A Life-Altering Experience: Justine Carter’s Journey with SCAD
In May, Justine Carter, a 33-year-old mother from Utah, embarked on what she thought would be a routine workout on her treadmill. Little did she know that this seemingly ordinary decision would lead to a life-threatening medical emergency.
The Start of an Unforeseen Crisis
Carter was in good health and felt fit as she began her exercise session. However, just 12 minutes into her walk, she experienced alarming symptoms: shortness of breath and severe pain radiating from her back to her chest. Initially attributing these sensations to a severe stomach virus, Carter soon found herself violently vomiting.
“That’s where things get a little bit hazy,” she recounted during an interview.
In the midst of this distressing episode, Carter managed to contact both her husband and mother-in-law but has no memory of those conversations. The next thing she recalls is waking up in the hospital.
A Race Against Time
Her husband and mother-in-law discovered her unresponsive in the bathroom; it appeared that Carter was having seizures accompanied by dangerously slow breathing. Teresa Carter, who works as a nurse at HCA Healthcare’s Mountain View Hospital in Payson, Utah, performed CPR until emergency medical services arrived on the scene.
For 25 critical minutes without any heartbeat or blood circulation—only sustained through CPR—Carter’s life hung in the balance.
“Everything was pretty ominous,” Teresa shared about those tense moments before help arrived.
Upon reaching HCA Healthcare’s Mountain View Hospital, doctors confirmed that Justine had suffered from spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), which involves tearing within the wall of a coronary artery leading to potential heart attacks or even sudden death if not treated promptly.
Understanding Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)
SCAD is still shrouded in mystery; its exact causes remain unknown. Most individuals affected by this condition are typically women aged between their 40s and 50s who otherwise lead healthy lives according to data from the American Heart Association (AHA).
“Patients are often women who are otherwise healthy,” noted Dr. Mark Bair, medical director at HCA Healthcare’s Mountain View Hospital and one of Justine’s treating physicians during this crisis.
While there isn’t one definitive cause for SCAD identified yet, researchers suggest it may arise due to various factors including arterial abnormalities or genetic predispositions combined with hormonal influences or inflammatory conditions affecting blood vessels.
Dr. Bair emphasized that many SCAD patients exhibit few or no traditional risk factors associated with heart disease at all—a fact mirrored by Justine’s case prior to this incident.
Potential Risk Factors for SCAD
Although many patients appear healthy before experiencing SCAD episodes like Justine did—extreme physical exertion coupled with emotional stress can act as triggers for some individuals facing similar situations. Other contributing elements may include fibromuscular dysplasia—a condition impacting arterial blood vessels—as well as genetic connective tissue disorders and significantly elevated blood pressure levels.
Justine’s story serves as an important reminder about cardiovascular health awareness among younger populations who might not consider themselves at risk due solely to their age or fitness level alone.
As more research unfolds regarding conditions like SCAD—which remains relatively rare yet potentially devastating—it becomes increasingly vital for both healthcare professionals and patients alike to stay informed about emerging symptoms indicative of serious underlying issues such as these.
Through education surrounding such topics alongside proactive measures taken towards maintaining overall wellness—we can work together towards reducing instances where lives hang precariously close between survival versus tragedy due simply because we overlooked warning signs along our journeys through life!Carter’s Journey: A Heartfelt Recovery Story
Understanding the Signs of Heart Health
Justine Carter experienced no alarming symptoms prior to her heart attack. Reflecting on that day, she remarked, “I felt unusually fatigued and out of sorts, but I attributed it to the dreary winter weather.”
However, just a week after her initial heart attack and on the very day she was discharged from the hospital, Carter faced another serious cardiac incident. This time, she suffered from chest pain accompanied by intense nausea and critically low blood pressure.
A Life-Saving Response
Upon experiencing these distressing symptoms again, Carter was airlifted to HCA Healthcare’s Timpanogos Regional Hospital. This facility is equipped with a comprehensive catheterization lab and has cardiothoracic surgeons available for potential open-heart surgery.
The medical team discovered that an existing tear in her aorta had expanded significantly, leading to increased swelling and yet another blockage. “When Justine arrived at the hospital,” her mother-in-law Teresa recalled with concern, “her blood pressure was alarmingly low. I genuinely feared we might lose her.”
To restore proper blood flow through her arteries, doctors utilized a balloon technique to compress the wound in her artery before implanting a small heart pump designed to ease some of the strain on Carter’s heart during recovery.
A Remarkable Recovery Journey
Today, Justine is back home and gradually regaining strength each day. Her cardiologist expressed optimism about her prognosis due to effective care strategies being implemented post-incident.
Initially worried about possible neurological damage due to 25 minutes without oxygen reaching Justine’s brain when she first arrived at Mountain View Hospital’s emergency room, Dr. Bair later confirmed that thanks to timely interventions both in transit and at the hospital level—her recovery has been nothing short of remarkable.
Carter credits not only medical professionals but also life-saving actions taken by Teresa who performed CPR immediately after witnessing Justine collapse—a critical factor contributing significantly towards saving her life.
After completing cardiac rehabilitation therapy successfully, Carter can now enjoy walks with her dog; however she’s still awaiting clearance for more vigorous activities like running or hiking.
“During those first two weeks post-recovery,” she shared candidly about feeling drained initially but noted how quickly things improved thereafter: “Now I can manage my entire day without needing any rest.”
Regular Check-Ups are Essential
Every three months since then have seen Carter visiting her cardiologist for routine evaluations ensuring everything remains stable with respect to heart function.
While Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) cannot be predicted or prevented outright according Dr.Bair emphasized maintaining healthy lifestyle choices such as adhering strictly towards balanced nutrition plans rich in whole foods while engaging regularly within moderate physical activity levels alongside stress management techniques will go far into reducing overall risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases including hypertension issues too!
Additionally he highlighted quality sleep patterns along regular physician consultations as vital components necessary towards achieving optimal health outcomes; tobacco use remains one preventable risk factor which should never be overlooked either!
Valuable Lessons Learned Through Adversity
Carter describes these harrowing experiences as transformative moments leading up toward newfound insights regarding personal well-being:
- Prioritize Your Health
“As women often do,” she reflected thoughtfully “we tend prioritize others’ needs over our own.” It’s crucial instead we acknowledge our feelings honestly while taking proactive steps toward addressing them accordingly!Carter’s Journey: Embracing Life After Heart Attacks
Understanding the Importance of Self-Care
After experiencing heart attacks, Carter has come to appreciate the necessity of slowing down and allowing others to assist her. “If I’m feeling fatigued, I simply step back,” she shared. This newfound perspective emphasizes the significance of recognizing one’s limits and prioritizing health.
Heeding Warning Signs
Carter advises individuals not to ignore any unusual sensations in their bodies. ”If something feels off, don’t hesitate,” she urged. “Call 911 immediately; many conditions can be averted with prompt action.” Baid echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need for awareness regarding new or unusual symptoms such as chest discomfort, unexpected shortness of breath, or severe weakness and dizziness.
Essential Skills for Emergencies
The ability to perform CPR is crucial in emergency situations until professional medical help arrives. Justine and Teresa Carter both emphasized this point.
“Even those without a medical background can benefit from knowing CPR,” Teresa noted. “This skill could enable you to save someone dear to you.”
Living Without Fear
While SCAD (Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection) events are often unpredictable and unavoidable, Carter chooses not to let fear dictate her life choices. She stated emphatically, ”Living in constant fear diminishes your enjoyment of life.”
“You might find yourself anxious about various aspects of life; however, if you allow fear to dominate your daily existence, you’ll miss out on life’s joys,” she reflected. Recognizing that life is both fragile and fleeting encourages her to embrace each moment fully.
Gratitude for Medical Support
Carter expressed deep appreciation for the healthcare professionals at HCA Healthcare Mountain View Hospital who played a pivotal role in her recovery journey. “I owe my well-being to them,” she remarked gratefully.
embracing self-care practices while remaining vigilant about health signals can significantly impact one’s quality of life after experiencing serious health events like heart attacks. By learning essential skills such as CPR and choosing not to live in fear despite uncertainties like SCAD occurrences, individuals can lead fulfilling lives enriched by gratitude and awareness.
I’m Sneha, a new and enthusiastic content writer with a passion for creating engaging and impactful content. I craft high-quality articles, blog-posts and web content that captivate readers and boost engagement. Let’s bring your ideas to life with words. When not in front of a back-lit device, I dabble in paints, pencil and paper.
