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Assessing The Relationship Between Periodontal Disease And Subsequent Inflammatory Responses And Headache Disorders, Bryn E. Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Headaches are the sixth leading cause of disability worldwide, and the third leading cause of disability amongst those aged 50 and older. Several headache disorders, including migraines, have been associated with nitric oxide production. It is widely accepted that the pain associated with headache disorders is due to the ability of nitric oxide to function as a vasodilator. While nitric oxide is a known vasodilator and has been linked to headache disorder, it is also produced in response to bacterial infections. Periodontal disease is the result of long term bacterial infections occurring in the gum line and nitric oxide is …