A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has found that viridans streptococci , a group of common oral bacteria, can form sticky bacterial layers called biofilms deep inside atherosclerotic plaques, remaining hidden from the immune system until the moment of rupture. The findings suggest that oral bacteria could persist in coronary arteries and contribute directly to fatal heart attacks.

Coronary artery disease has long been understood as a condition driven by cholesterol deposition, high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking, all of which promote chronic inflammation in the arteries. Alongside these established factors, researchers have also proposed infection-related inflammation as a trigger for plaque rupture, leading to heart attacks. Previous studi

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