You can 'CATCH a deadly heart attack' as scientists discover they 'can be contagious'

HEART attacks may not just be caused by cholesterol, poor diet, smoking, and high blood pressure, say scientists.

For the first time, researchers have demonstrated how heart attacks may be an infectious disease.

According to new research carried out by Tampere and Oulu Universities , Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, and the University of Oxford , an infection may trigger myocardial infarction (the medical term for heart attack).

Scientists found in cases of coronary heart disease - the leading cause of heart attacks - arterial plaques containing cholesterol can quietly harbour bacterial biofilms.

These are gelatinous structures where bacteria live, shielded from the body's immune system and antibiotics.

These biofilms may lurk for decades, often undetected.

But a vir