Tricia Sidney for Amy's GoRed Campaign Video Testimonials

Speaker: Tricia Sidney

Tricia Sidney: Hi, I'm Tricia Sidney. I wanna share something deeply personal with you, something I never thought would happen to me, a heart attack at the age of 47, but not your kind that most people would think of. It wasn't caused by high cholesterol or blocked arteries. Instead, I experienced something rare called SCAD, spontaneous coronary artery dissection. It started on what seemed to be a regular day. I was just doing dishes when suddenly I felt a burning sensation in my chest. At first, I thought it was just a hot flash or something menopause related. So the feeling really wasn't intense enough for me to panic. Eventually, though, I did decide to go to the hospital. And by the time I actually arrived to the ER, I no longer had feeling in my arms and my legs. My husband literally had to carry me inside. After tests, the doctors told me that I had a heart attack. I was in complete shock because I didn't fit the typical profile. They tried inserting a stent, but it didn't work. They thought I had atherosclerosis and they treated me accordingly, but the medications just made things worse. I sought out a second opinion with the Cleveland Clinic. And finally, I learned that my heart attack wasn't what I expected. It was SCAD. If you're not familiar with SCAD, SCAD is a very rare condition, where a tear forms in the coronary artery blocking blood flow and then causing a heart attack. Unlike heart attacks, caused by plaque buildup, SCAD mostly affects healthy people, with no typical risk factors for health. Or heart disease, excuse me. SCAD has completely changed my perspective on heart health. It's more common than people think, especially among younger women, typically in their 40s, who may not have traditional risk factors. The recovery process has been physically and emotionally tough, but it's also been a time of rebuilding, adjusting my lifestyle, and learning to understand my body better.

Tricia Sidney: I'm sharing my story because SCAD is still widely unknown, even in the medical community. Many women experience heart attack symptoms but are dismissed because they don't fit the typical profile. My message for women is this. If something doesn't feel right, trust your body and seek medical help. Awareness is crucial, and it can truly save lives.

Tricia Sidney: Thank you so much for listening to my story. I hope it encourages you to start a conversation about heart health and to be proactive and taking care of your well-being. Please, don't wait for something unexpected to happen. Listen to your body and always ask for help when something feels off.