Overview

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) is a rare heart condition that cannot be predicted or prevented – yet.

A tear or a bruise develops in a coronary artery resulting in a blockage that prevents normal blood flow and can cause heart attack, heart failure or cardiac arrest and can be fatal.

SCAD patients experience different symptoms; the most common are:

• Central chest pain
• Pain or numbness in one or both arms
• Jaw pain
• Back pain
• Shoulder pain
• Nausea
• Sweating/clamminess
• Difficulty breathing

Many patients are young and fit with no risk factors for heart disease, so symptoms can often be ignored or mistaken for other ailments such as indigestion or gallstones.

For more information on SCAD please visit the Beat SCAD website. Beat SCAD is a patient-led charity that aims to support SCAD patients and their families, raise awareness of SCAD and raise funds for research into the condition. www.beatscad.org.uk