Overview
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) occurs when there’s a separation or tear in the wall of a coronary artery. The tear can occur in any one of the three layers of the coronary artery wall. Blood seeps between the layers. This trapped blood causes the artery to bulge inward. The bulge blocks or slows blood flow to your heart.
SCAD increases your risk of acute coronary syndrome. This is a type of coronary artery disease that causes chest pain or angina. You’re also at risk of having a life-threatening heart attack.
What does the term “spontaneous coronary artery dissection” mean?
To better understand this condition, it can help to break down the meaning of each term:
- Spontaneous means the condition happens without warning.
- Coronary arteries are cardiac blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart. You have a left and right main coronary artery that branch into smaller blood vessels.
- Dissection is the medical term for the separation of tissue.
What is acute coronary syndrome?
Acute coronary syndrome is an umbrella term for conditions that lead to a sudden reduction of blood flow to your heart. It occurs when fatty deposits called plaque unexpectedly rupture inside an artery. This buildup of plaque is also known as atherosclerosis or “hardening of the arteries.” CAD increases your risk of life-threatening heart failure, heart attack or stroke.
How common is spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)?
Medical experts consider SCAD to be an underdiagnosed condition. It may account for up to 4% of all cases of acute coronary syndrome and 1 in 4 cases in women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) who are younger than 50.
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