Postpartum Nurse’s Double Heart Attack Sheds Light on Hidden SCAD Risk

A 35-year-old nurse practitioner and mother of three is turning survival into advocacy after surviving two heart attacks just weeks after giving birth — all caused by a rare and often misunderstood condition called spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).

From Caregiver to Critical Patient

Layne Strookman, a nurse practitioner at Saint Luke's Health System and a cardiology expert herself, never expected to become the patient.

“I know all the signs and symptoms,” Strookman said. “And I still didn’t believe I was having a heart attack — I’m young, I’m healthy.”

Six weeks postpartum, while driving her children to school, she felt:

• Sudden, intense sweating
  
  
• Chest pressure
  
  
• Arm pain and numbness

The school nurse called 911. At the hospital, doctors diagnosed her with SCAD — a tear in the coronary artery wall that reduces or blocks blood flow. Strookman was monitored for two days and sent home.

Just 12 hours later, it happened again.

A Second Heart Attack — and Emergency Surgery

While nursing her newborn in the middle of the night, the symptoms returned. Strookman was rushed back to the hospital, where doctors performed emergency triple bypass surgery.

She spent the next 12 days in the ICU, where she met nurse Molly Young.

“She’s the sister I never had, never knew I needed,” Young said. “ bonded immediately from the start. Her and her family were somebody I knew I was going to grow close with.”

That ICU stay marked the beginning of a deep friendship — and a turning point in Strookman’s recovery.

SCAD: The #1 Cause of Heart Attacks in Young Women

SCAD is still underdiagnosed — and often affects patients with no prior history of heart disease.

According to Dr. Anna Grodzinsky, a cardiologist with Saint Luke's Women’s Heart Center:

• 90% of SCAD patients are women
  
  
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy and postpartum are common triggers
  
  
• Connective tissue disorders and emotional stress can increase risk

“This is as serious as it gets with relation to coronary dissection,” Grodzinsky said.

Warning Signs of SCAD

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a medical emergency caused by a tear in the wall of a heart artery. This tear can reduce or block blood flow, resulting in:

• Heart attack
  
  
• Arrhythmias
  
  
• Sudden cardiac death

Most SCAD patients are young, healthy, and active — with no prior history of high blood pressure, cholesterol issues, or diabetes.

SCAD Symptoms

The symptoms often mimic a typical heart attack:

• Chest pain or pressure
  
  
• Pain in the arms, shoulders, back, or jaw
  
  
• Shortness of breath
  
  
• Nausea or upset stomach
  
  
• Fatigue
  
  
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
  
  
• Rapid or fluttering heartbeat
  
  
• Unusual sweating

Don’t delay care — early intervention is critical. Encourage patients to seek emergency help, even if they don’t believe they’re at risk.

Risk Factors for SCAD

While the cause of SCAD remains unclear, several risk factors are linked to increased likelihood:

• Female sex, especially ages 40–50
  
  
• Postpartum period, particularly within weeks of delivery
  
  
• Extreme physical or emotional stress
  
  
• Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD)
  
  
• Connective tissue conditions (e.g., Ehlers-Danlos, Marfan syndrome)
  
  
• Severe high blood pressure
  
  
• Illegal drug use, including stimulants like cocaine

SCAD Is Different from Atherosclerosis

Unlike typical heart attacks caused by cholesterol buildup (atherosclerosis), SCAD involves:

• A sudden arterial wall tear
  
  
• Blood pooling between the artery layers
  
  
• Pressure that can worsen the dissection

This can lead to recurring SCAD episodes or long-term damage, including heart failure.

Image: Mayo Clinic

From ICU to Advocacy

Today, Strookman is back at work and focused on spreading awareness — especially for postpartum women who may dismiss serious symptoms.

“If me talking about it can help even one woman in the future recognize symptoms to go get help,” Strookman said, “that's all that matters to me.”

She’s now part of Saint Luke’s iSCAD Registry, working alongside international researchers to advance SCAD understanding and treatment.

A New Kind of Family

Strookman and Young’s bond didn’t end in the ICU. Their families plan to spend Thanksgiving together this year.

"She is that momma bear for those three kids and her husband, and she's that rock, and that's what we want to keep her being, is that rock," Young said. "But I know that what I saw was a community can be that rock whenever she can't, and I'm going to be a part of it; I'm so blessed to be a part of it."

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