Diseases & Conditions

Acute coronary syndrome

Acute coronary syndrome is a term used for any condition brought on by sudden, reduced blood flow to the heart. Acute coronary syndrome can describe chest pain you feel during a heart attack or chest pain you feel while you're at rest or doing light physical activity (unstable angina). Acute coronary syndrome is usually diagnosed in an emergency room or hospital.

Acute coronary syndrome is treatable if diagnosed quickly. Acute coronary syndrome treatments vary, depending on your signs, symptoms and health condition.

Many acute coronary syndrome symptoms are the same as those of a heart attack. And if acute coronary syndrome isn't treated quickly, a heart attack will occur. It's important to take acute coronary syndrome symptoms very seriously. Get medical help right away if you have these signs and symptoms and think you're having a heart attack:

• Chest pain (angina) that feels like burning, pressure or tightness and lasts several minutes or longer, which may occur with exercise, emotional stress or eating a large meal.
• Pain elsewhere in the body, such as the upper arm or jaw (referred pain).
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea).
• Sudden, heavy sweating (diaphoresis).
• Lightheadedness.

If you're having a heart attack, the signs and symptoms may vary for women. Women's heart attack symptoms usually include:

• Abdominal pain or pains similar to heartburn
• Clammy skin
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• Unusual or unexplained fatigue

When to see a doctor
If you're having chest pain and you believe it's an emergency situation, seek medical help immediately. Whenever possible, get emergency medical assistance rather than driving yourself to the hospital. You could be having a heart attack.

If you have recurring chest pain, talk to your doctor. It could be a form of angina, and your doctor can help you decide the best course of treatment.

Acute coronary syndrome may develop slowly over time by the building up of plaques in the arteries in your heart. These plaques, made up of fatty deposits, cause the arteries to narrow and make it more difficult for blood to flow through them. This buildup of plaques is known as atherosclerosis. Eventually, this buildup means that your heart can't pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your body, causing chest pain (angina) or a heart attack.

Another medical term closely related to acute coronary syndrome is coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease refers to the damage to your heart arteries from atherosclerosis.

If one of the plaques in your coronary arteries ruptures, it can cause a heart attack. In fact, many instances of coronary artery syndrome develop after a plaque ruptures. A blood clot will form on the site of the rupture, blocking the flow of blood through the artery.