Why is plaque bad for your heart

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This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Request Appointment. Products and services. Answer From Rekha Mankad, M. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Some studies show a correlation between gum disease and heart disease. Gum disease can cause bacteria to enter the blood stream, setting up an inflammatory response which can allow arteries to build up atherosclerotic plaque and cause hardening of the arteries.

This can lead to blood flow issues, heart blockages and an increased risk of having a heart attack. Brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day, flossing daily and regular visits to your dentist can help prevent plaque and tartar buildup. A regular at-home oral hygiene routine can do wonders in keeping your mouth and body healthy, and your smile bright.

Share this article:. Filter Cosmetic 1. This blog is designed to provide general information and discussions about health and dental-related subjects. We are not providing any treatment or diagnosis on this blog, and it is not intended to offer specific dental or medical advice to anyone. Some accounts say Pheidippides already had covered miles in two days. And most of the stories say he collapsed from exhaustion after his announcement. Fast forward a few thousand years and, depending on good temperatures and local climate, running season always is in full swing somewhere.

In , about 25, runners finished marathons in the U. Forty years later, in , more than , people had. Peter McCullough, chief of cardiovascular research at Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute in Dallas, has completed 54 marathons, one in every state.

But he stopped in , after he said research showing the potential dangers made them not worth the risk. He'd like to see more research, such as a widespread registry of athletes involved in endurance sports and eventually a clinical trial that includes MRI results. McCullough was part of the study that used MRIs to identify the long-distance runners whose right atrium and ventricle dilated immediately after a marathon and up to 24 hours later.

It also included blood tests that showed an elevation in biomarkers that are indicators of heart stress and injury. A smaller subset, he estimates about 1 percent, could be prone to scarring.

Researchers think these results are due to a decrease in active smoking and reduced exposure to secondhand smoke.

Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke damages the heart and blood vessels in many ways. Smoking also is a major risk factor for developing heart disease or dying from it. Quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke can help reverse heart and blood vessel damage and reduce heart disease risk. Quitting smoking is possible, but it can be hard.

Millions of people have quit smoking successfully and remained nonsmokers. A variety of strategies, programs, and medicines are available to help you quit smoking. Not smoking is an important part of a heart-healthy lifestyle.

A heart-healthy lifestyle also includes heart-healthy eating , aiming for a healthy weight , managing stress , and physical activity. The chemicals in tobacco smoke harm your heart and blood vessels in many ways. For example, they:. Smoking is a major risk factor for ischemic heart disease , a condition in which plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries.

These arteries supply your heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood. When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis.

Plaque narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow to your heart muscle. The buildup of plaque also makes it more likely that blood clots will form in your arteries. Blood clots can partially or completely block blood flow. Over time, smoking contributes to atherosclerosis and increases your risk of having and dying from heart disease, heart failure , or a heart attack.

Compared with nonsmokers, people who smoke are more likely to have heart disease and suffer from a heart attack.

The risk of having or dying from a heart attack is even higher among people who smoke and already have heart disease. Peripheral artery disease P. Smoking is a major risk factor for P. Blocked blood flow in the leg arteries can cause cramping, pain, weakness, and numbness in your hips, thighs, and calf muscles. Blocked blood flow also can raise your risk of getting an infection in the affected limb. Your body might have a hard time fighting the infection. If severe enough, blocked blood flow can cause gangrene tissue death.

In very serious cases, this can lead to leg amputation. If you have P. Smoking even one or two cigarettes a day can interfere with P. People who smoke and people who have diabetes are at highest risk for P. Secondhand smoke also raises the risk of future coronary heart disease in children and teens because it:. The risks of secondhand smoke are especially high for premature babies who have respiratory distress syndrome and children who have conditions such as asthma.

Also, studies have shown that people who smoke cigars are at increased risk of heart disease. One of the best ways to reduce your risk of coronary heart disease is to avoid tobacco smoke. Ask friends and family members to not smoke in the house and car. Quitting smoking can lower your risk of heart disease as much as, or more than, common medicines used to lower heart disease risk, including aspirin, statins, beta blockers, and ACE inhibitors.

Millions of people have successfully quit smoking and remain nonsmokers. Surveys of current adult smokers find that 70 percent say they want to quit.

There are a few ways to quit smoking, including quitting all at once going "cold turkey" or slowly cutting back your number of cigarettes before quitting completely. Use the method that works best for you. Below are some strategies to help you quit. If you want to quit smoking, try to get motivated. Make a list of your reasons for wanting to quit.