A heart surgeon has revealed the four things he would never do because of the risks of heart disease, stroke and cancer.
Dr. Jeremy London, a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon in Georgia, warned against alcohol-based mouthwashes because there is evidence they can raise blood pressure.
He said these mouthwashes kill healthy bacteria in the mouth by disrupting the production of nitric oxide, a gas produced naturally by the body to relax blood vessels.
He said: “Our gut microbiome or the good bacteria in our gut starts in the mouth, so if you kill this bacteria you can throw it off balance.”
“By killing this bacteria, you can actually cause or worsen hypertension or high blood pressure.”
in one study 2022The researchers wrote that there is “unequivocal evidence” that altering the oral microbiome with an antiseptic mouthwash suppresses nitric oxide and increases blood pressure.
Besides, scientists in Belgium found that participants who used alcohol-based mouthwash daily had elevated levels of the bacteria fusobacterium nucleatum and streptococcus anginosus, which have been linked to colon cancer.
Meanwhile, in a recent TikTok video, which has more than 3.4 million views, Dr. London said vaping or smoking were “probably the worst thing you can do for yourself.”
Dr. Jeremy London, a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon in Georgia, took to TikTok to share the things he never does due to the increased risk of heart disease and cancer.
Warned against alcohol-based mouthwashes because they can raise blood pressure
Nicotine “directly damages the lining of blood vessels, which can disrupt blood flow and cause blood to clot.”
If these clots travel to the brain or heart, they can cause heart attacks or strokes.
Damage to blood vessels caused by nicotine can also harden arteries and cause plaque to build up inside them, a condition known as atherosclerosis.
While decades of research has linked smoking to heart disease and lung cancer, Dr. London also mentioned vaping, something science is less clear about.
However, emerging research suggests the habit could be as harmful as smoking.
TO study 2022 Experts at the American Heart Association, for example, found that people who vaped or smoked immediately experienced an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, which puts pressure on the heart and causes it to gradually weaken.
Dr. London also avoids limiting your consumption of ultra-processed foods, which have long been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer.
This is due to the high amounts of saturated fats, sugars and refined carbohydrates, which increase cholesterol and cause arteries to narrow.
A 2021 study from the American College of Cardiology found that each daily serving of ultra-processed foods was associated with a seven percent increased risk of heart disease.
He said: ‘You are what you eat, literally. The proteins, fats, and carbohydrates you eat provide the energy and building blocks for every cell in your body.
“Be careful with your nutritional plan.”
Dr. London said smoking is “probably the worst thing you can do for yourself” in terms of heart disease risk. Meanwhile, even innocent products like mouthwash can raise blood pressure.
Dr. London also avoids alcohol.
He said: “I’m sorry to tell you, but even moderate alcohol consumption is in question.”
He explained that alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde, a chemical compound “that is toxic to all cells in the body.”
This compound has been shown to damage DNA and prevent the body from repairing that damage, according to the CDC.
Once DNA is damaged, cells can grow uncontrollably and create cancerous tumors.
Acetaldehyde is considered a group 2B carcinogen, meaning there is sufficient evidence that it causes cancer in animals and limited evidence that it causes cancer in humans.
In another videoDr. London noted that avoiding alcohol has left him with “greater mental clarity, better sleep, and a high level of productivity.”
He said, “That’s the secret sauce.”