Contents:
- Medical Video: Study: Gum Disease Linked to Increased Cancer Risk for Older Women
- Elderly women are 14 percent at risk of developing cancer if they have gum disease
- Gum disease increases the risk of esophageal cancer
- So, why are older women more susceptible to cancer?
- Further research is needed
Medical Video: Study: Gum Disease Linked to Increased Cancer Risk for Older Women
Gum disease is caused by infection and swelling of the gums. But did you know that gum disease that occurs in elderly women can actually trigger cancer risk? Why is that? See the explanation in this article.
Elderly women are 14 percent at risk of developing cancer if they have gum disease
Gum disease or often called periodontitis is a severe gum infection caused by a buildup of plaque, a sticky layer of bacteria that forms between teeth. This severe infection can damage tissue and bone in the gums if not treated immediately.
In fact, gum disease can also cause complications. Because the bacteria in the gum tissue can also enter the bloodstream and attack other organs.
Anyone can get this disease at any age, but it is more common among the elderly. In fact, the CDC states that gum disease attacks more than 70 percent of people over the age of 65.
Unfortunately, a recent study published in the journal Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention showed that elderly women with a history of gum disease were 14 percent more at risk of developing cancer. The study involved more than 65,000 female respondents from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study aged 54 to 86 years.
Gum disease increases the risk of esophageal cancer
From the results of these studies it is known that the risk of cancer due to gum disease occurs in several types of cancer, especially in cancer of the esophagus (esophagus).
Esophageal cancer is the type of cancer most often associated with gum disease. The reason is, women who have gum disease are known to be three times more likely to develop esophageal cancer than women who do not have health problems with the mouth.
This occurs because periodontal pathogens (such as germs) in the oral cavity can easily access and infect the lining of the esophagus so that it can increase cancer risk in that location.
In addition, certain periodontal bacteria have been shown to increase inflammation even in small amounts. That is why it is important to determine whether gum disease is at risk of increasing the risk of esophageal cancer or not so that appropriate precautions can be taken.
Other types of cancer that show a significant relationship with gum disease are lung cancer, gallbladder cancer, melanoma (skin cancer) and breast cancer.
While the connection between gum disease and gallbladder cancer is a new discovery. Chronic inflammation has been known to be involved in gallbladder cancer, unfortunately there are not enough accurate data regarding the relationship of gum disease and the risk of gallbladder cancer. Therefore, the researchers hope that there will be further research to ascertain the findings.
So, why are older women more susceptible to cancer?
Chief researcher and assistant professor at the Universituy of Texas in Houston, Ngozi Nwizu said that elderly women are more susceptible to cancer because it is in accordance with the time of the carcinogenesis process in most types of cancer. Pcarcinogenesis processes take years. Therefore, the ill effects of gum disease are seen after a woman gets older.
Further research is needed
Actually the relationship between gum disease and various types of cancer can not be understood. One explanation offered by the researchers is that bacteria and pathogens in the mouth may enter the bloodstream through damaged saliva or gum tissue. In this way, pathogens can reach various parts of the body and are involved in the process of forming cancer.
Although this study involved a large population sample, further research needs to be done to establish the actual mechanisms that exist regarding the relationship between gum disease and overall cancer risk.
