Hypertension May Be Tied to Dental Habits
Predicting who will get high blood pressure is an inexact science, but two recent studies suggest that you are more likely to have hypertension if you are toothless or have trouble metabolizing sugar.
* In a UC San Francisco study, researchers led by dentist John Hutton found that toothless people who do not wear dentures are more likely to have high blood pressure than denture wearers. He suspects that the toothless subjects are more likely to eat a poor diet, filled with processed high-fat foods that may contribute to the elevated blood pressures.
* In a Finnish study--which duplicates others--men who were unable to metabolize glucose properly were more likely to develop hypertension later in life. Some experts say doctors should consider an abnormal result on a glucose tolerance test as a warning sign for high blood pressure.
While researchers continue to investigate these latest clues, there is much that can be done to minimize the risk of hypertension and, in the process, the risk of heart disease and strokes.
Regular blood pressure checks are vital, says Stephen Brunton, director of family medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and associate clinical professor of family medicine at UC Irvine School of Medicine.
“At age 40 and after, it should be checked every year or so,” Brunton says. People with a family history of hypertension should be checked more frequently, experts say. Sometimes high blood pressure is not accompanied by any symptoms, which is why it’s called “the silent killer.”
Blood pressure readings measure the force of blood against the artery walls and are expressed by two numbers, such as 120/80.
For adults, pressure is considered elevated if it measures 140/90 or above, according to the American Heart Assn. The top number, reflecting systolic pressure, measures the force of the blood during the heart beat. The bottom number, reflecting diastolic pressure, measures the force exerted by the blood as the heart rests between beats. If a person’s reading is borderline, most doctors suggest a recheck to rule out “white coat hypertension,” the abnormally high blood pressure anxious people display when going to the doctor.
If high blood pressure is confirmed, most doctors first suggest lifestyle changes, Brunton says. That means quitting smoking, eating a prudent diet, exercising and losing weight, if needed.
If lifestyle changes don’t reduce pressure within three to six months, Brunton says, most doctors will consider prescribing antihypertensive medication.
