UNUSUAL REASON FOR HEART ATTACK

12th August, 2024.

Generally it is known that obesity, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol level,
smoking, stress and lack of exercise lead to blocks in the heart blood vessels. Here,
investigations would reveal a total block or critical lesion occluding free flow of blood.

In this case a woman aged 60 years came to the emergency at Sri Ramachandra
Medical Centre last week with a history of chest pain for 24 hours, which was unusual for
her. Earlier a nearby hospital took ECG and told her that she has a heart attack. Since she
had no known risk factors, she came to Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre for a second
opinion. A routine angiogram did not reveal any obstruction except in a small vessel
which is insignificant. She was admitted and given conventional treatment. But the next
day she had an excruciating pain. So the angiography was repeated which showed a crack
in the wall of the major coronary artery throttling the blood flow. This is unusual and very
rare. This is called spontaneous coronary artery dissection(SCAD). Various procedures
were considered but deferred due to likely unexpected complications. She settled down
without any further active treatment. She was advised to avoid stress and severe exercise
and discharged.

This rare heart attack is more common in women for the age group of 50 – 60, with
hypertension and mental stress. This indicates that such women should not ignore any
unusual and excruciating chest pain said Prof. S. Thanikachalam, Chairman and Director
Cardiac Care Centre & Prof. S. Nagendra Bhoopathy SRMC who treated the patient.

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For more information please contact…… Prof. S. Thanikachalam, 9840048269.
Issued by Mr. T.G. Nallamuthu, Consultant, Media Relations, SRIHER 9444265578, 9940399346.
Mr. D. Sivagnanavel, Head-Media & Corporate Relations, SRIHER, 9444 448616.

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