Diagnosing SCAD
Chest pain in young, fit people with no history of or risk factors for heart disease, is often dismissed as anxiety, panic attacks, indigestion, gall stones and other conditions.
It’s important that a diagnosis of SCAD is not delayed. The sooner a diagnosis is made, the better the outcome is likely to be. The longer blood flow is reduced, the higher the chance of permanent damage to heart muscles.
Tests to diagnose heart attacks and SCAD include:
- ECG (electrocardiogram) – although ECGs can look normal in some SCAD patients
- Blood tests to assess Troponin levels
- Angiogram
- CT scan