Linking Periodontal Disease to Heart Attacks: Researchers' Findings
Gum disease, or periodontitis, might surprise you, but it can lead to some serious heart problems. Why's that? Well, the bad bacteria building up in your mouth from gum disease can sneakily enter your bloodstream and cause inflammation in your blood vessels.
You got that special plaque on your teeth? That uninvited guest? Yep, it's not just a pesky nuisance – it's a party of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances that can accumulate inside your arteries, triggering the development of heart diseases and attacks.
So, keep an eye out for these warning signs of gum disease:
- Bad breath that doesn't go away
- Swollen, inflamed gums
- Tooth loss (yikes!)
But heart trouble isn't always as obvious as a heart attack, and those who don't know better might miss the often-subtle signals. Don't be one of them! Pay attention to these lesser-known heart attack warning signs:
- Jaw pain or discomfort, especially when chewing
- A sour taste in your mouth for no reason
- Indigestion or heartburn
- Excessive sweating with no apparent cause
- Feeling nauseous
- Unexplained fatigue or drowsiness
- Shortness of breath, even at rest
The best defense against heart trouble is a good offense – maintaining a healthy lifestyle, avoiding harmful habits, and exercising regularly. Don't forget to keep your cholesterol and blood sugar levels in check too!
Scientists have been studying the impact of diets on heart health and mortality, noting that an unhealthy, highly processed diet can increase the risk of heart disease. By analyzing health data from 116,806 individuals, researchers discovered that a diet filled with poor-quality, highly-processed foods like processed meats and sugary snacks can boost the risk of heart disease biomarkers by around 65%.
Bottom line: The diet that increases heart disease risk is loaded with bad-for-you foods high in saturated fats, sodium, and refined sugars—whether plant-based or animal-based. Avoiding refined grains, sugary snacks, processed meats, and limiting alcohol intake can help reduce the risks associated with poor heart health and higher mortality from cardiovascular causes.
- Incorporating news about scientific research into medical-conditions like gum disease could reveal connections to cardiovascular-health issues.
- Adopting a health-and-wellness lifestyle that includes fitness-and-exercise, mental-health practices, and proper nutrition is crucial for maintaining a healthy heart and preventing heart diseases.
- Just as gum disease can lead to heart problems through bacteria entering the bloodstream, consuming a poor-quality, highly-processed diet filled with unhealthy fats, sodium, and sugars can increase the risk of heart disease.
- Ignoring the subtle warning signs of heart trouble, such as jaw pain or discomfort, a sour mouth taste, or excessive sweating, could potentially lead to serious cardiovascular-health issues.
