Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) is the number one cause of heart attack for women under 50 in the United States, and 4% of all heart attacks can be attributed to the condition. What is even more unique is that it doesn’t follow the causation of a traditional heart attack, where there is plaque buildup and a blockage. With SCAD, young, healthy women with no risk factors are showing up in the Emergency Room with heart attacks. SCAD also cannot be treated with typical treatments for heart attacks. SCAD often results in sudden death, with some estimates of mortality for SCAD as high as 70%.
KCUR's Up To Date host, Steve Kraske, spoke with patient Nancy Holland, a multiple spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) survivor, and Dr. Anna Grodzinsky, cardiologist with Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, as they raise awareness for SCAD and heart health.
Original source can be found here.
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