Is There a Difference in Blood Flow Velocity between Bilateral Common Carotid Arterises in Community-Dwelling Elderly with Unilateral Chewing Habit and Forward Head Posture?: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Due to aging, blood flow rate decreases, also posture and chewing habit may be changed. Objective: To identify that changes in blood velocity in the common carotid arteries (CCAs) in old persons with unilateral chewing habit (UCH) and forward head posture (FHP) in the elderly. Design: An observational cross-sectional study. Methods: Chewing habits, FHP, and CCAs velocities were assessed in 85 elderly subjects. Chewing habits were measured by visual observation. CCAs measured the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), minimum diastolic velocity, and resistivity index. The subjects were divided into UCH and bilateral chewing habit groups depending on chewing habit. The subjects were also divided into >49 degrees and <49 degrees for comparison of blood flow between the left and right CCAs. Results: In the UCH, the chewing side had significantly higher EDV (P=.003), PSV (P=.023) than the non-chewing side. There was no significant difference in velocity between the CCAs in the FHP. Conclusion: This study shows that the blood flow velocity of the chewing side of UCH was higher, and unilateral chewing affects the CCAs velocity and thus highlight the importance of chewing habit in the elderly than head posture.