Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection

Voices of SCAD Written Stories

Experiencing a life-changing event such as a SCAD, has a huge impact on those who had the SCAD as well as their families and friends. Finding a lack of information about an uncommon and poorly understood condition can be difficult and may add to the strains of recovery. Reading others stories can be an enormous help.

DISCLAIMER: The stories posted are personal stories from people whose lives have been touched by SCAD and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of SCAD Research, Inc., as it is information provided by third parties. The information presented here and on the SCAD Research, Inc., website as whole is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice. If you have any complaints about any content, please email scadinfo@scadresearch.org so that we can address any concerns.

My 3 year journey

February 20, 2024

I was diagnosed with SCAD almost 3 years ago. The morning of 9/24/21 I woke up like any other morning and was getting ready for work. About 5 minutes into my day I felt the wind knocked out of me then came chest pain then jaw pain and that’s when I knew something was wrong. […]

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You’re Too “Young and Athletic” (and Other Myths)

February 18, 2024

In March of 2023 I experience what I now know were a series of SCAD heart attacks. I had a range of very classic heart attack symptoms: the feeling of an elephant sitting on my chest, sudden bouts of nausea, and weakness in both arms. After a hospital stay that included an EKG, X-ray, CT […]

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I’m only 36, how can I be having a heart attack?

February 16, 2024

I woke up on a Saturday morning (January 8, 2022) with back pain that progressively worsened, wrapping around my torso and eventually numbing my arms and hands. It was super cold that morning and I was sweaty and shaking. After suffering for an hour and googling my symptoms we called 9-1-1. Every symptom pointed to […]

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SCAD heart attack 2022

October 17, 2023

It started in the summer of 2022, I was feeling extra tired at work as a Resident Care Assistant, I had some blood work done to see if something was going on but mostly normal. Earlier in September while out on my bicycle, I was coming back from a 12 mile ride and my arms […]

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Are you kidding me?

September 23, 2023

I always fancied myself as someone who ate healthy, exercised, and took care of myself. I had a hectic life that I always managed well. I am 129 pounds, 70 years old, walk 3-4 miles a day, at a fast pace. I ran 6+ miles a day from age 27 to 47. I thought I […]

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The Light at the End of the Tunnel

June 20, 2023

I had retired as a registered nurse consultant in 2018 and was having a glorious time being active and carefree with my husband. We traveled some, did a lot of gardening, hiked, and swam in our pool. I was always bad about going to the doctor, but when I did go, there were no big […]

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23 year old female in perfect health

June 16, 2023

I was laying down watching a show killing time before it was time for me to get ready for work. After I got dressed, my heart started to hurt. It wasn’t bad at first but then, my back, armpits, arms and jaw all became numb. Immediately I looked up my symptoms and it lead me […]

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Normal health 58 yr old pickleball player

May 17, 2023

I’m a healthy 58 year old woman. I worked with my husband for several hours lifting, pushing and pulling heavy objects in my husband’s car barn on during morning to early afternoon Sunday, April 23, 2023. Monday morning, I played pickleball for 2-3 hrs. Monday evening I had a sharp chest pain with numbness down […]

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32 & scad

April 22, 2023

My name is Whitney, I am a mom to a 11 year who keeps me very busy. He has just turned 9 in May of 2021, May 1st in fact. His dad and I had been separated for 5 years at this point but are still great co-parents and friends for our son. Gary (my […]

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Still Ticking

February 22, 2023

March 28, 2018 started a little slower than most mornings at our house. Jim had already headed off to work. The kids were on spring break and 4-year-old Claire had her bestie over for their first-ever sleepover. I was starting to pack for a last minute, quick family trip to the Galena/Dubuque area the following […]

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