If you’re like most folks, you will do anything to never have high blood pressure.
And with good reason. It’s a well-known risk factor for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
There are some obvious factors that increase your blood pressure, like being overweight, smoking, not staying active, and stress.
But not all causes are so obvious.
In fact, there’s one HIDDEN cause of hypertension that can increase your risk by 49%.
Fortunately, it’s easy to get under control.
It’s easy to downplay just how serious gum disease is… until you’re dealing with its effects.
The most obvious dangers include receding gums, bone deterioration—and ultimately tooth loss.
The threat of dentures should be enough to scare people into taking care of their oral health…but the fact that about 47% of Americans over 30 years old have some form of gum disease would indicate otherwise.
But studies over the years show that there’s also some not-so-obvious dangers of gum disease.
These studies show that people with periodontal disease are at an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, erectile dysfunction, lung disease, and heart problems.
Now, one particular study published in Cardiovascular Research reveals the close connection between gum disease and high blood pressure.
Researchers analyzed data from 81 studies from 26 countries and found that, on average, people with gum disease had 4.5 mm/Hg higher systolic blood pressure (top number), and 2 mm/Hg higher diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) than those without gum disease.
Don’t be fooled by what looks like a small number.
Studies consistently show that an average of 5 mm/Hg increase in blood pressure represents a 25% increase in the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke.
This study also finds that…
Moderate-to-severe gum disease is associated with a 22% increased risk of high blood pressure.
Severe gum disease is associated with a 49% increased risk of high blood pressure.
No one knows for sure WHY the connection between them is so strong. One theory points to inflammation, since oral bacteria can produce inflammation, and inflammation can contribute to hypertension.
But whatever the underlying cause, gum disease and hypertension are two conditions that are serious enough—even on their own—to get under control ASAP.
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