ST. LOUIS, Dental hygiene may not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering heart health, but for one woman, a cracked tooth led to a life-threatening heart valve infection.
Heidi Worfler recalled feeling extremely fatigued and even developed anemia before doctors identified the underlying cause of her condition.
It wasn’t until she visited the emergency room that doctors discovered her recently cracked tooth had caused an infection in her mitral valve.
Despite maintaining good dental hygiene and brushing twice a day, Worfler’s infection still found its way through a cracked tooth and into her heart valve.
She underwent mitral valve replacement surgery to remove the infected tissue and survived the life-threatening infection.
Worfler’s case is a reminder that cardiovascular disease remains a leading threat to women’s health. To learn more and support the fight against the number one killer of women, visit [www.goredforwomen.org](http://www.goredforwomen.org).
