Acute coronary syndrome
hideAn acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a set of signs and symptoms (syndrome) related to the heart. ACS is compatible with a diagnosis of acute myocardial ischemia, but it is not pathognomonic.
The sub-types of acute coronary syndrome include unstable angina (UA, not associated with heart muscle damage), and two forms of myocardial infarction (MI, heart attack), in which heart muscle is damaged. These types are named according to the appearance of the electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) as non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). There can be some variation as to which forms of MI are classified under acute coronary syndrome.
ACS should be distinguished from stable angina, which develops during exertion and resolves at rest. In contrast with stable angina, unstable angina occurs suddenly, often at rest or with minimal exertion, or at lesser degrees of exertion than the individual's previous angina ("crescendo angina"). New onset angina is also considered unstable angina, since it suggests a new problem in a coronary artery.
Though ACS is usually associated with coronary thrombosis, it can also be associated with cocaine use. Cardiac chest pain can also be precipitated by anemia, bradycardias (excessively slow heart rate) or tachycardias (excessively fast heart rate).
For more information about Acute coronary syndrome, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
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News tagged with acute coronary syndrome
Coronary imaging techniques helps to identify plaques likely to cause heart attacks
Sep 24, 2009 |
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Late-breaking results from the PROSPECT clinical trial shed new light on the types of vulnerable plaque that are most likely to cause sudden, unexpected adverse cardiac events, and on the ability to identify them through ...
Two treatment innovations improve heart function after heart attack
Sep 15, 2009 |
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Supersaturated oxygen (SSO2) administered during catheter-based treatments for heart attack can significantly reduce heart muscle damage, according to a new study reported in Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions, a jour ...
Immediate intervention for patients with ACS not always more beneficial
Sep 01, 2009 |
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For some patients with acute coronary syndromes, the strategy of immediate intervention at a medical center does not appear to result in differences in outcomes in comparison with an intervention performed the next working ...
Pre-hospital organization: The first links in the chain of survival for heart attack patients
Sep 01, 2009 |
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Mortality rate following a heart attack has fallen by more than 50% in Europe over the past 25 years. However, because only minor advances in the medical treatment of AMI are expected over the next decade, it is through organisational ...
Genetic variation associated with poorer response, cardiovascular outcomes with use of clopidogrel
Aug 25, 2009 |
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Patients with a certain genetic variation who received the antiplatelet drug clopidogrel had a decreased platelet response to treatment and among those who had percutaneous coronary intervention (procedures such as balloon ...
Increase in visceral fat during menopause linked with testosterone
Aug 20, 2009 |
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In middle-aged women, visceral fat, more commonly called belly fat, is known to be a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but what causes visceral fat to accumulate?
Crowded emergency departments pose greater risks for patients with heart attacks
Jun 04, 2009 |
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June 04, 2009 - Patients with heart attacks and other forms of chest pain are three to five times more likely to experience serious complications after hospital admission when they are treated in a crowded emergency department ...
Long-term study results validate efficacy of CT scans for chest pain diagnosis
May 15, 2009 |
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The first long-term study following a large number of chest pain patients who are screened with coronary computerized tomographic angiography (CTA) confirms that the test is a safe, effective way to rule out serious cardiovascular ...
Massive decline in rates of coronary death in Iceland are largely attributed to risk factor reductions in the population
May 08, 2009 |
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Decline attributable to lower levels of cholesterol (36%), blood pressure (26%), and reduced smoking (20%). In the 25 years between 1981 and 2006 mortality rates from coronary heart disease (CHD) in Iceland decreased by a ...
Certain combined medications following heart attack may increase risk of death
Medicine & Health / Medications
Mar 03, 2009 |
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Following an acute coronary syndrome such as a heart attack or unstable angina, patients who receive a medication to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding that may be associated with the use of the antiplatelet drug ...
