Periodontal Disease Linked To High Blood Pressure & High Cholesterol

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Dental News
The Journal of Periodontology recently published a study that found that people with signs of periodontal disease are more likely to develop high blood pressure and risky cholesterol levels.

Researchers from the Nihon University School of Dentistry in Tokyo conducted the study that included 1,023 adults who had both dental and medical checkups between 2002 and 2006 and showed no signs of metabolic syndrome (defined as a group of factors that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke). The study also revealed that test subjects with periodontal disease (a.k.a. gum disease) were even more likely to develop high blood pressure during the study itself.

Other studies have linked periodontal disease with metabolic syndrome. A study in 2008 looked at nearly 14,000 American adults. Metabolic syndrome was found in 18% of people with mild gum disease. It was found in 34% of those with moderate gum disease and 37% of those with severe disease.

Previously, studies have linked periodontal disease with risks for artery disease, heart disease and stroke.

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Periodontal Disease Especially Dangerous To Diabetics ( November 4, 2009 )
New Study Further Strengthens Link between Gum Disease and Early Indicators Of Cardiovascular Disease ( March 9, 2007 )