Periodontitis linked with higher risk of hypertension

Patients with the gum disease periodontitis have a greater likelihood of hypertension and should be informed of their risk and given advice on lifestyle changes to prevent high blood pressure such as exercise and a healthy diet. The study published in Cardiovascular Research, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), found a linear association between the severity of periodontitis and the probability of hypertension.  High blood pressure affects 30€“45% of adults and is the leading global cause of premature death, while periodontitis affects more than 50% of the world’s population. Hypertension is the main preventable cause of cardiovascular disease, and periodontitis has been linked with increased risk of