Medical Update - February 9, 2005

Bad teeth could be a warning sign for a heart attack, plus the benefits of a diet rich in fiber and vegetables. <br/><br/>News on 6 anchor LeAnne Taylor has details in this Medical Update. <br/><br/>Researchers

Wednesday, February 9th 2005, 10:43 am

By: News On 6

Bad teeth could be a warning sign for a heart attack, plus the benefits of a diet rich in fiber and vegetables.

News on 6 anchor LeAnne Taylor has details in this Medical Update.

Researchers say if you were a big baby, you could be at risk for certain forms of cancer later in life. A new study found women larger than average at birth had a sharply higher rate of breast cancer before the age of 50.

The study also found higher rates of digestive cancer and lymphoma in adults who were heavy at birth.

A diet rich in fiber and vegetables can lower cholesterol just as much as statin drugs. Canadian researchers say people who can not take statin drugs because of their side effects can follow a diet rich in milk, almonds, oats and eggplant among other things to lower cholesterol.

And a new study found more evidence that bad teeth can be a warning sign for a bad heart. The study examined more than 650 people with no history of stroke or heart attack and found those with more bacteria that causes gum disease had thicker carotid arteries.

Researchers believe bacteria from the mouth may spread into the bloodstream and cause inflammation that results in the clogging of arteries that can lead to heart disease.