Heart Disease
A variety of conditions can be a symptom of syphilis like heart disease. Syphilis can cause damage to blood vessels, which in turn affects all of the body’s systems, including the cardiovascular system. For example, the syphilis bacteria can thicken the arterial wall, restricting blood flow to the heart and causing chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fainting, especially during exercise. In extreme cases, it could cause a heart attack or stroke.
When infected with syphilis, you may also experience heart valve damage due to scarring from this bacterial infection. In addition to having risk factors for heart disease, if you have been diagnosed with syphilis but are not receiving treatment, you may still experience symptoms associated with the disease’s presence in your body.