SCAD is a serious heart condition which is striking healthy women and men... people who you really would not think would be at risk of having a heart attack! It is frightening. When SCAD strikes, it is life-changing for the victim and their loved ones. SCAD can be fatal. It is critical that we find out what causes SCAD.

* Carole tragically did not survive when SCAD struck, leaving her family devastated.

* James was shocked to be told he had a heart attack aged 44 when he didnt have any of the usual risk factors.

* Debbie thought her nagging jaw pain required dentist attention but the crushing chest pain that followed made her think it could be a heart attack, however paramedics thought she was having a panic attack.

* Victoria was 35 when SCAD caused her to have a heart attack 8 weeks after delivering her second child.

* Charlotte has had two SCAD events, 5 years apart.

Read more patient stories here: http://beatscad.org.uk/scad-stories/

SCAD survivors are being supported by an incredible team of researchers in Leicester at the Glenfield Hospital & NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. But their resources are stretched as the number of SCAD patients demanding their support increases every week. We MUST raise funds to support their work.

Beat SCAD are working to raise £64,000 for The Alice Project to fund an additional year of research by Dr Alice Wood.

Beat SCAD are aiming to raise £16,000 from our charity walk this year to deliver one quarter of The Alice Project total. Please donate to help us reach our goal. Thank you!

Full walk details HERE

Please read on for more information

SCAD cannot currently be predicted or prevented and is under diagnosed due to a lack of awareness. People affected by SCAD may fail to act on their symptoms because they do not suspect it could be their heart when they are fit and healthy. Doctors misdiagnose or diagnose late, which can lead to severe heart damage or heart failure in some cases.

Why are healthy people having sudden heart attacks?

What we know so far :

* Cases reported across a wide age range (18 to 84 years) but most cases occur in young- to middle-aged women

* Mostly aged between 44 to 53 years

* Up to 90% of cases in women

* 10% of cases in women occur during or soon after pregnancy (P-SCAD) BUT 50% of all post-partum coronary (heart) events are due to SCAD

* An exercise trigger is associated with some cases and is more common in men

* Some SCAD patients have connective tissue disorders which may be associated

* SCAD can strike more than once with recurrence reported in approximately 10% of cases at 3-year follow-up

What is happening to find out more:

Research is under way in Leicester at the Glenfield Hospital & NIHR Biomedical Research Centre to find answers to why SCAD happens and how best to treat it.

The research began in 2013 after patients located around the UK met via online forum and demanded answers. Over 600 SCAD patients have registered to participate - a staggering number considering SCAD was considered to be extremely rare just a few years ago.

Important research findings have already been reported including the identification of a genetic risk factor, which has opened up further research into the link between SCAD and Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD), which is a non-inflammatory disorder of the blood vessels. Imaging data is also revealing clues about the mechanism of SCAD, which is helping to direct the next stages of research.

How Beat SCAD are supporting the research:

In 2017, Beat SCAD donated £25,000 to part fund a dedicated Clinical Research Fellow, and Dr Alice Wood joined the team to embark on a three-year PhD with a focus on studying important sub-groups including men with SCAD, those who have experienced more than one SCAD event and P-SCAD cases. In 2018, Beat SCAD donated a further £50,000 to continue funding the work of Dr Wood.

Beat SCAD are now working to raise £64,000 for the Alice Project to fund an additional year of research by Dr Wood. Numerous events hosted by the charity plus challenges completed by our amazing supporters will make this goal possible.

On Saturday 14th September, Beat SCAD are hosting a walk where SCAD patients, their families and friends will come together to further the Beat SCAD mission to:

* Raise AWARENESS

* Provide SUPPORT

* Fund RESEARCH

Beat SCAD are aiming to raise £16,000 from the walk. This will deliver one quarter of the Alice Project total. Please donate to help us reach our goal. Thank you!

If you are unable to attend the charity walk in September, why not host your own? We'd love to hear about your local event and it would be amazing if you sent us some photos so we can write a story about your walk for our newsletter.

We MUST find out why SCAD happens!