2024-04-12 08:35:08
(ANSA) – ROME, APRIL 12 – Taking care of your gums could protect heart health, while gum disease could be a risk factor for arrhythmias. This was revealed by a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, according to which, moreover, after an operation to treat atrial fibrillation, the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia, treating periodontitis can reduce the risk of recurrence of the arrhythmia.
Atrial fibrillation is characterized by an irregular heartbeat and can increase the risk of stroke and even heart failure. In more severe cases, it may be treated with catheter ablation, a procedure that very carefully removes a damaged area of the heart that is causing the arrhythmia.
The study, directed by Shunsuke Miyauchi of Hiroshima University in Japan, involved 288 people all with gum disease and undergoing ablation to treat atrial fibrillation. Of these, 97 received treatment for their gum disease up to three months after surgery.
Over a long monitoring period of up to two years, 24 percent of participants experienced atrial fibrillation again, but patients treated by the dentist for periodontitis after surgery had a risk of the arrhythmia recurring reduced by 61 percent.
Furthermore, the risk of developing atrial fibrillation again increases as the severity of the gum disease increases.
If gum tissue is inflamed or damaged, bacteria and inflammatory immune proteins can enter the bloodstream, which can affect heart health, Miyauchi says.
The researchers also measured the levels of inflammatory proteins in the participants’ blood before undergoing the scaling, finding that the concentrations of the proteins were higher among patients with severe gum disease. And yet, high concentrations of antibodies against gum disease bacteria were also linked to increased recurrence of atrial fibrillation, Miyauchi says.
The study suggests the importance for people with atrial fibrillation to undergo treatment for gum disease if necessary. The researchers also stress the importance of brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day, flossing or brushing your teeth every day, and visiting the dentist regularly.
Naturally, studies on larger samples would be needed to confirm the association between periodontitis and atrial fibrillation. (HANDLE).
2024-04-12 08:35:08