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Struggling to get your blood pressure under control, even with the help of medications?
Open your mouth and say "aha!" If you see tooth decay or gums that are sore, bleeding or receding. You may have found the culprit.
Researchers reported Monday that in adults whose hypertension was medicated, the symptoms of blood pressure, which were measured by the blood pressure of the body, and the weight of the blood.
Compared to hypertensive patients who had no signs of periodontal disease, those with inflamed gums were 20 percent less likely to get their blood pressure within healthy limits. In addition, patients whose clinical blood pressure was 3 mm HG higher, on average, than similar patients with healthy gums.
The findings were published in the journal Hypertension.
An estimated one in three U.S. adults – that's 75 million Americans – are thought to have high blood pressure, putting them at greater risk of heart attacks and strokes. Hypertension is a primary cause of more than 1,000 deaths in the United States. Yet only 54 percent of those with the combination of medication, diet and exercise.
The new study is in line with a mountain of research linking gum disease with higher rates of heart disease, blood vessel and kidney disease – all of which are affected by high blood pressure. And it breaks new ground by showing how to improve your health.
Indeed, the study of high blood pressure and low blood pressure has been reported in the past.
In other words, poor dental health, largely negative effects of taking blood pressure medication.
The new research does not establish that it causes hypertension and its negative effects. Many researchers suspect that, like stiff blood vessels, are more likely to be manifestations of inflammation throughout the body.
Nor does the study show that treating periodontitis will reduce high blood pressure.
But it does suggest that, when it is difficult, the challenge of bringing blood pressure to bear.
Researchers from Italy scored the records of 11,753 Americans who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2009 and 201 4 and were screened for periodontal disease. Some 4.095 of the participants had been diagnosed with hypertension, of which 88.5 percent had been treated for the condition and 11.5 percent were not.
And who are men, older, Latino, smokers, and those with less income and education. Participants who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure have had a history of high blood pressure – a trend that was particularly evident among Latinos.
Both hypertension and periodontitis are more common among African Americans and Latinos in the United States. Those patients also have strikingly higher rates of the diseases linked to both, including heart disease, kidney failure, and cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke and certain forms of dementia.
There's some evidence to suggest African Americans may have a genetic vulnerability to high blood pressure, but it's controversial. There is little doubt that access to health care is very important in this area, and that it is important to have an understanding of the role of racial and ethnic health disparities.
Dental care, especially, is expensive and far less likely than medical care to be fully covered by insurance. As a result, economic factors play a powerful role in influencing the health of patients.
Moreover, many primary care physicians and cardiologists report to their patients about their dental health, or to refer to them unless they are undergoing cardiac procedures and have clear signs of tooth decay. And dentists do not necessarily check their patients' blood pressure.
The study authors wrote that patients with high blood pressure should have their gum health taken into account when they consider their treatment options.
"Our data suggest that all racial / ethnic subgroups, especially Hispanics, might benefit from such approach," they wrote. "Conversely, ignoring the additional burden of poor periodontal status on blood pressure could translate into a higher cardiovascular risk in the long term."
Charlene Niemi, director of health literacy for Care Harbor, has a California-based nonprofit charity that provides medical, dental and vision care in massive "pop-up" health clinics across the state, said it's "imperative that individuals are informed that good oral "care and treatment of gum disease does play a role in blood pressure."
While everyone needs regular dental checkups, "those with hypertension should understand the importance of having a dental home, seeking routine follow-up, and practicing good oral care," said Niemi. Linking underserved patients to such routine care is a key mission for Care Harbor.
At a time when health care is a problem, it is unlikely that it is likely that patients will be treated better.
But if they did, it might help, said Dr. Gregg L. Fonarow, a cardiologist at UCLA.
"It's suggested by this data, but would need to be proven," Fonarow said.
In the meantime, he said, the existence of a hypertension patient should be improved.
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