The study emphasizes the importance for clinicians to recognize and properly diagnose these nontraditional causes, particularly in women, to improve treatment outcomes and long-term prognosis.

Experts are calling for increased awareness among both clinicians and patients about conditions like SCAD, embolism, and stress-related triggers to prevent misdiagnosis and ensure appropriate care.

A recent Mayo Clinic study analyzing over 15 years of data reveals that many heart attacks in individuals under 65, especially women, are caused by nontraditional factors such as spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and embolism, rather than the usual artery plaque buildup.

More than half of heart attacks in women under age 65 are due to conditions like SCAD and embolism, which are unrelated to traditional atherosclerosis, challenging previous assumptions.

Unexplained heart attacks are rare, constituting less than 3% of cases after expert review, underscoring the importance of accurate diagnosis of known nontraditional causes.

Heart attacks triggered by stressors such as anemia or infection are the second most common cause overall and have the highest five-year mortality rate of 33%, despite often presenting with less initial injury.

Misdiagnosis of conditions like SCAD can lead to unnecessary and risky treatments, such as stent placement, which can adversely affect patient outcomes.

SCAD is significantly more common in women, being nearly six times more prevalent than in men, and is often misdiagnosed as a typical heart attack caused by plaque buildup.

Traditional atherosclerosis accounts for only 47% of heart attacks in women, compared to 75% in men, highlighting notable gender differences in the underlying causes of heart attacks.

Researchers advocate for increased awareness among clinicians and patients to ensure proper evaluation and management of younger adults experiencing heart attacks, potentially saving lives.