HAVING smelly breath may be bad for your heart, a study claims.
Swiss researchers have found the bacteria that causes gum disease and bad breath can increase your risk of heart disease.
GettyHaving bad breath can increase your risk of heart disease[/caption]
This is because the bug, known as F. nucleatum, can increase inflammation of the heart.
The study tracked the heart health of more than 3,000 for 12 years – and tested their blood for antibodies.
Former student, Flavia Hodel of the School of Life Sciences of EPFL, said having gum disease may “contribute to cardiovascular risk”.
The team found that those people who had F. nucleatum antibodies in their blood – which suggests they had gum disease at some point in their life – had an slightly increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Professor Jacques Fellay, at the School of Life Sciences, EPFL said the research “adds to growing evidence that inflammation triggered by infections may contribute to the development of coronary heart disease and increase the risk of a heart attack”.
Heart disease is the broad term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels and is one of the main causes of death and disability in the UK.
Around 7.6million Brits are living with the conditions, which kill around 460 people a day.
The conditions include heart attacks – when blood to the heart is blocked by cholesterol build-ups – and strokes, when this occurs with blood to the brain.
High blood pressure and cholesterol, smoking, diabetes and being overweight all increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The study was published in eLife.
Here are four things you can do right now to reduce your heart disease risk
Eat a healthy diet
Centre your eating plan around vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, plant-based proteins, lean animal proteins and fish.
Be physically active
Move more – it’s one of the best ways to stay healthy, prevent disease and age well. Adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week.
Watch your weight
Stay at a healthy weight for you. Lose weight if you’re overweight or obese. Start by eating fewer calories and moving more.
Live tobacco-free
If you don’t smoke, vape or use tobacco products, don’t ever start. There’s no such thing as a safe tobacco product.
Source: Heart