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Statins could be key for heart disease patients, based on a new study.
Gum disease among heart disease patients can be limited thanks to the utilization of statins. The information appears in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The measures taken to reduce gum disease could impact inflammation levels in the arteries. The reverse is also true.
The reason why this happens is that periodontitis and atherosclerosis occur because of inflammation. Based on that information, these conditions are related.
The study results showed that patients with a heart disease or high heart disease risk either took 80 mg of statin or 10 mg of statin for 12 weeks. PET/CT scans were monitored after four weeks and after 12 weeks. The final tally showed 59 patients and that there was major reduction in gum inflammation after as little as four weeks of treatment with the high-dose statin. The amount in which the inflammation lessened in the gum correlated with the improvement in the atherosclerotic disease.
The authors of the study determined that the research provides more evidence of a link between periodontal disease and atherosclerosis. There’s also the possibility that better oral hygiene may lead to less inflammation in the arteries.
This study shows that statins have added benefits other than lipid lowering properties.
In addition, it’s pivotal for heart disease patients to inform physicians about any gum disease and should make sure to abide by any existing guidelines associated with gum disease.
