
Research on spontaneous coronary artery dissection, or SCAD, has exploded in the last decade, says Dr. Sharonne N. Hayes, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist and a leading expert on this rare heart condition.
Though there have been many advancements in understanding SCAD, Dr. Hayes says there is still much to learn, including why 90% of these types of heart attacks happen to nonstereotypical heart attack patients — young women.
Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (0:57) is in the downloads at the end of the post. Please "Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.
SCAD, or spontaneous coronary artery dissection, is a type of heart attack. It happens when a tear forms in a blood vessel in the heart. It can slow or block blood flow, causing a heart attack.
"These individuals are 90% women, and often really don't have much in the way of the traditional heart risk factors," says Dr. Hayes.
They may be athletes, young mothers or teens. That's the challenge.
"It is a heart attack —and a patient who doesn't look like they should be having a heart attack," she says.
Symptoms for SCAD may include:
Most people who have SCAD usually have other abnormalities in other arteries in their bodies.
"There may be some genetic factors, we know that there is no SCAD gene, specifically," says Dr. Hayes.
She tells patients to have hope.
"There is life after SCAD and hope after SCAD because the research is really burgeoning. And we know so much more than we did even a decade ago," Dr. Hayes says.
Women experience menopause at different ages — and different ways — which can, among other things, affect their heart health. The average age of natural menopause ...
Menopause marks the end of reproductive years. Fluctuating hormonal levels can lead to a variety of unwanted symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats and sleep ...
National Women's Health Week will be observed May 14–20, which makes this a good time to learn about two of the top threats to women's ...