Cardiovascular disease and periodontal bacteria link, research shows |
Older adults who have higher proportions of four periodontal disease-causing bacteria in their mouths also tend to have thicker carotid arteries-a strong predictor of stroke and heart attack. M. Desvarieux et al from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and Columbia University in New York City presented their findings at the 83rd General Session of the International Association for Dental Research, Baltimore Convention Center on March 11, 2005. They collected an average of seven dental plaque samples from 657 subjects. They assessed the subjects' carotid intima-media thickness (indicating their cardiovascular health and their C-reactive protein levels. C-reactive protein usually is elevated in people with periodontal disease. The researchers found that the higher the levels of the periodontal-disease-causing bacteria, the more likely people were to have thicker carotid arteries. Inflammation of the gums affects an estimated 200 million Americans to various degrees. HEALTH EQ |