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Oral Infections and Heart Disease
November 26, 2008 |
Not properly caring for piercings can lead to some icky infections.
“Oral infections associated with a piercing typically occur when someone has a mouth
piercing or a tongue piercing or some other type that’s done that causes a localized
infection at the site,” says cardiologist Dr. Lynne Einbinder.
Infections caused by piercings in the mouth can also make a patient more prone to
developing unhealthy conditions in parts of the body such as the heart. “What happens is there is a bacteria inside the mouth and if those bacteria get from the mouth
inside the bloodstream at the site of the infection it can travel throughout the
bloodstream and get to the heart,” says Dr. Einbinder. If bacteria do make that
trip from the mouth to the heart there can be some serious consequences. “Inside
the heart are heart valves they open and shut so that blood goes through the heart.
If one of these little bacteria lands on a heart valve it can cause an area of infection
that can cause damage to the valve, leakage to the valve, and in a worst case scenario
can cause the valve to actually have to be replaced or repaired.”
When it comes to those types of infections Dr. Einbinder says you may not immediately
recognize the symptoms. “Unfortunately signs of the infection are sometimes subtle.
People may come in with fevers, weight loss, fatigue, tiredness sometimes they notice
changes in the skin.” If you have a mouth piercing and are experiencing any of those
symptoms it’s important to make an appointment with your physician.
While the trend is relatively new to the United States, many cultures have been practicing the art of body piercing for centuries. |
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