Cardiovascular Disease and its Effects on the Oral Cavity (Term Paper Sample)

Cardiovascular Disease and its Effects on the Oral Cavity
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Cardiovascular Disease and its Effects on the Oral Cavity
Cardiovascular disease refers to the conditions that can affect the normal functioning of the heart. Angina, Cardiac arrhythmias, ineffective endocarditis, and heart failure are all forms of cardiovascular diseases, which affects the heart and its circulatory system (Pamplona, Soriano, & Pérez, 2011). These diseases are among the major causes of mortality among human beings, particularly in the developed world. The major diseases responsible for most deaths are cerebrovascular and ischemic heart disease. Various interventions such as healthy living lifestyle (physical exercise, healthy diet) are encouraged to help prevent the disease. Some researchers and scholars have hinted a possible link between the heart diseases (cardiovascular) and the oral cavity. Some cardiovascular diseases may affect the oral section directly or cause changes to how one receives dental treatment and care (Pamplona, Soriano, & Pérez, 2011). Therefore, this essay focuses on the effects of cardiovascular diseases on the oral cavity.
The major effects of cardiovascular diseases on the oral cavity are caused by the various treatments methods and drugs used by the patients. The effects are also different depending on the type of cardiovascular disease of the victim. According to a research by Medline-PuMed the major heart diseases that pose a significant effect on the oral cavity are Arterial Hypertension, Ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, and heart failure (Gurenlian, 2006).
Arterial hypertension (AHT is an imperative health problem because of its prevalence and high incidence in the world. The condition is classified under cardiovascular diseases because of its relative association with conditions such as myocardial infarction, chest pain (Angina), and cerebrovascular form (e.g., stroke). Research has indicated that AHT has various effects on the oral cavity. The drugs that are used by the hypertensive patients induce various adverse effects on the oral cavity. The primary effects of these drugs include lichenoid reactions, xerostomia, an absence of taste sensation, burning mouth sensation, gingival hyperplasia, or extraoral signs such as sialadenosis. Additionally, the disease also affects the oral treatment procedure. Patients with AHT are at a higher risk of enormous release of endogenous adrenaline more than the release of local anesthesia. Pain and breeding control, which are caused by the local anesthesia (epinephrine), are essential during oral treatment and procedures. Therefore, low epinephrine release causes a lot of pain during oral treatment, which may trigger the release of endogenous catecholamine. Excessive release of endogenous catecholamine may in turn lead to hemodynamic alterations. Consequently, it is important to monitor the arterial pressure before and after undertaking any oral treatment to avoid adverse side effects (American Dental Association, 2005).
Ischemic heart disease has also been linked to various oral health implications, which can cause changes in the oral cavity. The disease may lead to gingivitis and periodontal diseases of the oral cavity as a result of the development of burning mouth syndrome, a neurosensory disorder that can be caused by fluctuation in blood flow. Additionally, Ischemic heart disease can cause taste disorders, fungal infections, and abnormal wound healing as a result of dry mouth that is caused mainly by the drugs used in treatment (Gurenlian, 2006).
Another impact related to cardiovascular diseases and oral cavity is the enlarged gum tissue. The condition of enlarged gum tissue is known as gingival overgrowth and is sometimes caused by antiseizure medications such as verapamil, nifedipine, diltiazem, and amlodipine that are mainly taken by heart patients. Therefore, the mode of treatment used in cardiovascular diseases can have adverse effects on the oral cavity (American Dental Association, 2005).
Another effect of the cardiovascular disease is mostly experienced in myocardial infarction (heart attack), in which a patient experiences pain that mainly starts from the chest and spreads up the body, and eventually amplifying on the lower jaw. Sometimes the pain starts from the jaw and settles on the left shoulder or arm. The patients describe this feeling as a heavy, clasping pressure, tightness, or pain on the upper neck, shoulder, or jaw. The condition is mostly caused by angina because of increased pressure on the blood vessels as a result of heart complications (Gurenlian, 2006).
Cardiovascular diseases have also been linked to teeth loss and bleeding gums. According to a Swedish research that ex...