Learn about the signs of the little-known heart attack that affects young and healthy women.

Conheça os sinais do ataque cardíaco pouco conhecido que atinge mulheres jovens e saudáveis
Conheça os sinais do ataque cardíaco pouco conhecido que atinge mulheres jovens e saudáveis. Foto: Pexels

Normally, a heart attack is associated with older people. However, a little-known condition called spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which stands for spontaneous coronary artery dissection in English, can trigger this factor in younger individuals, especially women.

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Research conducted by the American Heart Association has indicated that this cause is responsible for 35% of heart attacks in women under 50 years of age. This information is from “The Sun.”
Healthy and young women, around 22 years old, can be affected by SCAD. This condition is an acute coronary syndrome.

According to experts from the Mayo Clinic in the United States, it can slow down or block the blood flow to the heart, causing a heart attack, abnormalities in heart rhythm, or sudden death.

Although it affects women from the age of 22 and without traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, this is a more common condition in the age range of 30 to 60 years. Additionally, there are some risk factors for the disease, such as recent childbirth, fibromuscular dysplasia, hypertension, and mixed connective tissue disease.

Because it is a heart attack in women not associated with risk factors, it is common for the diagnosis to be imprecise. Furthermore, according to Sharonne Hayes, the director of the SCAD Research Program at the Mayo Clinic, one of the reasons for the difficulty in diagnosis is that clinical trials involving SCAD did not include women.

Just like any other health problem, it is essential to be attentive to the signs to prevent further complications.

The main symptoms of spontaneous coronary artery dissection are:

  • Chest pain;
  • Nausea;
  • Dizziness;
  • Shortness of breath;
  • Pain in the shoulders, arm, or jaw;
  • Unusual fatigue and sweating.

When experiencing these conditions, it is crucial to seek medical help urgently, as indicated by Hayes.

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