Missing Teeth Increases The Risk Of High Blood Pressure For Older Women
A study of 36,692 postmenopausal women by the Women’s Health Initiative-Observational Study in the US discovered that postmenopausal women who have experienced tooth loss would have higher risk of developing high blood pressure.
Published in the American Journal of Hypertension, the study observed a positive correlation between tooth loss and hypertension risk among postmenopausal women. Specifically, these women had approximately 20 per cent higher risk of developing hypertension during follow-up compared to other women. The association was stronger among younger women and those with lower BMI.
One possible explanation is that as people lose teeth, they may change their diets to softer and more processed foods. These changes in dietary patterns could be associated with higher risk of hypertension.
The study suggests that older postmenopausal women who are losing their teeth may represent a group with higher risk for developing hypertension. As such, the researchers involved in the study believe that improved dental hygiene among those at risk for tooth loss as well as preventive measures such as closer blood pressure monitoring, dietary modification, physical activity, and weight loss may reduce the risk of hypertension.
