Your Mouth May Show Symptoms Warning You Of A Deadly Heart Attack

Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of heart attack. As you grow older, cholesterol deposits accumulate on the artery walls. The amount of these deposits depends on your lifestyle.

When the cholesterol plaque on the walls of the arteries becomes fragile or unstable, it breaks up to form a clot. This could obstruct the arteries and block oxygen and vital nutrients from being transported to the heart.

Arteries do not need to be completely blocked for heart attack symptoms to show. Some of the early warning signs include shortness of breath, chest pain, and nausea.

Identifying the early signs of this life-threatening condition is very important. Some of the lesser-known signs may be in your mouth.

A Warning Sign In The Mouth

For years, researchers have studied the relationship between cardiovascular health and gum disease. Gum disease starts when sticky plaque, which is full of bacteria, accumulates around the teeth. This plaque is different from the one found within the artery walls.

Referred to by medical professionals as atherosclerosis, this fatty plaque is the trademark and breeding ground for heart attacks and heart disease. Health experts have repeatedly warned that persons suffering from gum disease are at twice or three times the risk of suffering from a heart attack. The risk of stroke and other serious cardiovascular diseases is also higher for those with these types of oral problems.

According to Dr. Hatice Hasturk, periodontal disease increases the inflammatory burden of the body. Dr. Hasturk also said that while acute inflammation may foster healing over a short period, long-term inflammation can lead to dozens of health problems.

Acute inflammation involves the deluge of immune cells that fight irritants and other microbial invaders. Long-term or chronic inflammation, on the other hand, can last anywhere from months to years and lessens the body’s ability to repair or cure the damage. Dr. Hasturk is a leading researcher at Forsyth Institute, a Harvard-affiliated research organization that focuses on oral health.

Preventing Gum Disease

Brushing your teeth after meals to get rid of food debris and plaque that may have been trapped between gums and teeth is the first step towards preventing gum disease. According to the British Heart Foundation, you also need to brush your tongue as this will help remove bacteria. It is also very important to change your toothbrush after three months.

To know if it is already time to get a new toothbrush, check if the bristles are already bending. This is a primary indication that you already need a new one.