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Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) is a tear in an artery’s inner lining, creating a blockage. SCAD is an under-recognized cause of acute coronary syndrome, heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest.

What Is SCAD?

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection is an under-diagnosed cause of acute coronary syndrome, heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest.

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A rare disease does not mean resources are.

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The iSCAD Registry has enrolled 1,500 patients at 25 sites in the U.S. and Australia.

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Research Roundup #3

For this edition of Research Roundup, I’m “back in my lane” talking about psychosocial research (and not trying to describe cardiac imaging studies – whew!) ...
Victor Change Cardiac Research Institute

First International Site Joins Multi-Center iSCAD Registry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SITE JOINS MULTI-CENTER iSCAD REGISTRY  New partnership brings genetic expertise in understanding of SCAD heart attack   ALEXANDRIA, VA (06/14/2023) ...
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This is what we know.

The average age of SCAD survivors is 42. Nearly 80% percent of known SCAD patients are women, with 20 percent experiencing their dissection in the peripartum period, either late in pregnancy or in the weeks after having a baby. The remaining women appear to experience SCAD related to extreme exertion or associated conditions such as fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) or connective tissue disorders, such as Marfan or Ehlers Danlos syndrome (Type IV). Hormone fluctuations also may play a role.

SCAD in men appears to be triggered by extreme physical exertion (e.g., fitness boot camps, triathlons) or the associated conditions as well. SCAD patients overall have none of the typical risk factors associated with other causes of heart attack, such as high blood pressure or plaque rupture from cholesterol buildup.

In addition to identifying SCAD’s associated conditions, early research has uncovered facts that prove the urgent need for targeted research and educating the medical community to take a closer look at younger patients exhibiting heart attack symptoms. Contrary to popular belief, SCAD survivors can experience additional dissections, ranging from days to a decade after the original event. Most subsequent SCADs occur in a different vessel. Second or third SCADs have been seen in arteries other than the coronaries, including the femoral and internal carotid arteries. The recurrence rate of SCAD is estimated to be 21%.

SCAD may occur when a combination of factors and conditions occurs as a “perfect storm.” Associated conditions of SCAD such as vascular irregularity, hormonal influences, collagen/genetic defect (e.g., Marfan, Ehlers Danlos, other connective tissue disorders), and physical exertion may interact or be subsets of each other.

See Naesha's Story

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Testimonials

Naesha Parks

Naesha Parks, EdD

“SCAD was a life-altering event that changed my life completely. I volunteer to be a part of that change for others. Knowledge is power!”

Testimonial-Tina-Pittman

Tina Pittman Wagers, MSW, PsyD

“I volunteer for SCAD Alliance because it is an organization that seeks to empower survivors with information, resources, and advancements in research by working with multiple institutions and individuals.”

Kim Cowperthwaite

Kim Cowperthwaite

“Connecting with the SCAD Alliance website and Facebook page became my first line of hope. I found links to a wealth of current research. Best of all, I gained a new realization of strength and hope.”

John Novak

John Novack

“I volunteer to try to help everyone affected by SCAD, and to educate the medical community — particularly those in emergency medicine — to recognize and treat SCAD quickly and appropriately.”

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