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DENVER – Jennifer Halvas was in Steamboat Springs with her family, enjoying a summer vacation day where she began to feel intense pain in her chest, arm and shortness of breath.
A few visits to the emergency department later, Halvas was diagnosed with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). A SCAD is a condition in which a tear develops in one of the arteries and provides a blood flow to the heart. A SCAD does not often cause a heart attack, but when it does, it usually occurs in women aged 40 to 50 who have no other risk factors.
Halvas shares her story to raise awareness of her condition and her physical and mental effects after her heart attack during US Heart Month in February.
Jennifer Halvas
Halvas said staff on her first emergency trip told her that she was fine. The next day, she had another episode of overwhelming chest pain, which extended to both arms and neck. She also had nausea and vomiting, as well as jaw pain.
She was reluctant to return to the emergency department, but said that she knew something was wrong.
This time she was hospitalized all night and the doctors told her she had a heart attack. Her doctor took her to the cardiac catheterization lab the next day. He was diagnosed with SCAD and given medication to manage his symptoms.
The following week, at a sporting event for her daughter, she had another episode of intense chest pain. The doctors told her that she was suffering from a second heart attack because of spasms and closures of her heart arteries.
It's been more than five years since these heart attacks, but Halvas is still struggling with the physical effects. She must take medication regularly to manage her chest pain symptoms. If she misses a dose, her symptoms may reappear quickly. She also underwent cardiac rehab to strengthen her heart in a more controlled environment under medical supervision.
It's not just physical. Halvas added that his mental health was also suffering. She has become an ambassador for health professionals so that they refer their patients to consultations after a major health event, such as a heart attack.
Halvas said that she was fighting anger, depression and the feeling of isolation. She also struggled to cope with the limitations she faced due to her health problems.
Signs and symptoms of Heart attack in women (from the American Heart Association):
- Uncomfortable pressure, compression, fullness or pain in the center of the chest. It lasts more than a few minutes or disappears and returns.
- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs such as cold sweats, nausea or vertigo.
- As with men, the most common symptom of heart attack in women is chest pain or discomfort. However, women are slightly more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, including shortness of breath, nausea / vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 and see a doctor immediately.
For more information on SCAD and other heart problems, visit the site heart.org. You can also register to get in touch with other patients on the American Heart Association's Patient Support Network.
Follow the 9NEWS medical expert Dr. Comilla Sasson on Facebook and Twitter. Do you have a medical question or a health topic idea? Email Dr. Comilla to [email protected]
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