Heart attacks might be infectious

The heart attack can be contagious.

Scientists in Finland and the UK discovered remarkable evidence that heart attacks were caused by a infectious process rather than high cholesterol or lifestyle choices.

The expert discovered that bacteria could remain hidden in arterial plaques and stay asleep for decades until it was triggered by a viral infection or other outsourcing.

After waking up, harmful bacteria cause inflammation, rupture arterial plaques and blockages leading to heart attacks.

The findings challenge the traditional thought school about the causes of heart attack and open the expectation of treatment and vaccination development for cardiac problems.

Professor Pekka Karhunen, the chief author of the study at the University of Tampere in Finland, said: “Bacterial participation in coronary artery disease has been suspected for a long time, but direct and convincing evidence was missing.

“Our study showed the existence of genetic material – DNA – from various oral bacteria in atherosclerotic plaques.”