Oral bacteria may increase heart disease risk

(© Image: Depositphotos) Researchers at EPFL have found that infection with a common bacterium that is linked to periodontal disease, oral cancers, and bad breath may cause a small increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease. A combination of genetic and environmental risk factors contributes to heart disease, which is responsible for about a third of all deaths worldwide. A build-up of plaque in the arteries that supply the heart with blood causes coronary heart disease - the most common type of heart disease - and can also lead to blockages that cause heart attacks. Previous studies have linked certain infections to an increased risk of plaque build-up. Now, a study from scientists at the group of Professor Jacques Fellay at EPFL has found that infection with a bacterium that causes gum disease and bad breath can increase the risk of heart disease. The study is published in eLife . "Although enormous progress has been made in understanding how coronary heart disease develops, our understanding of how infections, inflammation, and genetic risk factors contribute is still incomplete," says lead author Flavia Hodel, a former PhD candidate at EPFL's School of Life Sciences.