Scientists Link Mouthwash to Greater Heart Attack Risk
- 11 years ago
If a team of British scientists is right, reducing your heart attack risk could be as easy as limiting your antiseptic mouthwash use.
If a team of British scientists is right, reducing your heart attack risk could be as easy as limiting your antiseptic mouthwash use.
According to their research, the widely available remedy kills a lot of the bacteria the body needs to dilate blood vessels, resulting in an increase in blood pressure.
The study’s leader said, “Killing off all these bugs each day is a disaster, when small rises in blood pressure have significant impact on morbidity and mortality from heart disease and stroke.”
In the healthy volunteers they tested, the group found that Corsodyl, a UK brand, caused blood pressure increases within a matter of hours after using the product.
Twice daily doses resulted in spikes of 2 to 3 and a half units, a bump that increases the chances of heart disease related deaths by 7 percent, and dying from a stroke by 10 percent.
Using antiseptic mouthwash isn’t discouraged when it’s actually needed, like in cases of infected teeth and gums, but beyond that should be avoided.
The specific ingredient to be on watch for is chlorhexidine, which was isolated as the bacteria-killing ingredient.
If a team of British scientists is right, reducing your heart attack risk could be as easy as limiting your antiseptic mouthwash use.
According to their research, the widely available remedy kills a lot of the bacteria the body needs to dilate blood vessels, resulting in an increase in blood pressure.
The study’s leader said, “Killing off all these bugs each day is a disaster, when small rises in blood pressure have significant impact on morbidity and mortality from heart disease and stroke.”
In the healthy volunteers they tested, the group found that Corsodyl, a UK brand, caused blood pressure increases within a matter of hours after using the product.
Twice daily doses resulted in spikes of 2 to 3 and a half units, a bump that increases the chances of heart disease related deaths by 7 percent, and dying from a stroke by 10 percent.
Using antiseptic mouthwash isn’t discouraged when it’s actually needed, like in cases of infected teeth and gums, but beyond that should be avoided.
The specific ingredient to be on watch for is chlorhexidine, which was isolated as the bacteria-killing ingredient.