Story perspectives

Study Reveals Atherosclerosis and SCAD Drive Heart Attacks

9/16/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A Mayo Clinic study examines heart attack causes in individuals under 65, highlighting their significance.
Analyzing 1,474 cases over 15 years, it found atherosclerosis responsible for 75% of heart attacks in men and 47% in women.
Nontraditional factors, especially spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), caused over half of heart attacks in younger women.
Stressors like anemia or infection ranked second, with a five-year mortality rate of 33%.
Misdiagnosing SCAD can result in ineffective treatments, underscoring the need for improved recognition and management.

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Story summary

A Mayo Clinic study examines heart attack causes in individuals under 65, highlighting their significance.
Analyzing 1,474 cases over 15 years, it found atherosclerosis responsible for 75% of heart attacks in men and 47% in women.
Nontraditional factors, especially spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), caused over half of heart attacks in younger women.
Stressors like anemia or infection ranked second, with a five-year mortality rate of 33%.
Misdiagnosing SCAD can result in ineffective treatments, underscoring the need for improved recognition and management.