“I had a heart attack totally out the blue at 51”

“Heart attacks were something I associated with older people, or those with risk factors, like high blood pressure or high cholesterol, not someone like me. 

So, when I had one totally out the blue at the age of 51, it was a complete shock. 

Before it happened, I was living a full, active life. I worked hard, stayed fit, and enjoyed spending time outdoors. I did not smoke, was not overweight, and had no family history of heart problems. I thought I was doing everything right. 

Discomfort in the middle of my chest 

It was September 2024. I’d been at a neighbour’s house having coffee. I felt a bit tired, but nothing unusual. As I left, I started to feel a strange discomfort in the middle of my chest. It was not a sharp pain, more like a burning or pressure, but it kept building. My first thought was that maybe I’d overdone it or was just run down. 

I left my neighbour’s house feeling a little uncomfortable, but nothing more. We’d even joked about me having a heart attack, it seemed so unlikely to be the cause. Little did we know she’d be waiting for an ambulance with me a short while later. 

It was scary to go from being in a bit of discomfort to being in an emergency situation.

At home it got worse. I felt clammy and the pain began to travel down my left arm and up into my jaw. I’d heard stories of heart attack symptoms and something told me this was not normal. Still, it was only when I spoke to the NHS 111 operator I realised this was something serious.

I ended up being blue-lighted to Lincoln County Hospital thinking, ‘this cannot be happening'.

An emergency angiogram 

I’d been told by the ambulance staff not to be alarmed if there were lots of people rallying around me at the hospital, and they were right. Doctors and nurses surrounded me. At this point I was not aware what had happened.

It was scary to go from being in a bit of discomfort to being in an emergency situation. I was rushed straight into the ‘cath lab’ (an examination room with imaging equipment designed to look at the blood vessels of the heart) where I had an angiogram to check for signs of blockages or narrowing in my heart arteries.

I was diagnosed with SCAD – a spontaneous coronary artery dissection. It’s a condition where a tear forms in one of the arteries supplying blood to the heart. That tear causes blood to flow between the layers of the artery wall, creating a blockage.

I felt like I was watching someone else's life unfold.

Doctors did a coronary angioplasty– a procedure where a tiny balloon is used to open a narrowed artery, making space for blood to flow more easily. This was done via an artery in my wrist.

Cardiac rehab was a turning point

I spent 3 days in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). The environment was surreal - machines beeping, nurses checking vitals, and me lying there trying to make sense of it all.

I was completely drained, physically and emotionally. I felt like I’d been hit by a truck.

After the CICU, I was moved to the coronary care unit for another 6 days.

The staff was incredible, but I still felt like I was watching someone else’s life unfold. It felt scary to be so out of control of what was happening to my body.

Doctors had explained that SCAD is not caused by the usual risk factor for heart attack like an unhealthy lifestyle, excess weight, high blood pressure or high cholesterol – it just happens. It mostly affects people in their 40s and 50s and as many as 90 per cent of those affected are women.

I found this really difficult to deal with: the idea that there was nothing I could do.

When I was finally discharged, I thought I’d bounce back quickly. But I was wrong. I was off work for 2 months, and even simple tasks felt exhausting. I’d go for a walk around the village and need a nap afterwards.

I could not concentrate, and I felt like my body had betrayed me. That’s when I started cardiac rehabilitation, and honestly, it was a turning point.

Cardiac rehab gave me structure, support and reassurance. The team understood SCAD and did not treat me like a textbook case. I met other people who’d had heart events, and suddenly I did not feel so alone.

We exercised together, talked through our fears, and learned how to rebuild our confidence. It was not just about physical recovery – it was emotional, too. 

SCAD patients often feel isolated, and rehab helped me reconnect with my body and trust it again. 

SCAD has impacted many parts of my life  

But SCAD is not something you just ‘get over.’ Even now, I live with the uncertainty. The fatigue lingers, and I still get residual pain. Some days I feel fine, and other days I’m wiped out. It’s like living with a ticking time bomb. I never know when it might go off again. 

I’m more cautious now. I love travelling to different places, but I think twice before booking a holiday now. I worry about being far from a hospital. I second-guess every ache and flutter. 

My doctor helped me come to terms with the fact that SCAD is not caused by lifestyle, and that most people who have it do not have traditional risk factors like high cholesterol or diabetes. That knowledge has been empowering, but also frustrating — because it means there’s no clear way to prevent it happening again.

I’ve had to go back into hospital since the initial event. It was not another SCAD, but I had symptoms that felt similar — chest pain and dizziness. The doctors ran tests and monitored me, and thankfully everything was stable. But it reminded me how fragile recovery can be, and how important it is to listen to your body.

I’ve learned that SCAD can recur, although it’s rare. That’s why monitoring and follow-up care are so important. I’ve had echocardiograms to check my heart’s function and blood tests to track my recovery. It’s reassuring to see progress, even if it’s slow.

The emotional impact has also been huge. Before my SCAD, I’d been taking the antidepressant citalopram for depression, but I had to come off it because it can sometimes interfere with your heart’s rhythm.

For most people this is not a problem, but for someone who's had a SCAD, it could increase the risk of dangerous irregular heartbeats. That was hard. And while I was eventually prescribed the drug sertraline as a replacement antidepressant, this did contribute to me feeling anxious and low.

I’ve since adopted some new ways to manage my mental health - talking to friends, journaling, and sometimes just letting myself cry. 

Suddenly having to take lots of medication has been hard. I’m now on aspirin for life, along with the ACE inhibitor ramipril, the proton pump inhibitor lansoprazole and the beta blocker bisoprolol, which make my hands, feet, nose and ears really cold.

I’ve gained weight that I just cannot seem to shift. I’ve heard from other SCAD patients that this is common, but it still feels frustrating. 

Finding comfort in SCAD support groups 

Support has made all the difference. Cardiac rehab was brilliant, but I’ve also found comfort in online groups and charities like Beat SCAD and British Heart Foundation. 

There’s a growing community of SCAD survivors who share their stories and support each other. It helps to know I’m not alone, and that others understand the fear, the fatigue, and the frustration.

Looking ahead, I’m hopeful, but cautious. SCAD is not something you can predict or prevent, and that uncertainty stays with you. I’ve learned that most people who have SCAD do not fit the usual profile for heart disease. 

That’s why I want to raise awareness, especially among women like me, who might not think they’re at risk. 

My dream now is simple: to live without fear. I want to go for walks, watch Formula 1, cross stitch, ride my motorbike, plan more trips abroad, and enjoy time with my partner Matt and our cat Penny without constantly worrying.

I want to help others feel less alone, and to make sure SCAD is recognised and understood, not just by doctors, but by anyone who might one day face it.

I’m still healing, physically and emotionally, but I’m learning to live with SCAD, not be defined by it.

And if sharing my story helps even one person feel seen, or get diagnosed sooner, then it’s worth it.” 

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