SCAD is a rare disease. In order for us to study it, we need pro-active SCAD survivors to continue to get involved in our research projects.
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SCAD is a rare disease. In order for us to study it, we need pro-active SCAD survivors to continue to get involved in our research projects.
READ MORE
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) is an unpredictable event with patients usually presenting with a sudden unexpected heart attack.
Here you will be able to learn about SCAD and read the stories of others who have suffered from this condition.
Our team at the Leicester Glenfield hospital is funded by BeatSCAD and from public donations and have previously received funded from the British Heart Foundation and NIHR Rare diseases Translational Research Collaboration.
Dr David Adlam is the chief investigator for our research. We aim to investigate:
We are extremely grateful to SCAD-survivors, their family and friends who have generously donated or raised funding to support our research
If you would like to contribute to SCAD research then please donate at ourjust giving page.
The British Heart Foundation have produced a fantastic video highlighting the experiences a SCAD survivor goes through. Click here to read more about this and the inspiring story of the group of SCAD survivors that kickstarted our research in Leicester
16-Feb-2014: I was out on a 77 mile cycle ride. The 3rd hard ride in four days. Not what you should really do for a training program (too many hard sessions too close together). At 40 miles, I was 10 mins into a 30 min mountain climb when I experienced a numbing pain from the middle of my chest which spread to my upper arms making them feel floppy.
I was wearing a heart rate monitor at the time and looked down to see my heart rate rise from 155 (normal at this time) to 230. I eased off the power and the sensation went away but my heart rate would not drop below 200. When I got to the top of the mountain, I rested for 10 mins and then carried on. My heart rate still wouldn’t drop below 190 and every time I tried to turn the power on I experienced the numbing sensation so continued to cycle the next 30 miles at a reduced pace.
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I am a 33 year old woman. I had SCAD on March 5th. It felt just as a Heart attack would. I had pain in my chest going down my left arm and down the left side of my throat. I awoke at half one in the morning with the pain. I thought it was heartburn as I have never had it before. I am very lucky to be alive as I took two aspirin to help with the pain and a heartburn remedy. I then don't remember much so think I must have passed out!
I awoke the next morning still in pain and very breathless. My husband came home early this day as he had an appointment at the hospital. I told him my symptoms and he said "I think that you have had a heart attack". He insisted I went to A and E whilst he went to his own appointment, so I did. I got there and they said they didn't think it was a heart attack. They did an ECG which showed my heart rate was OK. They took blood and it showed high levels of troponin. So I was rushed to another hospital to be checked.
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Research presented at ACC showed outcomes in SCAD to be better than in other heart attack patients