Today, treatment of gum disease is no longer just in the mouth. Inflammation was thought to be isolated to tissue such as gums, and arteries and did not interact with one another. Now it is clear that inflammatory mediators released in different tissues in the mouth can accelerate low-grade inflammation in distant tissues such as in arteries. Gum disease will rapidly increase hardening of the arteries.

Sustained inflammatory activity is a characteristic feature of atherosclerosis (cholesterol) and arteriosclerosis (hard and brittle) artery disease. Cholesterol deposited in plaques in artery walls increases inflammation that weakens the arterial wall and the inner lining, the endothelium. Inflammation is also a determinant of plaque vulnerability, plaques that rupture then causes heart attack and stroke.

You can measure your risk of these two processes, treat to reverse your risk and confirm the return to normal. CRP (hs) is a blood test that measures the process of inflammation. Secondly, the CVProfiler, a noninvasive test done similar to the standard blood pressure, measures the state of hardness of the arteries. The CRP(hs) measures the process of atherosclerosis. The CVProfiler measures arterial elasticity, which is treated in a different way.

Cardiovascular health depends on total metabolic health. Vitamin D is now known to contribute to vascular health. People need more than the minimum daily requirement established 70 years ago. Homocysteine, a normal amino acid in the body, should be low. Treat to normal will give both health and energy. More than coping, reversing.

There are tests to monitor the risks.
" Blood level of hs-CRP
" " " " Cholesterol (VAP)
" CVProfilor or OMRON HEM 9000 AI
" 25-OH Vitamin D, 1-25 OH-Vitamin D
" Homocysteine

It's your time! Dr. Joe

References

Saremi, A. et al. Diabetes Care 28: 27-32, 2005

Geerts, S. et. al., Further evidence of the Association Between Periodontal Conditions and Coronary Artery Disease. Journal of Periodontology 2004, Vol 75, No. 9 Pages 1274 1280.

Libby P. Vascular Biology of Atherosclerosis: Overview and State of the Art. Am J Cardiology 2003:91 (suppl)) 3A-6a.

Grey, E.: et al. Small but not Large Artery Compliance Predicts Cardiovascular Events. Am J of Hypertension 13 (2) No. B059, 2000.

Boushey et al, A Quantitative Assessment of Plasma Homocysteine as a Risk Factor for Vascular Disease. JAMA 1995; 274: 1049-57.

Vitamin D: What's Enough, Science News, October 16, 2004 Vol. 166.