More Mouth Germs Increase Heart Attack Risk

Did you know that your oral hygiene is directly related to your overall well being? Findings of a recent study undertaken by scientists at the University of Buffalo have established that the more amounts of germs one has in his or her mouth, the more susceptible he or she is to a heart attack. The findings are definitely unnerving and substantiate the findings of other similar researches that offer evidence of the fact that our overall health is expressly dependent on our oral healthiness. Comparing heart attack patients to healthy people who volunteered for the research, the scientists found that people with heart problems possessed more number of different types of bacteria in their mouths.

In fact, several researches conducted earlier have hinted about an intimate association between bacteria that are responsible for gum disorder or periodontal ailments and heart disease. However, not many researches have named or categorized the bacteria responsible for these disorders. In this context, it may be mentioned that scientists from the University at Buffalo led by Dr. Oelisoa Andriankaja have been making an endeavor to find out if any specific bacteria species are responsible for the heart ailments.

During the course of their study on the subject, Dr. Oelisoa Andriankaja and her colleagues were successful in narrowing down their search and found that two pathogens or disease-bearing microbes found in the mouth were responsible for increased heart attack risks. At the same time, the team of scientists from the University at Buffalo discovered that irrespective of their variety, the total number of microorganisms were more imperative for the wellbeing of the heart.

According to Dr. Oelisoa Andriankaja, who is now associated with the University of Puerto Rico’s School of Dental Medicine, although it has been found that some specific microbes in the mouth are responsible for increased heart attack risks owing to coronary blockages, what is more important is the fact that irrespective of the type of pathogens, it is their number that is more dangerous for the heart patients. To be precise, she says that in this case the total number of microbes or pathogens is more significant than the variety of the bacteria or one specific microorganism.

It may be mentioned here that the research undertaken by Dr. Oelisoa Andriankaja and her team engaged 386 men and women in the age group of 35 and 69 years. It is important to note that all these persons had suffered heart attacks at some point in their life and their physical status was measure up to 840 people who did not report any heart ailment. The researchers collected samples of dental plaque that usually hosts the germs from 12 places in the gums of all those who participated in the study. Later, the scientists examined the samples to find the existence of six common varieties of oral pathogens and also the number of bacteria present in each sample. During the analysis of the samples, it was found that people who endured heart disorders hosted more bacteria of each kind compared to the volunteers who were free from heart ailments.

Based on the data collected during the analysis of the samples, two species of bacteria found in the gums - Tannerella Forsynthesis and Preventella Intermedia - were more intimately associated with the increased perils of heart attack. It was also found that the risk of heart attack was similar to that of the number of various bacteria pertaining to periodontal membrane. All said and done, physicians are still uncertain as to how the germs in the mouth are associated with cardiac attacks. However, they are of the view that the germs in the mouth trigger off common exasperation that in turn leads to clotting of blood in the vessels and hence a cardiac arrest.