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Bacterial Infections Linked to Heart Disease and Stroke

Ronald J. Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O, M.S.
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Common, chronic bacterial infections, including lung and urinary tract infections, as well as gum disease, may increase the risk of atherosclerosis, a build-up of fatty plaques in the arteries that could lead to heart attack, study findings suggest.

During the 5-year study, people with chronic bacterial infections were nearly three times more likely to develop new plaques in carotid arteries, which are the large arteries in the neck that deliver blood to the brain.

A buildup of fat in the neck arteries can increase the risk of stroke, and is a sign that heart arteries may be clogged as well.

During the study, 41% of participants developed new plaques in their carotid arteries.

People who had chronic infections were 2.78 times more likely to develop new plaques than people who did not have any infections.

Researchers suspect that infection-related inflammation may play a role in the increased risk.

Patients with infections who had high levels of inflammation tended to have a greater risk of atherosclerosis.

Another possible explanation, according to the authors, is that bacterial infections may trigger the immune system to turn against itself.

This so-called autoimmune response may damage vessels, making it easier for fatty deposits to accumulate.

References

Kiechl S, Egger G, Mayr M, Wiedermann CJ, Bonora E, Oberhollenzer F, Muggeo M, Xu Q, Wick G, Poewe W, Willeit J. Chronic infections and the risk of carotid atherosclerosis: prospective results from a large population study. Circulation. 2001 Feb 27;103(8):1064-70

Mayr M, Kiechl S, Mendall MA, Willeit J, Wick G, Xu Q. Increased risk of atherosclerosis is confined to CagA-positive Helicobacter pylori strains: prospective results from the Bruneck study. Stroke. 2003 Mar;34(3):610-5. Epub 2003 Feb 13.

Mayr M, Kiechl S, Willeit J, Wick G, Xu Q. Infections, immunity, and atherosclerosis: associations of antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, and cytomegalovirus with immune reactions to heat-shock protein 60 and carotid or femoral atherosclerosis. Circulation. 2000 Aug 22;102(8):833-9.

Before starting any self treatment Dr. Grisanti recommends that you consider consulting with a doctor trained in functional medicine. Visit www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com to find doctors thoroughly trained in functional medicine

Functional medicine embraces the totality of the regulatory functions of the body. It encompasses all of the biophysical, biochemical, enzymatic, endocrine, immunological, and bioenergetic regulatory capacities.

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S.


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