High Blood Pressure and Your Oral Health

The dangers and health issues associated with high blood pressure have become a global epidemic, affecting more than one in every three adults. A complicating factor is that many are unaware they have high blood pressure (HPB) because the symptoms are not necessarily obvious. The results are sobering with millions of deaths each year attributed to this condition.

The Burden of High Blood Pressure in America

Americans are not immune to the issues associated with high blood pressure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that:

• 67 million American adults (31%) have high blood pressure—that’s 1 in every 3 American adults.
• Almost 30 percent of American adults have prehypertension—blood pressure numbers that are higher than normal, yet not quite in the high blood pressure range.
• A startling 69% of people suffering their first heart attack, and 77% of first-timers of a stroke, plus 74% of people with chronic heart failure have been found to have HPB.
• High blood pressure remains a significant risk factor in developing kidney disease.
• About 1 in 5 (20.4%) U.S. adults with high blood pressure don’t know they have it.

Taking Preventative Steps

Symptoms of HPB can include headaches, vision problems, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing, and chest pain. Even without exhibiting these signs, you still may be at risk from this dangerous condition. It’s important therefore to get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis.

The good news is if you discover you do suffer from high blood pressure, much can be improved by focusing on better dietary choices, increased exercise, tobacco avoidance and the abuse of alcohol.

Keep Your Smile Healthy

Importantly, having high blood pressure can mean some dental treatments (such as those requiring anesthetics) may require an alternate approach. Also noted is that some HPB medications cause dry mouth, alter one’s sense of taste, or even can create gum overgrowth.

As your partners in health, we can assist you in achieving that healthy, dazzling set of pearly whites that will leave you smiling. Enable us to provide you with premier Durham dentistry by communicating to us any health concerns you have, including that of high blood pressure. Make that appointment today!

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