Ever Heard of SCAD, The Heart Attack That Only Affects Women?

SCAD is a rare form of heart attack and is known to mainly affect young women. From symptoms to high-risk factors, here’s everything you need to know about it.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection or SCAD is a serious medical disorder that develops when a heart blood artery ruptures or ruptures. Blood flow slows when one of the artery layers ruptures, or blood simply flows through the rupture and becomes trapped between the layers of the wall. Heart attacks are caused by a bulge of trapped blood that occurs when blood flow to the heart is obstructed. Most often it results in cardiac arrhythmia and premature death.

SCAD heart attacks are different from atherosclerosis-related heart attacks, which are more common and result from a buildup of a sticky material called plaque inside the arteries.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) Attacks in Women

SCAD can affect both men and women at any age, although it most often affects women in their 40s and 50s. SCAD is more likely to develop during postmenopause or during the menstrual cycle. SCAD patients often do not have risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. These risk factors imply that changes in female hormones could be important.

Dear women,

You may need to limit some physical activity and strength training if you’ve had one arterial tear to prevent another. In addition, your doctor may recommend cardiac rehabilitation, where you can strengthen your heart and learn safe training techniques.

SCAD: 8 Common Symptoms of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection

1. chest pain
2. rapid pulse in the chest
3. Discomfort in the arm, shoulder, back, or jaw
4. Difficulty breathing
5. Perspiration
6. Fatigue
7. Nausea
8. Dizziness

SCAD: Major Risk Factors Associated With Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection

1. Gender is undoubtedly an important risk factor for SCAD, since it affects women more than men.
2. Fibromuscular dysplasia causes the cells that line the arteries to grow out of control.
3. SCAD is also influenced by genetic factors such as connective tissue disorders, vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and Marfan syndrome.
4. SCAD and extremely high blood pressure are also linked.

Despite receiving good therapy, SCAD may return soon after the initial episode or years later. Because of the damage that heart attacks cause to the heart muscle, people with SCAD may also be more susceptible to other heart conditions, such as heart failure.