Halitosis: could it be a predictor of stroke?
Stroke is a medical emergency and can cause permanent neurological disability and death. Halitosis (bad breath) has been reported in many stroke patients. We speculated that this phenomenon may be present before as well as after a stroke. Moreover, many studies have shown that most of the causes of halitosis are also associated with an increased risk of stroke. Therefore, we hypothesized that the severity of halitosis could be a predictor of stroke. We hope that this hypothesis can be confirmed by further investigations, and that if confirmed it can be used as a tool to monitor disease control and/or early diagnosis and intervention of newly developed diseases related to both halitosis and stroke.
Department of Diving Medicine, Zuoying Branch of Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Neurology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: tsengweishih@gmail.com.
Wei-Shih
WS
Tseng
D006209:Halitosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*