15 Years Of Research Reveals The Unexpected Cause Of Heart Attack On Young Women

Illustration of a woman with a heart attack (Photo: Freepik/Stefarmerpik)

JAKARTA - A major study from the Mayo Clinic revealed surprising findings, namely heart attacks in young women are often caused by things outside of blockage of blood vessels.

This study analyzed data for more than 15 years and provided a new picture that could change the way the medical world treats young patients with heart attacks.

So far, heart attacks are synonymous with arterial blockage due to plaque buildup. However, the results of research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology show that more than 50% of heart attacks in women under 65 are actually caused by non-traditional factors.

Some of the non-traditional factors found include Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD), which is spontaneous tearing on the walls oftenuic arteries and embolism.

Emboli is a blockage due to blood clots that move and other medical conditions such as anemia or infection that can trigger stress in the heart.

According to data, SCAD is six times more common in women than in men. The problem is, this condition is often diagnosed as an ordinary heart attack due to plaque.

Dr. Claire Raphael, an intervening cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic and lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of the right diagnosis.

This study highlights the causes of heart attacks that have been poorly noticed, especially in women. If the root of the problem is not understood, the treatment provided can be less effective to dangerous," explained Dr. Raphael, quoted from the Healthline page.

Diagnostic errors can make patients receive unnecessary procedures, such as the installation of stents in the SCAD case. In fact, these steps can cause complications.

Of the 1,474 cases of heart attacks, 68% were caused by plaque blockage, but in women, non-traditional causes were more dominant.

Heart attacks due to anemia or infection are the deadliest causes with a five-year death rate reaching 33%. Cases of heart attacks that are completely unclear are very rare, less than 3% after being reviewed.

Dr. Rajiv Gulati, Head of the Division of Ischemic Cardiology and Heart Disease Intervention at the Mayo Clinic, added that these findings should open the eyes of the medical world.

"Our research confirms the need for a new perspective in dealing with heart attacks, especially in young women. Doctors need to be more alert to conditions such as SCAD, embolism, and stress triggers. Patients should also be active in finding answers when they feel something is wrong," said Dr. Gulati.

This study shows that understanding the causes of heart attacks is as important as treating them.

Knowing why a heart attack occurs can be a difference between recovery or recurrence. said Dr. Raphael.