This rare type of heart attack affected 2 Lancaster County women; here's what you need to know
LancasterOnline • • health
Key Points:
- Sally Meints Winchell, a 68-year-old fitness expert, experienced a rare heart attack caused by sudden coronary artery dissection (SCAD), a condition that primarily affects women with few traditional risk factors.
- SCAD involves a tear in the artery wall that can block oxygen to the heart and is the leading cause of heart attacks in women under 50, though its exact causes remain unclear.
- Doctors suggest possible triggers for SCAD include hormonal changes, fibromuscular dysplasia, intense physical exertion, and psychological stress, but the condition is difficult to study due to its rarity.
- Proper diagnosis is critical as SCAD requires different treatment than typical heart attacks caused by artery plaque, with stenting often being harmful
