SCAD is...
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection. SCAD is a little know and poorly understood type of a heart attack. SCAD is caused when a sudden tear occurs within the layers of one or more arteries to the heart. This tear blocks blood flow and causes a heart attack. Unfortunately, SCAD may also lead to cardiac arrest and sometimes death. SCAD is the #1 cause of a heart attack in women under age 50 as well as the #1 cause of a heart attack in women who are pregnant and new mothers. Although less common, SCAD can affect men too.