observe oral hygiene," concludes the lead author of the new work.
A scientific article on the results of the study was published in the publication Cardiovascular Research (Aguilera et al., Periodontitis is associated with hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis).
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