- Heart Data 1: The Early Onset of Atherosclerosis
If your children and grandchildren think that being under age 50 protects them against coronary heart disease, you should tell them to think again. A study reported in the American Journal of Cardiology (Vol. 95, page 469) found that risk factors such as high blood pressure and cigarette smoking can have adverse effects on the arteries of people in their 20s, and the more risk factors present in these younger people, the greater the likelihood that their arteries have already started to accumulate plaques putting them at risk of heart disease.
The investigators analyzed data on 1,080 men and women (age 24–43) in the Bogalusa Heart Study; none of them had known coronary heart disease. Their blood pressure, cholesterol levels, body mass index, and other characteristics were checked, along with the thickness of the wall of their femoral artery (the main artery in the thigh; it often shows signs of early atherosclerosis). The researchers found that the higher the number of risk factors in these young individuals, the greater the thickness of the arterial wall. The risk factors that best predicted thickening of the femoral artery included age, male gender, smoking, elevated systolic blood pressure, and an abnormal ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol. According to the investigators, when the femoral artery shows early stages of atherosclerosis, the coronary arteries are likely to be developing coronary heart disease as well.
- Heart Data 2: Gum Disease and Your Risk of Coronary Heart Disease
If your dentist has diagnosed you with periodontal disease, it could mean problems for more than your gums. According to a study reported in the journal Circulation (Vol. 111, page 576), the bacteria that cause periodontal disease are associated with plaque buildup in the carotid arteries -- the blood vessels that transport blood to the brain. During dental exams of 657 patients (mean age 69), researchers collected samples of bacteria from below the gumline and analyzed them in the laboratory. They also measured the thickness of the carotid artery walls of the patients using ultrasound. Their findings? People with greater amounts of the oral bacteria that cause periodontal disease had slightly thicker carotid arteries.
A thickened carotid artery indicates a buildup of plaque, which is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke; people with plaque in their carotid arteries invariably also have plaque in the arteries that carry blood to the heart. However, no relationship was found between higher levels of oral bacteria and C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation in the body, which some experts have hypothesized is the link between gum disease and coronary heart disease. This is the first study to show a direct link between cardiovascular disease and the bacteria responsible for periodontal disease. All the more reason to floss your teeth and see your dentist regularly.
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