In this episode of Wildly Optimized Wellness, I open up about my journey with SCAD—spontaneous coronary artery dissection—a life-altering, yet little-known heart condition that primarily affects women. Six months after my SCAD heart attack, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about this condition, from its surprising connection to hormone fluctuations to the gaps in research and diagnosis. I also dive into the emotional and mental health impact of surviving a SCAD event, the challenges of navigating medical care, and what we can do to raise awareness. If you’ve never heard of SCAD before, you’re not alone—but this is something every woman should know about.

Timestamp

00:00 - The SCAD Heart Attack I Never Saw Coming: What Women Need to Know

01:37 - What is SCAD?

04:28 - Who is at Risk?

06:31 - A Trip to the Mayo Clinic

09:29 - The Lack of SCAD Research

16:59 - The Hormone Controversy

26:54 - The Emotional and Mental Health Toll

34:34 - The Role of Functional Breathing

42:40 - The Future of SCAD Research

45:27 - Why SCAD Awareness Matters

Mayo Womens Cardiovascular Medicine

Mayo SCAD Information

iSCAD Registry

SCAD Alliance

Episode 062 | Cracking the Migraine Code

Episode 055 | Power of Functional Breathing

Connect with Toréa

Website: https://www.torearodriguez.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torearodriguez/

Threads:https://www.threads.net/@torearodriguez

For full show notes and resources: https://www.torearodriguez.com/wowpodcast/e073