Beauty Health for Life

Common oral problems have been linked to heart disease, diabetes, premature birth, and more.
Its easy to ignore the effects of poor oral hygiene because theyre hidden in your mouth. But gum disease produces a bleeding, infected wound thats the equivalent in size to the palms of both your hands, says Susan Kara bin, (Doctor of Dental Surgery) DDS, a New York periodontist and president of the American Academy of Period ontology.

"If you had an infection that size on your thigh, youd be hospitalized," Karabin says. "Yet people walk around with this infection in their mouth and ignore it. Its easy to ignore because it doesnt hurt ... but its a serious infection, and if it were in a more visible place, it would be taken more seriously."

You may think that the worst consequence of poor dental health would be lost teeth and painful times in the dentists chair. But some studies have linked common oral problems to illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, premature birth, osteoporosis, and even Alzheimers disease. In most cases, the strength and exact nature of the link is unclear, but they suggest that dental health is important for preserving overall health.

"We need to educate the public that the mouth isnt disconnected to the rest of the body," says Sally Cram, DDS, a periodontist in Washington, D.C., and spokeswoman for the American Dental Association.
How Gum Disease Spreads

Periodontal disease is an infection caused by unhealthy bacteria that lodge between the teeth and gums. Simply brushing your teeth is enough to put some of those bacteria into your bloodstream, says Robert J. Genco, DDS, PhD, an oral biologist at the University of Buffalo. The bacteria then travel to major organs where they can spur new infections.

Inflammation also plays a role in spreading the effects of bad oral health. Red and swollen gums signal the bodys inflammatory response to periodontal bacteria. "If you have inflammation in your mouth, certain chemicals are produced in response that can spread [through the bloodstream] and wreak havoc elsewhere in the body," Cram says.

Evidence is mounting of the importance of the "mouth-body connection," as it is known, as dental problems are being linked to a growing list of other ailments.
Oral Health and Diabetes

Karabin has diagnosed several cases of diabetes from her dentists chair. "When I see a patient with multiple abscesses in their mouth ... I immediately think diabetes. I will send that patient for a glucose tolerance test." Nearly one-third of people with diabetes are unaware that they have it, and dentists can play a big role in diagnosing these patients, Genco says.

Diabetes and gum disease can interact in a vicious circle. Infections of any kind, including gum disease, cause the body to produce proteins called cytokines, which increase insulin resistance and make blood sugar more difficult to control, Karabin says. Conversely, uncontrolled diabetes impairs the bodys healing mechanism, which makes it harder to control gum disease, Cram says.

Diabetic patients who avoid dentists out of fear or anxiety will have problems that go beyond tooth loss, says John Buse, MD, PhD, director of the Diabetes Care Center at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. "You probably wont be able to do a good job taking care of diabetes unless you go to a dentist."

Gum disease may also speed the progression to full-blown diabetes in the 54 million Americans who are classified as prediabetic. According to the American Diabetes Association, many people first become aware they have diabetes when they develop dental disease.

In a 2007 study, Danish researchers compared prediabetic rats with gum disease to prediabetic rats without gum disease. The rats with gum disease soon displayed increased insulin resistance and other signs of progression toward type 2 diabetes.
Oral Health and Heart Disease

People with periodontal disease are nearly twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without, according to the American Academy of Periodontology. One theory is that oral bacteria attach to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries and contribute to the clots that can lead to heart attacks. Another is that inflammation increases plaque buildup.

Although evidence has been mixed, more than 20 "good-sized" studies have demonstrated the relationship between gum disease and heart disease, Genco says. But that relationship is still not confirmed as with other known risk factors such as smoking or obesity. Genco is planning a major study to see whether treating gum disease can forestall a second heart attack in people who have already had one.

Recent analysis suggests that common oral problems could increase the risk of cardiac problems. Indra Mustapha, DDS, a periodontist who teaches at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and colleagues analyzed the results of other research studies and found that periodontal disease with signs of bacterial exposure was associated with greater risk of heart disease.

The American Heart Association states, "At this time, promoting dental treatment expressly to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and/or acute cardiovascular events is not recommended."
Oral Health and Premature Birth

"Ob-gyns always knew that preterm and low-birth-weight births could be triggered by infections in the body," says Karabin. "They looked for urinary tract infections and throat infections, but never really thought about the mouth until a periodontic researcher looked into it."

Karabin says that severe periodontal disease in the mother may lead to an increase in the risk of premature birth. Remember those cytokines? Turns out they also increase the level of the hormone prostaglandin, which triggers labor, says Karabin. Fortunately, studies show that early treatment of gum disease and improved oral hygiene in women can reduce their risk of premature birth.

Other conditions that indicate a link between dental health and overall health include:

    Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis and tooth loss often go hand in hand because the same decrease in mineral density that boosts the risk of hip and other fractures affects the jawbone and teeth. Measures taken to prevent or treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women are likely to also help prevent severe gum disease, Genco says.
    Rheumatoid arthritis. A study released in June 2008 found that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were nearly eight times more likely to have periodontal disease. RA, like periodontal disease, is an inflammatory disorder, which may help explain the link, Karabin says.
    Alzheimers disease. A 2005 study of identical twins showed that in twin pairs where one had dementia and the other didnt, the ones with dementia were four times more likely to have gum disease by midlife. The study doesnt say that good oral heath prevents Alzheimers, but that inflammation early in life can have severe consequences later.

Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body

With the mouth and body so closely linked, dentists and physicians should collaborate more closely, Karabin says. "Physicians need to be trained to examine the mouth, and dentists need to understand more about systemic disease so they can pick up on some of the cues."

The findings also serve to bring home the importance of oral hygiene. Brush twice a day with a toothbrush with soft or medium bristles, Genco says. Clean between your teeth daily with floss, or try some of the interdental picks available at drugstores. If your gums bleed with flossing and dont stop after three to four days, see your dentist

Can human growth hormone help you burn fat and build muscle?

A few small studies have linked HGH injections with fat loss and muscle gain. But the changes seen were minimal -- just a few pounds -- while the risks and potential side effects are not. And experts warn that HGH is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss.
How HGH Works

HCH is produced by the pituitary gland to fuel growth and development in children. It also maintains some bodily functions, like tissue repair, muscle growth, brain function, energy, and metabolism, throughout life.

HGH production peaks during the teenage years and slowly declines with age. Studies have shown that obese adults have lower levels than normal-weight adults. And these lower levels of HGH have some people wondering whether a boost of HGH could enhance weight loss, especially in the obese.

HGH has also gained a reputation as a muscle builder, and its use is banned in the Olympics and other sports. However, there is little solid evidence that it can boost athletic performance.
Early Study Sparks Interest in HGH

Interest in using HGH for weight loss stems from a 1990 New England Journal of Medicine study that showed injections of synthetic HGH resulted in 8.8% gain in muscle mass and 14% loss in body fat without any change in diet or exercise. Although this study appeared to be promising, many later studies have shown no such benefit.

In March 2003, the New England Journal of Medicine took the unusual step of denouncing misuse of the 1990 study, pointing out that subsequent reports provide no reason to be optimistic.

Despite this, this 1990 study is still being used to promote Internet sales of HGH for weight loss.
Small Changes, But No Weight Loss

When adults with an HGH deficiency resulting from pituitary disease are given HGH replacement, it improves body composition -- increasing bone mass and muscle mass and decreasing fat stores.

But it does not cause weight loss in the obese, says Nicholas Tritos, MD, who co-authored an analysis evaluating the effectiveness of HGH for weight loss in obese people.

"Our results showed small improvements in body composition, a small reduction in body fat and increase in muscle mass, but on balance, weight did not change," he says. "More notable changes are seen when an individual is deficient in growth hormone from true pituitary disease."

Another study found that HGH therapy was linked to a small decrease in fat and increase in lean mass, but no change in body weight. The researchers concluded that HGH is not an effective treatment in obese people, and said more studies were needed.

Further, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists has warned that the use of HGH for obese patients is not recommended.

Pills and Powders: Risky and Expensive

HGH comes in injectable form, usually given once weekly, and is available only with a doctor’s prescription. HGH injections are approved to treat adults and children who have growth hormone deficiency, for people who are undergoing organ transplants, and for AIDS-related muscle wasting.

Companies marketing HGH pills and powders claim their products produce the same effects as the injected form. But Tritos warns that HGH is only effective when injected.

"HGH is a protein that will get broken down in the stomach unless it is injected," he says. "And besides, any drug not tested or approved by FDA is risky because it is unknown and not necessarily safe, pure, sterile, or what is being advertised."

The FDA has not approved HGH for weight loss for a variety of reasons, including the cost (about $1,000 per month), potential aggravation of insulin resistance and other side effects, and lack of long-term safety studies.

Healthy adults who take HGH put themselves at risk for joint and muscle pain, swelling in the arms and legs, carpel tunnel syndrome, and insulin resistance. In the elderly, these symptoms are more profound.
The Bottom Line

Using HGH for weight loss, muscle building, or anti-aging is experimental and controversial. HGH injections are believed to decrease fat storage and increase muscle growth to some extent, but studies have not shown this to be a safe or effective weight loss remedy.

Until more research can demonstrate the long-term safety and effectiveness of using HGH for weight loss, its wise to avoid it.

Unfortunately, there are no magic bullets when it comes to losing weight. Healthy weight loss means taking in fewer calories than you burn in physical activity.  Save your money for more fruits and vegetables, and a good pair of sneakers.