Acute Coronary Syndrome

What is acute coronary syndrome? Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a broad term for three types of coronary artery disease that affect millions of people each year. These potentially life-threatening conditions occur when a blockage causes blood flow to your heart to suddenly slow or stop. People with ACS can experience unstable angina or a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Common signs include chest pain or pressure (angina), shortness of breath (dyspnea) or dizziness. Acute coronary syndrome is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Prompt treatment is important to ease symptoms and prevent complications. If you think you're having a heart attack, take an aspirin and call 911 immediately.

What types of heart conditions does ACS include? Acute coronary syndrome involves three types of coronary artery disease that damage or destroy heart tissue. The specific type depends on: Where blood flow to your heart is blocked. How long the blockage lasts. The amount of damage it causes. Types of ACS are: Unstable angina: This involves sudden, unexpected chest pain or pressure, even while resting. It’s a warning sign of a heart attack and occurs when stable angina worsens. Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction: An NSTEMI is a heart attack that providers can detect with blood tests but not with an electrocardiogram (EKG). It means your coronary arteries aren’t fully blocked or were blocked for a short amount of time. ST-elevation myocardial infarction: A STEMI is a much more severe heart attack that providers can detect with blood tests and EKG. It occurs when blood flow to your heart is fully blocked for a long time, affecting a large part of your heart.

Who gets acute coronary syndrome? Acute coronary syndrome can affect anyone. However, certain risk factors raise the likelihood of developing ACS. Age and lifestyle: Age (people assigned male at birth who are over 45 years of age or people assigned female at birth who have completed menopause). Having overweight/obesity. Cocaine use. Lack of physical activity. Smoking. Unhealthy diet. Conditions you have (or had) and family history: COVID-19. Diabetes. Family history of chest pain, heart disease or stroke. High blood cholesterol. High blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure, preeclampsia or diabetes during pregnancy.

Are there other conditions like acute coronary syndrome?

Other conditions can cause non-cardiac chest pain and symptoms resembling acute coronary syndrome. Get prompt medical care so you can get an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment. Conditions similar to ACS include:

Aortic stenosis (narrowing of your aortic valve).

Asthma.

Blood clot in your lung (pulmonary embolism).

Indigestion, chronic acid reflux (GERD) or esophageal spasms.

Inflammation of the pericardium (pericarditis).

Muscle or bone problems.

Rib fractures.

Pneumonia.

Stomach issues, such as ulcers.

Stress, anxiety or depression.

How common is acute coronary syndrome?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common heart disease in the U.S. and the leading cause of death. Acute coronary syndrome, a type of CAD, causes almost 400,000 deaths every year, most often among people assigned male at birth and those with underlying coronary heart disease.

What causes acute coronary syndrome?

Your heart is a muscle that needs a constant flow of oxygen-rich blood to work properly. Coronary arteries and their smaller vessels supply this blood.

Sometimes, a gradual buildup of fat and cholesterol (plaque) hardens and narrows your arteries (atherosclerosis). Acute coronary syndrome can occur suddenly when this plaque tears or splits open.

A blood clot forms over the opening, narrowing or blocking blood flow to a part of your heart called the myocardium. The heart can't get enough oxygen. Lack of oxygen (ischemia) damages the heart muscle, leading to unstable angina or heart attack.

Rarely, acute coronary syndrome is caused by:

Coronary artery embolism (blockage by blood clot, air bubble, fat or other material).

Coronary artery spasm.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).

What are the symptoms of acute coronary syndrome?

Symptoms of acute coronary syndrome vary based on the location and severity of the blockage. Your symptoms also depend on your age, sex and other medical conditions, like diabetes.

Signs of ACS typically occur without warning, even while you rest. The syndrome often causes chest pain or discomfort (angina). This can feel like:

Aching.

Burning.

Heaviness.

Numbness.

Pressure.

Tightness.

The sensation may spread to your left shoulder, arms, neck, back or jaw. However, some people don't have chest symptoms at all.

Other common symptoms include:

Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting.

Excessive, sudden sweating (diaphoresis).

Fatigue.

Racing or pounding heart (heart palpitations).

Upper abdominal pain (can be mistaken for indigestion or heartburn).

People assigned female at birth who have acute coronary syndrome often don’t have chest symptoms. They’re more likely than people assigned male at birth to experience:

Nausea or vomiting.

Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck, abdomen or jaw.

Shortness of breath (dyspnea).

Alert your healthcare provider as soon as possible if symptoms persist or get worse. If you think you’re having a heart attack, take an aspirin and call 911 or go immediately to an emergency room.

How is acute coronary syndrome diagnosed?

Healthcare providers diagnose acute coronary syndrome using a physical exam, blood tests and an EKG, which records your heart's electrical activity. The results help your healthcare provider determine if your condition is a heart attack or unstable angina.

Additional exams can help rule out other conditions and guide treatment. Some tests, such as an exercise stress test or medication stress test, increase your heart rate to show how well your heart is working at its hardest.

Healthcare providers also use imaging studies, such as a CT scan or heart MRI, to produce detailed pictures of your heart. Other imaging tests may include:

Calcium-score screening heart scan.

Cardiac catheterization.

Coronary computed tomography angiogram.

Coronary angiogram.

Echocardiogram.

Nuclear medicine imaging.

Acute coronary syndrome is a medical emergency. If results show that blood flow to your heart is blocked, you receive immediate treatment. If you have severe symptoms, like loss of consciousness, you may receive treatment before providers confirm a diagnosis.

Is there a cure for acute coronary syndrome?

There's no cure for acute coronary syndrome, but early diagnosis and prompt treatment can protect your heart from further damage and help it work as well as possible. Your healthcare provider can discuss ways to reduce risks and avoid complications.

How is acute coronary syndrome treated?

Acute coronary syndrome treatment focuses on relieving pain and improving blood flow so your heart can work as well as possible, as quickly as possible. Your healthcare provider recommends treatment based on the specific condition you have. Treatment typically involves a combination of medication and procedures to open your arteries and restore heart function.

What medication might my provider give me for acute coronary syndrome?

The medications you receive depend on your specific condition. In some cases, your provider may give you medication before confirming a diagnosis. Medications may include:

Anticoagulants or blood thinners, like aspirin or heparin, to dissolve clots or prevent them from forming.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to lower blood pressure.

Beta-blockers to control blood pressure and slow heart rate.

Nitroglycerin to improve blood flow and relieve chest pain.

Pain relievers.

Statins to lower blood cholesterol.

Clot-busting (thrombolytic) medications to dissolve blood clots within the first 12 hours after a heart attack.

Your healthcare provider may also recommend medicine for related heart issues like:

High cholesterol.

High blood pressure.

Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).

Will I need surgery for acute coronary syndrome?

Surgical treatments for acute coronary syndrome involve reopening your artery to restore regular blood flow. Your healthcare provider may recommend:

Angioplasty with stent (small metal mesh tube) to open the blocked area of your artery.

Coronary artery bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass grafting, or CABG) to create a new pathway for blood flow.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to open a blocked artery.