Patient Education
Acute Coronary Syndrome

The terms Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) isused to describe various symptoms attributable to acute myocardial ischemia. Acute myocardial ischemia is chest pain caused by coronary artery disease that results in insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle.

Types of acute coronary syndrome include acute thrombosis or plaque rupture which occludes the coronary artery (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) unstable angina (angina that occurs suddenly), and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome includes performting an electrocardiogram, imaging tests, and bloodwork . Treatment includes administering thrombolytics (drugs that dissolve blood clots), performingcoronary angiogram with or without stenting, or possibly even undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Atherosclerosis causes damage to the coronary arteries which often leads to acute coronary syndrome. Prevention of atherosclerosis involves controlling risk factors by practicing the following:

• healthy eating
• exercise
• treatment for hypertension and diabetes
• quitting smoking
• controlling cholesterol