Tertiary syphilis is extremely dangerous and will manifest itself 10–30 years after your infection began. The illness destroys your internal organs and might lead to death in tertiary syphilis. The three main organs that are affected by this disease are the heart, the brain and the spinal cord. The virus that causes tertiary syphilis also goes by the names "Lues" or "Gonorrhea" because it attacks those parts of the body that are responsible for sexual pleasure. However, unlike other STDs such as herpes simplex virus (HSV) which only affects skin tissue, this one can also affect the lining of the blood vessels and cause problems with the heart, brain and spinal cord. People who have been infected with tertiary syphilis are at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke. They may also develop dementia or Alzheimer's-like symptoms. Those infected with tertiary syphilis should see their doctor regularly so that any complications can be detected early on.