Acute coronary syndrome is a term for a group of conditions that suddenly stop or severely reduce blood from flowing to the heart muscle. When blood cannot flow to the heart muscle, the heart muscle can become damaged. Heart attack and unstable angina are both acute coronary syndromes (ACS).
Heart attack - ACS; Myocardial infarction - ACS; MI - ACS; Acute MI - ACS; ST elevation myocardial infarction - ACS; Non ST-elevation myocardial infarction - ACS; Unstable angina - ACS; Accelerating angina - ACS; Angina - unstable-ACS; Progressive angina
A fatty substance called plaque can build up in the arteries that bring oxygen-rich blood to your heart. Plaque is made up of cholesterol, fat, cells, and other substances.
Plaque can block blood flow in two ways:
Many risk factors for heart disease may lead to an ACS.
The most common symptom of ACS is chest pain. The chest pain may come on quickly, come and go, or get worse with exercise or rest. Other symptoms can include:
Women and older people often experience these other symptoms, although chest pain is common for them as well.
Your provider may use medicines, surgery, or other procedures to treat your symptoms and restore blood flow to your heart. Your treatment depends on your condition and the amount of blockage in your arteries. Your treatment may include:
Erik Ohman is an Interventional Cardiologist and a Cardiologist in Durham, North Carolina. Ohman has been practicing medicine for over 42 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Coronary Syndrome. He is also highly rated in 20 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Acute Coronary Syndrome, Heart Attack, Angina, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Heart Bypass Surgery. Ohman is currently accepting new patients.
Usman Baber is an Interventional Cardiologist and a Cardiologist in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Baber has been practicing medicine for over 19 years and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Coronary Syndrome. He is also highly rated in 18 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Coronary Heart Disease, Acute Coronary Syndrome, Heart Attack, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Atherectomy. Baber is currently accepting new patients.
Lars Wallentin practices in Uppsala, Sweden. Wallentin is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Coronary Syndrome. He is also highly rated in 14 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Acute Coronary Syndrome, Atrial Fibrillation, Stroke, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), and Heart Bypass Surgery.
How well you do after an ACS depends on:
In general, the quicker your artery gets unblocked, the less damage you will have to your heart. People tend to do best when the blocked artery is opened within a few hours from the time symptoms start.
In some cases, ACS can lead to other health problems including:
An ACS is a medical emergency. If you have symptoms, call 911 or the local emergency number quickly.
Do not:
There is a lot you can do to help prevent ACS.
Summary: Dual Antiplatelet Therapy (DAPT) with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and oral P2Y12 inhibitor (Clopidogrel, Ticagrelor or Prasugrel) is recommended in STEMI or NSTEMI patients undergoing primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI). There is evidence for an increased risk of stent thrombosis after PCI despite administration of DAPT in patients resuscitated from a cardiac arrest with STEMI/NSTEMI w...
Published Date: May 08, 2022
Published By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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Scirica Benjamin M, Libby P, Morrow DA. ST-elevation myocardial infarction: pathophysiology and clinical evolution. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 37.