Gum disease can inflict damage elsewhere

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Dentistry

[CF-OC_gal]

Do you have a discussion you would like to lead with this arbit?

[arbit]

No, just posting news

[Merrida]

I'll add to the discussion. I've been trying to convince dentists for years there's a correlation between your gums and your heart and general health, and I was told that my thinking was hooey. It wasn't until maybe 5 or 7 years ago that "oooh, breaking news: gum disease can affect your heart," articles started springing up all over. That irks me.

But okay, onward, imagine the potential impact of bacteria in your veins, your heart possibly getting infected, your lungs,....yes, this affects the quality of a work out so there's some info beyond the news.

[LiftGirl]

Originally Posted by Merrida

I've been trying to convince dentists for years there's a correlation between your gums and your heart and general health, and I was told that my thinking was hooey. It wasn't until maybe 5 or 7 years ago that "oooh, breaking news: gum disease can affect your heart," articles started springing up all over. That irks me.

I'd think dentists would be the ones saying there's a correlation. Ya know, see your dentist for the sake of your heart. But then again, people don't really care much about heart disease. Now if you said there was a correlation between gum health and cancer.....people would be knocking down dentists' doors trying to get appointments.

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by LiftGirl

I'd think dentists would be the ones saying there's a correlation. Ya know, see your dentist for the sake of your heart. But then again, people don't really care much about heart disease. Now if you said there was a correlation between gum health and cancer.....people would be knocking down dentists' doors trying to get appointments.

Excellent point!!

I think many people envision their hearts as impervious to fault, especially if their medical doctors are giving them a green light. They would have no other "reason" to even suspect such a correlation.

To me it seems obvious,....how can dentists pre-medicate patients with antibiotics who have mitral valve prolapse before doing any "invasive" dental work (the idea being to protect the heart from infection),.....and yet deny to the world that somehow there is no correlation between our gums and oral health,....and the heart they cover their butt to protect for the MVP patients.....(as if only MVP patients have to worry about a heart correlation).

You made a really good point though!

[LiftGirl]

Originally Posted by Merrida

You made a really good point though!

Thanks! I think most people are worrying waaaaaay too much about cancer and not nearly enough about heart disease/stroke.

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by LiftGirl

Thanks! I think most people are worrying waaaaaay too much about cancer and not nearly enough about heart disease/stroke.

Even those people who are on the cardio equipment for hours,....don't get it.

A pet peeve of mine (a pet the size of a Rocky Mountain Rescue Dog) is when I see people practically supporting their entire weight by leaning on the arm rails,....whether it's the treadmill or stair climber,.....yet another excursion followed by: Why is nothing happening?

Then when you show then no arms or light arms, most resort back TO using their arms because they can "do more" (ie: easier -- they can stay on longer, psychologically it feels more productive,......and gosh, that trainer was probably just trying to sell something. Yeah. Results. A reminder of THEIR words that nothing's changed,....

Stepping down now,....(again)

[LiftGirl]

Originally Posted by Merrida

A pet peeve of mine (a pet the size of a Rocky Mountain Rescue Dog) is when I see people practically supporting their entire weight by leaning on the arm rails,....whether it's the treadmill or stair climber,.....yet another excursion followed by: Why is nothing happening?

Then when you show then no arms or light arms, most resort back TO using their arms because they can "do more" (ie: easier -- they can stay on longer, psychologically it feels more productive,......and gosh, that trainer was probably just trying to sell something. Yeah. Results. A reminder of THEIR words that nothing's changed,....

I always shake my head at this too. I do use my arms, but only lightly to balance. I never, ever allow myself to lean on them.

But the machine says they burned like 600 calories!

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by LiftGirl

I always shake my head at this too. I do use my arms, but only lightly to balance. I never, ever allow myself to lean on them.

But the machine says they burned like 600 calories!

Good one! Me too,...a gentle hold.

I worked with an engineer who had to design his own workout sheets (still my program but it had to be on his paper, his format, something only he could follow of course) and every session he's show me his weekly 'expenditures" and explain to me how the machines are correct, I'm wrong, and the machines would read his 400-600 calorie burn during his leisurely stroll with the treadmill on a slight incline....and he's got this 2 page spread sheet (that takes 15 minutes of our session because he's determined to correct me).

Shy of tossing my hands up in the air, all I coud do was keep trying to educate -- but this engineer in NO WAY was going to believe those machines were possibly inaccurate...the error is always human. He therefore burne 600 or whatever calories,....why isn't he losing.

[Maxgain]

Originally Posted by LiftGirl

Thanks! I think most people are worrying waaaaaay too much about cancer and not nearly enough about heart disease/stroke.

Considering heart disease is prob the biggest killer in the western world it would be foolish to take it lightly