Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an under diagnosed form of heart attack, caused by a tear in the inner layers of an artery. It often strikes young, otherwise healthy people -- mostly women -- and can lead to significant heart damage, even sudden death.
SCAD Research, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is dedicated to increasing awareness of SCAD and raising funds for research.
Thank you for sharing! I survived a SCAD heart attack 6 weeks ago. One thing I am struggling with and would love to see on this channel is descriptions of patient recovery. I keep being told that I should be fine after 1 week, after 3 weeks, that they don’t know why I still get exhausted so easily, that it’s purely psychological. But my body knows that it’s not true. I would love to see doctors educated more about length of time for recovery.
Thank you for sharing this video. My first scad was in 2005 aged 40 and no heart attack, diagnosed after a period of being unconscious for 40 mins so angiography was done 4 days later to be on the safe side. 2nd Scad was 2017, 3rd in 2018 and in March I had a dissection during an angiography. I have no genetic markers or risk factors I just have an unstable right coronary artery. What research has done is educate other cardiologists on how to treat patients❤
Thank you for sharing your experience. This really resonated with me. I've now had 2 SCAD's (in 2017 and 2023) and on both occasions the ambulance crew gave me the choice of going to hospital or staying at home because the ECG / blood pressure etc didn't show an issue. Then at hospital, on the first occasion, I waited 3 hours to be seen but was then told (on both occasions) they thought I would be going home once the result of the blood test came back, only to be swiftly admitted. It seems to be a common situation because SCAD does not present as a "normal" heart attack. I've been advised that the chances of another are 10% over the next 10 years (so 90% chance of never having one again), even though I've had 2 and if I do have another then the outcome for SCAD patients is very good with very few fatalities. So, I've come to accept the possibility of having another one but very much aim to live my life with a positive outlook.
My 27 year old daughter had scad a month ago. I’ve been shot at over seas. But this was the most terrifying thing my wife and I and of course the family went through.
I had a SCAD in the summer and also thought it was a panic attack. Then the following Thanksgiving I experienced a stroke. It has been a rough time recently, but still so much to be grateful for. Finding your own place for recovery is real. I agree with so much of what you said. Thank you.
My pain was not excruciating…it was mild and extended to my left arm. I attributed it to increased tension on the machines that I was using in PT to rehab my left arm due to an elbow fracture. The paramedics ran two ECGs, the ambulance personnel ran two ECGs and all four turned out “beautifully perfect”. They, however talked me into going to the ER and having it checked out. The ER doctor ran an ECG and they drew blood for all kinds of tests and when the results came back. The ER doctor said “Your ECG is perfect and all your blood work is good; however, I’m going to repeat the Troponin Test in 2 hours and if everything looks good them we’re going to let you go home.” In two hours the Troponin level had increased and he held me and admitted me for further test. That was in the wee hours of a Saturday morning. I was kept in the ER until I could be transported to the Main Hospital which didn’t happen until noon on Saturday. They started a Heparin drip that ran all weekend and we’re on standby for an Angiogram if I had any chest pain at all. The Angiogram was done on Monday around 11:00 and I had three blockages. The Cardiologist that did the Angiogram said he never expected to find what he found. I had triple bypass CABG surgery on Tuesday. Al, my A1Cs had been good, my cholesterol scores were always good and had been checked at least every six months. I was on meds for high blood pressure and it had been under control. Now I have a Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon and Cardiologist that I didn’t have before. I’m three months out and rehab started slow, but I’m doing fine right now and am going through the Cardiac Rehab program and working on endurance and stress…I’m a little over 1/3 do the way through that and see improvements weekly.
This is so interesting... My angiogram also didn't clearly show scad... The doctor said one of the branches of the coronary artery was 'petered out' but no clear tear or blockage seen. Had this MI about 4 weeks ago (8 weeks post partum) no other risk factors no issues with cholesterol. Im 38. They did an MRI and im waiting to see if theres anything can be seen on that
Thank you for sharing your story. Hope you are doing ok. I was admitted to hospital a few weeks ago (8 weeks postpartum after birth of my son) for chest pain and they found elevated troponin. They suspected scad however the angiogram was inconclusive... Im waiting on mri results. I also really felt like it was similar chest pain and pressure to a bad panic attack, like you!
One can't help noticing that all of these voices of SCAD are female. I had SCAD in Nov 2020, and I happen to be a male triathlete (180 lbs. non-smoker, no previous signs) who had a tough morning swim workout, went home, had a sandwich, and then had a heart attack. No FMB (good news) I asked my cardiologist why this happened, and he said "We don't know". I asked will it happen again, and his response was "We don't know". (bad news) Warren Zevon once said, "Enjoy every sandwich" so, at this point, that's my plan.
My SCAD took place five years ago, at age 59. I had every classic heart attack symptom. In the ambulance, to the second hospital, two hours away, I had a Cardiac Arrest. I was revived, and sent to the Cath Lab immediately. I had a Balloon Angioplasty, and placed in IV Heparin for several days. While in the hospital, I had various tests, that showed Fibromuscular Dysplasia, which they believe caused my SCAD. I had sudden onset very high hypertension in my late thirties, which could never be attributed to anything. I have FMD in my Renal Arteries, Internal Carotids, and Iliac Arteries. I currently have a small aneurysm in my brain, and a dissection in my Iliac Artery. The SCAD caused AMI left me with damage to my heart, and heart failure. Every time I get Angina pains, I fear this being another SCAD. For me, it is the negative gift that keeps giving. Thanks for sharing your story.
Absolutely! It happened to me in June 2018. I had a SCAD, AMI, and Cardiac Arrest afterwards. After being revived, I was rushed to the Cath Lab and had a Balloon Angioplasty, and placed on IV Heparin for several days. Tests were conducted while I was in the hospital, and it was discovered that I have Fibromuscular Dysplasia, which is in my Renal Arteries, Internal Carotid Arteries, and Iliac Arteries. It is believed that FMD caused the SCAD. I am lucky to still be here. Each time I have Angina, I worry about another SCAD. I currently have a brain aneurysm and Iliac Dissection because of FMD, and early heart failure due to my heart damage. It is the negative gift that keeps giving.
Five years ago I had a SCAD, and AMI. Even though I was experiencing every classic symptom of a heart attack, I was in denial. An ambulance took me to a small hospital, where I received blood work, Morphine, and clot busting drugs. I was then sent by ambulance to a large hospital two hours away. About 3/4 of the way there, I had a Cardiac Arrest. I was revived, and upon arrival at the hospital, I was taken straight to the Cath Lab, for a Balloon Angioplasty. I was treated with IV Heparin for several days, and had further testing to determine what caused my heart attack. It turned out that it was a SCAD. The SCAD itself was caused by my new diagnosis of Fibromuscular Dysplasia. I have it in my Renal Arteries, Carotid Arteries, and Iliac Arteries. Currently, I have an Iliac Dissection, and an Aneurism in my brain. As a result of heart damage, I have heart failure, and Angina. I do have fear of another SCAD occurring. This has been a long road. In hindsight, my sudden onset hypertension in my late 30s, can now be attributed to my Renal FMD. As I am my doctor’s only FMD patient, it is difficult for him to know how to treat my ongoing symptoms.
Is there any correlation or research yet into the vaccine and scad? I had my scad shortly after my first dose which made my endometriosis flare terribly. I was 35
Thanks for sharing your story of SCAD. I wasn’t young when I had my SCAD, but was 59. My classic heart attack symptoms came on very quickly following two sharp pains in my chest. There was the terrible crushing pain in my chest, upper back, neck, shoulder and arm, a terrible feeling of impending doom, having to fight for breath, profuse sweating, and vomiting. At first, I was taken to a small hospital, where I was given Morphine, clot busting drugs, and had blood work. Soon after, I was sent two hours away, to a city hospital. About 3/4 of the way there, I had a Cardiac Arrest. I was revived and once at the hospital, was rushed to the Cath Lab. I had Balloon Angioplasty, and was given IV Heparin for several days. During this time, I had further tests that confirmed both my SCAD, and Fibromuscular Dysplasia. I have FMD in my Renal Arteries, Internal Carotids, and Iliac Arteries. Life has never been the same. It turns out that my sudden onset hypertension in my late 30s, was due to this. I currently have an Iliac Dissection. The damage to my heart has caused me to have ups and downs and the early stages of heart failure. The thought of having another SCAD, especially each time I get Angina, is very real. I hope more women share their SCAD stories, the connection really helps.
Thanks for sharing your story. My wife had a SCAD attack last year and she's fine again. We're living in the near of Munich (Germany) and SCAD is very unknown here. Thankfully the doctor in the hospital knew it and reacted very fast setting a stent. After all this I'm still much more worried that SCAD can happen again than my wife is. But as you said, anything can happen anytime. So we're just continue living our life and try to be as healthy as possible. Each day thankful that everything went the way it is.
I would money on her having had a Covid jab and boosters, the graphene slices the endothelium . It will never be admitted by those that pushed fear of Covid.
Seeing this and other similar SCAD stories on youtube prompted me to print off information about this condition and take it to my local EMS station so they could be more aware of it. The info was well received, I'm grateful to say.
Please don't ever drive yourself if you believe you are having a heart attack, it could be the last thing you do!! The ambulance will also know which hospitals have a cardiac Cath lab, they can also activate the Cath lab if you are having a STEMI (a heart attack that shows on an EKG), and provide medications prior to your arrival at the hospital. Most importantly, they can offer you early defibrillation should you go into cardiac arrest from your heart attack. I am a medic, and I had a guy who was going to drive himself to the hospital with chest pain, instead he decided it would be safer to go by ambulance. En route to the hospital he went into vfib arrest and we immediately defibrillated him two separate times and were able to get him back pretty quickly. He survived. Had he driven he would have likely died or killed someone else when he went into cardiac arrest, as he would have been behind the wheel of a car! He also would have waiting probably at least 7 plus minutes for an ambulance, and for every minute that someone in a shockable rhythm without a pulse doesn't get defibrillated there is a 10% less of a chance they will survive. Think about that.
I am a male and just had SCAD at 48. I have great blood pressure, low cholesterol, heart rate was in the 30’s to 40’s, refused the Covid vaccine, ran 6 days a week, and lifted weights 5 days a week. I am 5’9” and weigh about 135. I was the only male patient that my hospital had seen this happen to.
Thank you for telling your story. I now feel empowered to be more assertive with my cardiologist who needs to communicate more with me. My echo sounds horrible and I have A fib and other arrhythmias, and a 95% blocked descending coronary artery at 75 years old. It’s been 3 weeks since he’s contacted me. Maybe I should find another cardiologist.
I had SCAD a week ago, 8/14/2023, I’m 50, no risk factors. I want to know which group is she talking about. I am looking for support as well. I am very anxious and confused about a lot of things.
I feel for her. I had SCAD on 7/8/23. I’m 47 and in excellent health and perform at a high fitness level. Prior to my SCAD, I had ZERO medical problems and was never prescribed any meds by any doctor. She seems confused and lost, just like me….
