The chief doctor of the dental clinic "All Yours," Victoria Karataeva, shared interesting information about the factors influencing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. According to the agency Lenta.ru, she stated that people with chronic gum diseases, such as periodontitis and gingivitis, fall into the risk group for the development of atherosclerosis, stroke, and heart attack.
Karataeva explained that chronic inflammation of the gums, accompanied by bleeding, allows pathogenic bacteria to penetrate through the walls of blood vessels. These bacteria can cause thickening of the vessels and spread throughout the body via the bloodstream, leading to damage to vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, and eyes.
She emphasized that cardiologists and ophthalmologists often refer their patients to dentists for an examination of the oral cavity. This is necessary to rule out chronic infections, as successful treatment and prevention of serious diseases depend on identifying and eliminating all possible causes, the expert noted.
The immune system, responding to gum inflammation, triggers protective mechanisms, which leads to chronic inflammation affecting the blood vessels throughout the body. This, in turn, contributes to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and blood clots, which can cause strokes and heart attacks, added Karataeva.
According to her, patients with concomitant vascular and heart diseases are at the highest risk. The risk group also includes people with diabetes, smokers, and those who have not visited dentists for a long time or neglect oral hygiene.
