Two Hearts, One Twin Bond: A Shared SCAD Journey
When identical twins Mairéad Lyons and Thérèse Walsh speak, you hear the closeness of a bond forged from birth. That bond extended into a shared medical emergency: both women experienced spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) in their 30s, within eight months of each other. It’s a rare, under-diagnosed condition that affects the blood vessels supplying the heart and is particularly prevalent among women.
What is SCAD and Why It Matters
SCAD occurs when a tear forms in the artery wall, creating a flap or bleed that restricts blood flow to the heart muscle. Symptoms mirror those of a typical heart attack—chest pain, pain in the arms or neck, nausea, breathlessness—but the cause is different. Dr. Angie Brown, a consultant cardiologist and medical director of the Irish Heart Foundation, notes that SCAD is often missed or misinterpreted, delaying critical care.
Maiden Voyage into Heart Trouble: Mairéad’s Story
In autumn 2023, Mairéad, an IT consultant and new mother living in Co Meath, was trying to reclaim fitness with 5am gym sessions. A strange chest pain emerged during a morning workout. Assuming she had simply pushed too hard, she took a painkiller and pressed on—until blood tests at Blanchardstown Hospital revealed a heart attack. Troponin levels indicated ongoing heart damage, and she was admitted for observation.
The situation worsened during an angiogram when a second SCAD event occurred. “They could see it happening in real time,” she recalls. The procedure was performed with her awake, a tense moment where every movement could risk a cardiac arrest. After days of pain, fear, and a brush with death that included a vision of her late father, Mairéad began to recover but faced a long road ahead.
Therese’s Parallel Path: From Fertility Struggles to a Second SCAD
Thérèse Walsh, then navigating fertility treatment, experienced a different SCAD episode in May 2024. A wave of nausea, a lingering sense that something was off, and an ECG that revealed abnormalities led to an emergency admission. Unlike Mairéad, Thérèse already had a known family history of SCAD, which helped clinicians act quickly. Her heart attack turned out to be a narrowing rather than a tear, located in the right coronary artery, and she soon learned that fertility treatments could complicate SCAD risk.
The twists continued: a false-positive pregnancy test during treatment complicated decisions, and a non-sedated catheter angiogram left her shaken. A follow-up angiogram two months later confirmed healing; yet another scare in September involved raised troponin levels but no lasting damage on CT imaging. The couple faced a difficult decision about fertility and future pregnancy, ultimately choosing caution over a new attempt at IVF.
Recovery, Resilience and a Twin Advantage
Both sisters emphasize how crucial timely care and postoperative rehabilitation have been. Mairéad’s rehabilitation came later, but she found support through the Irish Heart Foundation and her employer, Alltech, whose flexibility and encouragement made returning to work feasible. Thérèse, meanwhile, participated in a cardiac rehabilitation program at Tallaght Hospital and later found a pregnancy that defied odds, delivering a healthy baby via C-section after careful monitoring.
There’s a common thread: awareness. Each twin’s experience has sharpened their vigilance. Mairéad notes she had to educate herself and rely on support networks to navigate post-SCAD life, while Thérèse credits early recognition of warning signs to her sister’s experience. They both caution that heart disease in women can present differently than men’s and urge women to advocate for themselves in medical settings.
What the Irish Heart Foundation Recommends
Experts emphasize ongoing management: aspirin and beta blockers are common after SCAD, hormonal therapies are generally avoided, and emotional stress should be minimized. Cardiac rehabilitation, including psychosocial support, is advised for people recovering from SCAD. Brown also stresses the importance of regular check-ups: blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol monitoring, as well as quitting smoking and maintaining an active lifestyle through attainable exercise plans.
A Shared Message: Listen to Your Body, Act with Urgency
Now, the Lyons-Walsh family carries a new perspective on life: risk is real, but fear need not paralyze. “We’re grand now,” they say with a ready smile, even as they acknowledge the long-term nature of SCAD and its implications for future pregnancies and heart health. The twins’ story is not just about surviving a rare condition; it’s about turning experience into advocacy and, ultimately, hope for others facing similar medical mysteries.
For those seeking guidance on heart health, the Irish Heart Foundation offers resources and a support line at (01) 668 5001. Regular check-ups, informed decisions, and strong support networks can make all the difference when a sudden heart event arrives unannounced.
