A recent study found that “infection with a bacterium that causes gum disease and bad breath may increase the risk of heart disease.” Heart disease is responsible for ⅓ of all deaths worldwide so identifying risk factors will be beneficial in reducing the toll. Senior author Jacques Fellay explains that their study “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” and the research may lead to identifying people at risk and potential treatments.