New Study Reveals Some Oral Bacteria Can Contribute to High Blood Pressure

 New Study Reveals Contribute to High Blood Pressure

Researchers from the University of Georgia have found that some strains of oral bacteria can contribute to high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, in postmenopausal women. The study was published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association. While it’s long been recognized that high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases are risk factors for periodontal disease, or gingivitis, little has been done to examine how oral bacteria might contribute to such disorders.

What is Blood Pressure?

It’s common for people to talk about blood pressure as if it were a single measurement. But actually, there are two numbers associated with blood pressure: The first is called systolic pressure, which measures how much your blood is pushing against your artery walls when your heartbeats. The second number is called diastolic pressure, which indicates how much of a pause there is between heartbeats. These are important numbers for measuring hypertension because your health depends on a balance between these two pressures. 

Prevalence and Risk Factors

While high blood pressure is known as a risk factor for stroke, heart attack, and other conditions, it’s not a given that hypertension will occur. A lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet can increase your chances of developing high blood pressure. Research also suggests that an oral microbiome—the collection of microbes present in or on your mouth—might affect cardiovascular health. This connection is still unproven, but there are some potential mechanisms through which oral bacteria may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk.

Importance of High Blood Pressure Detection

High blood pressure is a major health problem and a leading cause of death worldwide. And, when you have hypertension, you’re also at greater risk for heart disease and stroke. So, it’s extremely important to detect high blood pressure early so that lifestyle changes can be made that could reduce your risk of serious health problems.

Life Style Changes

There are a variety of lifestyle changes that can help lower blood pressure. These include losing weight, exercising, maintaining a healthy diet, and sleeping enough each night. Some studies have also shown that acupuncture might help lower blood pressure.

 New Study Reveals Some Contribute to High Blood Pressure

 In addition, some medications can be used to treat high blood pressure and some people require surgery. It’s important for people with high blood pressure to regularly monitor their condition so they can try different strategies for lowering it or prevent any complications from developing due to uncontrolled hypertension.

How Does Oral Health Affect Blood Pressure?

You might be surprised that oral health is related to blood pressure, but it turns out it’s not just about cavities and dental hygiene. A study published in September found that people with chronic periodontitis—which involves inflammation of the gums, canker sores, and tooth loss—had significantly higher systolic blood pressure compared with those without periodontitis. The reason? Researchers suspect that certain types of bacteria found in periodontal pockets (where plaque builds up) trigger an immune response in which macrophages (specialized white blood cells) produce cytokines, a class of proteins known as inflammatory mediators. These inflammatory mediators contribute to the increased activity of vascular smooth muscle cells which can cause your arteries to constrict more easily.

How Was This Research Conducted?

Researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center studied 74 postmenopausal women from rural northern Taiwan, where hypertension is more common. They measured bacterial load in saliva samples and found that high levels of Gp4, a specific strain of oral bacteria, were associated with higher blood pressure. More specifically, patients with high levels of Gp4 had mean systolic blood pressure (the top number) was about 11 mm Hg higher than patients with low levels of Gp4.

Conclusion

The report confirms previous studies that found a link between gum disease and high blood pressure. However, scientists say more research is needed to better understand how oral bacteria affect heart health. The next step would be to conduct randomized controlled trials with human participants, said author Dr. Arthur Amador-Noguez, of San Francisco State University in California. This would mean having people brush their teeth or use mouthwash or other products and measuring their blood pressure before and after, he told Reuters Health by email. Also having some people do not brush their teeth at all and measure their blood pressure.

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