A woman in Utah is sharing her story after surviving a near-fatal heart emergency while working out on a treadmill at home. Justine Carter, a mother of two, suffered cardiac arrest in May of last year due to a rare heart condition called spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). Now, she is raising awareness about the life-saving importance of CPR and the risks of the little-known condition that almost claimed her life.

The sudden onset of SCAD

Justine Carter was in the midst of a routine treadmill workout when disaster struck. Just 12 minutes into her exercise, she began experiencing shortness of breath, which quickly escalated into a shooting pain from her back to her chest, Carter told Fox News. “That was not a good idea,” she reflected, recounting how she had been recording herself for social media at the time. “I should have listened to my body.” Despite feeling unwell, she continued the workout until the symptoms worsened. Carter then called her husband, Kevin, who could hear her vomiting before the phone line went silent. Alarmed, Kevin rushed home, only to find his wife unconscious and in the midst of a seizure.

Life-saving CPR and hospitalization

When Kevin arrived, he was accompanied by his mother, Teresa, a nurse at HCA Healthcare’s Mountain View Hospital in Payson. Teresa immediately recognized the severity of the situation and performed CPR on Justine for 25 minutes until paramedics arrived. “She had what we call ‘tombstone rhythm’ on the monitor,” Teresa explained to Fox News.

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“It tells us she was having a heart attack, and that her heart muscle was not getting enough oxygen.” Carter was rushed to the hospital where doctors confirmed she had suffered SCAD, a rare condition that primarily affects women in their 40s and 50s.

According to the Mayo Clinic, SCAD causes a tear in the coronary artery, leading to a sudden reduction or blockage of blood flow to the heart, which can result in a heart attack, heart rhythm issues, or even sudden death. Unlike many heart attack patients, those affected by SCAD typically do not have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, and the exact cause of the condition remains unknown.

A second heart attack and surgery

Carter’s health scare didn’t end there. Just a week after the initial incident, she suffered a second heart attack as the arterial tear grew larger. This time, doctors performed open-heart surgery to repair the damage. Despite the severity of her condition, Carter has made a remarkable recovery and is now advocating for greater awareness of SCAD and the importance of learning CPR.

Reflecting on her ordeal, Carter and her mother-in-law are stressing the importance of CPR, which played a critical role in saving her life. “If it wasn’t for Teresa’s quick action, I wouldn’t be here today,” Justine shared. The family hopes that their story encourages others to learn CPR, as it can be the difference between life and death in situations like this Justine Carter’s harrowing experience highlights the unpredictability of SCAD and the life-saving power of CPR. As she continues her recovery, Carter is using her platform to raise awareness about heart health, SCAD, and the crucial role of CPR in emergency situations.