A recent study, conducted by teams from Finland, the UK, and the University of Oxford, has unveiled a startling possibility: heart attacks can sometimes have an infectious origin. While lifestyle factors such as cholesterol, diet, and stress are known contributors, this research highlights a less explored – yet deeply troubling – mechanism.
The scientists examined arterial plaques from patients with coronary artery disease and discovered bacterial biofilms—slimy, dormant colonies of oral bacteria embedded within the cholesterol-rich structures. These biofilms can remain inactive and hidden from the immune system for decades, but may be “awakened” by viral infections or other triggers. Once activated, these bacteria provoke inflammation, causing the plaque’s fibrous cap to rupture and leading to thrombus formation ultimately resulting in a heart attack. This groundbreaking data was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Lead researcher Professor Pekka Karhunen remarked, “Though microbial activity in atherosclerosis has long been suspected, this is among the first direct evidence of oral bacteria embedded in coronary plaques.” The team even developed a specialized antibody that helped visualize these biofilm structures within arterial tissue.
This discovery could radically transform medical strategies for heart attack prevention. It opens avenues for detecting bacterial biofilms through diagnostics, treating them therapeutically, or even developing vaccines to neutralize latent bacterial threats before they trigger a cardiac event.
This pioneering research fundamentally reshapes how we understand heart disease. It compels medical professionals and patients alike to recognize that infections not just cholesterol or genetics—may lurk as hidden triggers. As science advances, early detection and preventive care targeting these bacterial biofilms could become critical tools in safeguarding heart health.
