Some interesting facts about heart attacks in younger adults, especially women, have been revealed in a new study from the Mayo Clinic. This could change the way these serious events are understood and treated.
It is understood that most people think heart attacks happen because of clogged arteries. Although that’s mostly true for older adults, for younger adults under 65, especially women, heart attacks often have other causes that medical practitioners haven’t paid enough attention to. Meanwhile, this study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, carefully reviewed over 15 years of data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project and found some surprising patterns in what could be the triggers of heart attacks in these younger adults.
To begin with, it’s worth knowing that the usual suspect, artery-clogging plaque (also known as atherosclerosis), is still the main cause of heart attacks overall. But here is the fact: while atherosclerosis is the cause of most heart attacks (75%) in men under 65, it only accounts for less than half (47%) of heart attacks in women under 65. That means for women, we can deduce that more than half of their heart attacks come from different, less-known causes.
The Lesser-Known Causes of Heart Attacks In Young Women
According to the study, it was revealed that one of those lesser-known causes of heart attacks in young women is spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).
This is a condition in which a tear forms in a coronary artery, leading to a blood clot that blocks blood flow to the heart muscle, causing a heart attack without plaque buildup. SCAD predominantly affects young, otherwise healthy women and can be misdiagnosed as a typical heart attack by medical practitioners. Treating SCAD like a traditional heart attack can do more harm than good, and this study found that it is significantly more common in women than men.
Another notable cause this study pointed out was heart attacks triggered by stressors like anemia or infections. These triggers accounted for the second-highest cause of heart attacks in the study and were associated with the highest death rates over five years, with an estimated 33% mortality rate. That implies that people experiencing heart attacks triggered by severe infections actually have a tougher time surviving than those with classic heart disease.
The good news is that the study noted that “truly unexplained” heart attacks are sporadic, as most heart attacks have identifiable reasons, which can help medical practitioners tailor better treatments.
Ultimately, this research reflects how important it is to know the exact cause of a heart attack, not just treat the symptoms. That’s because when doctors misunderstand the root cause, treatments can be less effective or even risky. Understanding the real cause of a heart attack can lead to a safer and smarter treatment plan and hopefully prevent the attack from occurring again.
