{"id":566,"date":"2016-02-01T09:06:40","date_gmt":"2016-02-01T15:06:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.robertmitchelldds.com\/?p=566"},"modified":"2025-11-26T07:17:54","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T13:17:54","slug":"%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8ffebruary-is-heart-month-%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8f","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.robertmitchelldds.com\/blog\/%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8ffebruary-is-heart-month-%e2%9d%a4%ef%b8%8f\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2764\ufe0fFEBRUARY IS HEART MONTH \u2764\ufe0f"},"content":{"rendered":"
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February 2016\u2013American Heart Month<\/div>\r\n
Sponsor: The American Heart Association (https:\/\/www.heart.org\/HEARTORG\/<\/a>)<\/div>\r\n
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Heart disease<\/a> is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease.<\/div>\r\n
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The good news? Heart disease can often be prevented when people make healthy choices and manage their health conditions. Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to create opportunities for people to make healthier choices.Make a difference in your community: Spread the word about strategies for preventing heart disease and encourage people to live heart healthy lives.<\/div>\r\n
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The heart and mouth connection:<\/a> How heart disease and oral health link<\/h1>\r\nDid you know that heart disease and oral health are linked? There are two different connections between heart disease and your oral health:\r\n
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  1. Studies have shown that people with moderate or advanced gum (periodontal) disease are more likely to have heart disease than those with healthy gums.<\/li>\r\n\t
  2. Oral health holds clues to overall health. Studies have shown that oral health can provide warning signs for other diseases or conditions, including heart disease.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    Are you at risk?<\/h2>\r\nMany of the risk factors for gum disease are the same as those for heart disease, such as tobacco use, poor nutrition and diabetes. Overall, people who have chronic gum disease are at higher risk for a heart attack, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Gum disease (called gingivitis in its early stages and periodontal disease in the late stages) is caused by plaque buildup along and below the gum line. Some researchers have suggested that gum disease may contribute to heart disease because bacteria from infected gums can dislodge, enter the bloodstream, attach to blood vessels and increase clot formation. It has also been suggested that inflammation caused by gum disease may also trigger clot formation. Clots decrease blood flow to the heart, thereby causing an elevation in blood pressure and increasing the risk of a heart attack.\r\n\r\nResearch shows that many systemic diseases \u2013 including heart disease \u2013 have oral symptoms. Dentists can help patients who have a history of heart disease by examining them for any signs of oral pain, infection or inflammation. According to the AGD, proper diagnosis and treatment of tooth and gum infections in some of these patients have led to a decrease in blood pressure medications and improved overall health. If you currently have heart disease, make sure to tell your dentist about your condition as well as any medications you are currently taking. Remember to carefully follow your physician\u2019s and dentist\u2019s instructions about health care, and use any prescription medications, such as antibiotics, as directed.\r\n

    Warning signs<\/h2>\r\nGum disease affects 80% of American adults and often the condition goes undiagnosed. Warning signs that you may have gum disease include:\r\n