For decades, doctors have blamed cholesterol, smoking, and poor lifestyle choices for heart attacks. But now, scientists from Finland and the UK have uncovered evidence that heart attacks could actually be triggered by infectious bacteria lying dormant inside the arteries for years.
A Hidden Enemy in Your Arteries
Researchers discovered that arterial plaques aren’t just made of cholesterol, they can also hide bacterial biofilms, slimy protective layers where bacteria lie dormant, often for decades. These bacteria remain invisible to the immune system and unaffected by antibiotics.
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But here’s the frightening twist: a viral infection or other trigger can suddenly “wake up” these bacteria, causing inflammation inside the arteries. This inflammation can rupture plaques, form dangerous clots, and set off a heart attack.
Changing Everything We Thought We Knew
The study, led by Professor Pekka Karhunen and a team from Tampere and Oulu Universities, the University of Oxford, and others, provides the first direct evidence that heart attacks may be linked to infection. Researchers even found bacterial DNA from common oral microbes inside arterial plaques.
To confirm their findings, they developed a specialised antibody that revealed biofilm structures hiding in artery tissues. When these bacteria were released, the body’s immune system went into overdrive, triggering inflammation that ruptured cholesterol-laden plaques.
A Game-Changer for Heart Disease Treatment
This discovery doesn’t just change how we view heart disease, it could revolutionise treatment and prevention. Scientists are now considering vaccines or new therapies to target these hidden bacteria and stop heart attacks before they happen.
The research, part of a large EU-funded cardiovascular project, used tissue samples from patients with atherosclerosis and sudden cardiac deaths, making the findings even more compelling.
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Professor Karhunen explains:
“For years, we suspected bacteria might be involved in coronary artery disease, but this is the first time we’ve seen solid genetic evidence. This could transform the way we diagnose, treat, and even prevent heart attacks in the future.”
Heart attacks might not just be a matter of clogged arteries and bad habits, they could actually be infectious events triggered by bacteria. If further studies confirm this, vaccines for heart disease might one day become a reality.
(With ANI inputs)
