one woman shares her health story, hoping it serves as a reminder to always listen to your body. in 2024, vernon, a women in bc, shared how her health story is an inspiration. “if it doesn’t feel right and something is telling you that something is off, pay attention to that,” says carla Buchanan, who is a trail and ultra runner in her early 50s. last june, Buchanan, a 52-year-old woman, was training for an upcoming race when she experienced a sharp and sudden pain in her mid-back. “i really felt like i just tweaked my back,” she said.
she still remembers her husband, who was with her during the accident and told her, “yeah, i’m getting some tingling in my hands, this just doesn’t feel right,” according to Buchanan. the couple went straight to vernon Jubilee Hospital because tests revealed Buchanan had suffered a spontaneous carot genetic artery dissection, or scad. “it was described to me as a tear in the coronary artery that filled with blood and created a hematoma and a blockage,” said Buchanan.
Details show that Buchanan suffered from scad, a rare condition affecting women, which is actually 90% of its cases in bc. the newscast reported that despite the heart attack, she is recovering well. “unless it’s faster to save her life,” she said.
the study shows that scad is a condition in which more than half of the women experiencing heart attacks or strokes are female. according to the heart and stroke foundation, about 90% of scad patients are women. they face unique factors that can increase their risk of heart disease, including pregnancy complications and earlier menopause, as well as polycystic ovary syndrome. their symptoms can include fatigue, nausea, and stomach pain, which some women may dismiss as unrelated. the foundation applauds international efforts to counter-scad, which includes raising awareness and implementing new treatments, such as pacemaker therapy.
a young woman with an/firebase ID says, “i’m so happy that this is happening because it reminds me that i should always listen to my body.” doctors are working hard to improve scad care and hope to save more women from this dangerous condition. “i think it’s important to keep everyone very aware of their Calcium, Iron, Iron Moiety, Vitamin D, and B12 levels,” says americanheart association executive director marsh alternatives.
