ST. LOUIS — Dental hygiene may not be the first thing many think about when they consider what can impact their heart health. For one woman, a cracked tooth led to a deadly infection of one of her heart valves.
Heidi Worfler, remembered feeling very lethargic and even became anemic before doctor’s discovered the root of her problem.
It wasn’t until Worfler visited an emergency room that doctor’s became aware that a recent cracked tooth had led to the infection of her mitral valve.
Even though Worfler had brushed twice a day and kept good dental hygiene, the infection had still slipped its way into a cracked tooth and straight to her heart valve.
Worfler survived a infectious mitral valve replacement surgery, which removed the infected tissue from her mitral valve.
Worfler is just one of many women that have been faced with cardiovascular disease. To help raise awareness and support against the number one killer of women, visit www.goredforwomen.org