Appointments & care

At Mayo Clinic, we take the time to listen, to find answers and to provide you the best care.

Mayo Clinic in Minnesota has been recognized as one of the top Cardiology & Heart Surgery hospitals in the nation for 2014-2015 by U.S. News & World Report.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection — sometimes referred to as SCAD — is a rare emergency condition that occurs when a tear forms in one of the blood vessels in the heart.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) can slow or block blood flow to the heart, causing a heart attack, abnormalities in heart rhythm and sudden death.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) tends to affect people ages 30 to 50, though it can occur at any age. People who develop spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) are often healthy, and many don't have risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) can lead to sudden death if it isn't diagnosed and treated promptly. For this reason, seek emergency attention if you experience heart attack signs and symptoms — even if you think you aren't at risk for a heart attack.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Signs and symptoms of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) include:

• Chest pain
• A rapid heartbeat or fluttery feeling in the chest
• Pain in your arms, shoulders or jaw
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Unusual, extreme tiredness
• Nausea
• Dizziness

When to see a doctor

If you experience chest pain or suspect you're having a heart attack, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. If you don't have access to emergency medical services, have someone drive you to the nearest hospital. Drive yourself only as a last resort.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

It's not clear what causes spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) causes a superficial tear inside an artery. When the inner layers of the artery separate from the outer layers, blood can pool in the area between the layers. The pressure of the pooling blood can make a short tear much longer. And blood trapped between the layers can form a blood clot.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) may slow blood flow through the artery to the heart, which makes the heart work harder. Or blood flow through the artery can be completely stopped, causing heart muscle to die (heart attack).

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Appointments & care

At Mayo Clinic, we take the time to listen, to find answers and to provide you the best care.

Tests and procedures used to diagnose spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) involve creating pictures of your arteries to look for signs of abnormalities.

Injecting special dye into the affected artery

During a set of procedures called cardiac catheterization and coronary angiogram, doctors inject a special dye into your arteries so they'll show up on imaging tests. To get the dye to your arteries, doctors insert a long, thin tube (catheter) into an artery — usually in your leg or arm — and thread the tube to the arteries in the heart.

Once the dye is released, doctors use X-rays to create pictures of the arteries. The X-rays may show abnormalities in an artery that help confirm spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).

Creating images of the inside of arteries

After coronary angiogram, other tools may be inserted through the catheter and into the affected artery to create pictures. These imaging tests may include:

• Intravascular ultrasound. A special imaging catheter may be passed into your arteries to create sound-wave pictures (ultrasound).
• Optical coherence tomography. A catheter equipped with a special light may be passed into your arteries to create light-based pictures.

The images may show abnormalities in an artery that help doctors confirm spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and gather information to guide treatment decisions.

Using advanced imaging to see the arteries

During a cardiac computerized tomography (CT) angiography scan, you lie on a table inside a doughnut-shaped machine. An X-ray tube inside the machine rotates around your body and collects images of your heart and chest, which can show abnormalities in your arteries. Cardiac CT angiography may be used in addition to other tests and procedures.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

In some people, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) can occur again, despite successful treatment. It may recur soon after the initial spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) or years later.

Doctors are studying why spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) recurs and who is most likely to experience a recurrence.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) can be an unexpected and shocking diagnosis. The condition can cause serious and scary symptoms, and it often affects people who may have few risk factors for heart disease.

Each person finds his or her own way of coping with a diagnosis. In time you'll find what works for you. Until then, you might try to:

• Find out more about your diagnosis. Find out enough about spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) so that you can feel comfortable participating in decisions about your care. Ask your doctor for the specifics of your situation, such as the location and size of your artery tear and descriptions of the treatments you've received. Talk with your health care team about where you can find more information about spontaneous coronary artery dissection.
• Connect with others living with your diagnosis. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is rare, but national organizations can help connect you to others who share your diagnosis. Organizations such as the American Heart Association and the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease provide telephone and online support.
• Take care of yourself. Help your body recover by taking good care of yourself. For instance, get enough sleep so that you wake feeling rested, choose a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables, and find healthy ways to cope with stress, such as listening to music or writing down your thoughts. If your doctor feels its safe, try gentle exercise most days of the week.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Doctors and researchers have found some similarities among people who have experienced spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). It's not yet clear what role these factors play in causing the disease. Common factors include:

• Female sex. Though spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) can occur in both men and women, it tends to affect women more often.
• Giving birth. Some women with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) have recently given birth. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) was found to occur most often in the first few weeks after delivery.
• Irregular growth of cells in the artery walls. A condition called fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) causes the irregular growth of cells in the walls of one or more of your arteries. This irregular growth can weaken the artery walls and reduce blood flow. FMD can also cause high blood pressure, a stroke and tears in other blood vessels. FMD occurs more often in women than it does in men.
• Extreme physical exertion.
• Blood vessel problems. Diseases that cause inflammation of the blood vessels, such as lupus and polyarteritis nodosa, have been associated with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) .
• Inherited connective tissue diseases. Genetic diseases that cause problems with the body's connective tissues, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Marfan syndrome, have been found to occur in people with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).
• Very high blood pressure. Having untreated, severe high blood pressure is associated with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).
• Cocaine use.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com