Risk factors

Risk factors for SCAD include:

• Female sex. Though SCAD can occur in both men and women, it tends to affect women more than men.
• Recent childbirth. Some women who have had SCAD have recently given birth. SCAD has been found to occur most often in the first few weeks after delivery.

• Underlying blood vessel conditions. Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), which causes irregular growth of cells in artery walls, is associated with SCAD. FMD can weaken artery walls, leading to blockages, dissections or aneurysms. It can also cause high blood pressure, stroke and tears in other blood vessels. Women are more likely to have FMD than men.

  Diseases that cause inflammation of the blood vessels, such as lupus and polyarteritis nodosa, have also been associated with SCAD.

  Arteries that are twisted (tortuous arteries) are more common among people who have had SCAD.

• Inherited connective tissue diseases. Genetic diseases that cause problems with the body's connective tissues, such as vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Marfan syndrome, have been found to occur in people who have had SCAD.
• Very high blood pressure. Severe high blood pressure can be associated with SCAD.
• Illegal drug use. Using cocaine or other illegal drugs may increase your risk of SCAD.

It's not clear whether extreme or intense physical exercise and severe emotional stress increase the risk of SCAD. Researchers have noted that there may be a connection, but more research is needed.