Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a sudden drop in blood flow to your heart, which includes unstable angina and heart attack. It is a medical emergency that needs immediate care. At Signet Heart Group, our interventional cardiologists treat blocked coronary arteries and provide follow-up care to help you recover and lower your risk of another event.
What is Acute Coronary Syndrome?
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a medical term used to describe problems that occur when there is reduced or insufficient blood flow to the heart. It is a medical emergency requiring immediate diagnosis and care. Heart attack (myocardial infarction) and unstable angina (chest pain) are the two most common examples associated with acute coronary syndrome.
Causes of Acute Coronary Syndrome
The acute coronary syndrome usually occurs when cholesterol and plaque accumulate inside the coronary arteries, blocking the flow of oxygen-rich blood to heart muscles. Plaque fragments can sometimes break off and form a blood clot that can completely block the vessels, leading to permanent heart damage.
Symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndrome
Symptoms may not manifest in the initial stages when there is a decrease in blood flow but may show up as the plaque continues to build. Some common symptoms of acute coronary syndrome include:
- Angina (chest pain), characterized by pain, discomfort, heaviness, tightness or numbness in the chest; pain can also radiate to the neck, jaw, back, shoulder, or arms
- Burning sensation in the chest
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness, fainting, or lightheadedness
- Fatigue
- Heavy sweating
- Nausea or Vomiting
The signs and symptoms may differ from person to person based on their sex, age, and any medical conditions present.
Risk Factors of Acute Coronary Syndrome
Some of the risk factors associated with the acute coronary syndrome include:
- Smoking
- Insufficient physical activity
- Excessive alcohol intake
- Diabetes
- Being overweight or obese
- Unhealthy diet
- Aging
- Elevated blood pressure
- Elevated blood cholesterol
- Family history of heart disease, chest pain, or stroke
Diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome
Your doctor will perform a physical examination and review your medical and family history.
Procedures that may be used to diagnose acute coronary syndrome can include:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) to record the heart’s electrical activity
- Echocardiogram to view the heart’s size, structure, and motion using sound waves
- Stress test to record the heart’s electrical activity while you run on a treadmill
- Coronary angiogram to view the flow of blood using a special dye and x-rays
- Computerized tomography (CT) angiogram to detect blocked or narrowed arteries using specialized x-ray technology
- Blood tests to look for certain enzymes in the blood that can indicate damage to heart tissue
Treatment for Acute Coronary Syndrome
The immediate objective of treatment for acute coronary syndrome is to improve blood flow, relieve pain and distress, and to restore the function of the heart as soon as possible.
The long-term treatment objective is to manage risk factors, reduce the chances of heart attack, and enhance the overall function of the heart.
These treatment goals can be achieved through lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery.
Lifestyle changes
Adopting a healthy lifestyle that incorporates plenty of physical activity, a heart-healthy diet, limited alcohol intake, smoking cessation, and a good weight-management regime will go a long way in managing acute coronary syndrome.
Medications
Medications are recommended if risk factors cannot be lowered through lifestyle changes. These medications may include beta-blockers, nitroglycerin, statins, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
Surgery
Certain procedures can be employed to open up the blocked arteries, including:
- Balloon angioplasty and stenting: An inflated balloon is inserted into the blocked artery to compress the deposits against the arterial wall. Sometimes a stent is placed and left in the artery to keep it open.
- Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG): A blood vessel from another part of the body is used to create a graft to bypass the blocked artery and improve coronary blood flow.
Why Choose Signet Heart Group for Acute Coronary Syndrome
After acute coronary syndrome, you need specialists who can treat the blockage and protect your heart long term. Here is how we help:
- Interventional cardiology: Our board-certified interventional cardiologists perform cardiac catheterization, angioplasty, and stenting to restore blood flow.
- Cath lab leadership: Dr. Nikhil Joshi has served as Chief of Cardiology and Director of the Cath Lab at Wilson N. Jones Regional Medical Center since 2011.
- Hospital affiliations: Our physicians are affiliated with hospitals including Wilson N. Jones Regional Medical Center and Baylor Scott & White in Sherman.
- Prevention and recovery: After your hospital stay, we help you manage medications, risk factors, and cardiac rehabilitation to protect your heart.
Acute Coronary Syndrome FAQs
What is the difference between unstable angina and a heart attack?
Both are caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. In a heart attack, part of the heart muscle is damaged, while unstable angina is a warning sign that a heart attack could happen soon.
What should I do if I have symptoms of ACS?
Call your local emergency number right away if you have chest pain or pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, or pain spreading to your arm, jaw, or back. Quick treatment can limit damage to your heart.
What happens after I leave the hospital?
You will usually take several heart medications and have a follow-up visit with your cardiologist. Cardiac rehabilitation and lifestyle changes are also an important part of recovery.
Can acute coronary syndrome happen again?
Yes, your risk is higher after an event. Taking your medications as prescribed, not smoking, and controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes can lower that risk.
Schedule Your Visit
Let our team help you recover and protect your heart. Call Signet Heart Group at or request an appointment online at our offices in Sherman, Anna, or Dallas, Texas, or Durant, Oklahoma.
