Can viral illness trigger a heart attack?

Imagine one day at an annual wellness visit that heart attack prevention was the equivalent to receiving a vaccine to ward off the flu or another viral illness. That day might not be far off.  

It’s long been known that a heart attack is commonly caused by plaque buildup in the arteries around the heart. But until recently, researchers didn’t consider that a heart attack may be triggered by an infectious disease. 

According to the new findings, the mechanism triggering a heart attack could be an immune response to bacteria within arterial plaque rather than the plaque itself.   

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. – about 1 in every 3 deaths,” says Dr. Abdulrahman Dia, a cardiologist at Advocate Health Care. “This discovery could result in a seismic shift in cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment.” 

What is arterial plaque? 

Plaque is an accumulation of substances that circulate in your blood, such as cholesterol, fat, calcium and cellular waste. It can build up on the walls of your coronary arteries, reducing or even completely blocking blood flow. 

What happens when you have a heart attack? 

Prior to most heart attacks, plaque that lines an artery ruptures, and the resulting blood clot can disrupt or block blood flow to the heart. Dr. Dia explains that without oxygen-rich blood, the muscle begins to die and can’t adequately pump blood to the rest of your body. 

How might a viral infection trigger a heart attack? 

The study found that arterial plaque can harbor bacteria that lie dormant until a viral infection or other trigger activates it. Once the bacteria begin to multiply, the body’s immune system initiates an inflammatory response. This inflammation is what’s suspected to cause arterial plaque to rupture in the first place, leading to blocked arteries and ultimately, a heart attack. 

It’s clear that inflammation is a significant risk factor for heart attacks. And while health care providers emphasize preventing plaque buildup, its rupture appears to be directly linked to inflammation and its many causes as well. 

In pursuit of determining how inflammation can be prevented, this research suggests that existing modalities, such as vaccinations, could stop it from occurring in the first place. Until such treatment is available, Dr. Dia emphasizes that it’s wise to be aware of heart attack symptoms and to seek emergency treatment if you suspect one. Some symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath and upper body discomfort. 

“Hopefully, this paves the way for preventive treatment that reduces infection-related heart attacks,” says Dr. Dia. “That will be a momentous day in cardiovascular medicine.” 

Want to learn more about your risk for heart disease? Take a free online quiz.