Acute Coronary Syndrome – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Acute coronary syndrome refers to a set of conditions where blood flow to the heart suddenly decreases. This includes both heart attacks and unstable angina. In a heart attack (myocardial infarction), heart tissue dies because of damage or destruction.
Unstable angina happens when blood flow decreases but not enough to kill heart cells, though it raises the risk of a future heart attack.
The main symptom is often severe chest pain or discomfort. Acute coronary syndrome requires immediate medical attention. Without quick treatment, the condition can worsen rapidly.
Treatment focuses on three key goals:
- Improving blood flow to the heart
- Managing any complications that arise
- Preventing future cardiac events
This condition is considered a medical emergency, and quick diagnosis allows for faster treatment and better outcomes.
Signs and Symptoms
Acute coronary syndrome often starts with sudden symptoms. These can include:
- Chest pain that feels like aching, pressure, tightness, or burning
- Pain that moves from the chest to shoulders, arms, upper stomach, back, neck, or jaw
- Stomach problems such as nausea, vomiting, or indigestion
- Breathing trouble or shortness of breath
- Heavy sweating that comes on quickly
- Fast heartbeat
- Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
- Fainting
- Unusual tiredness
Chest pain is the most common symptom. However, symptoms can vary widely based on age, gender, and other health conditions. Women, older adults, and people with diabetes may experience symptoms without chest pain.
When to Get Medical Help
Acute coronary syndrome requires immediate medical attention. Chest pain can signal several life-threatening conditions. If you experience these symptoms, call emergency services right away.
Never try to drive yourself to the hospital. Quick diagnosis and proper treatment can save your life.
Causes
Acute coronary syndrome happens when fatty deposits, or plaque, build up on the walls of the coronary arteries. These arteries supply blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the heart muscles.
The process can take a dangerous turn when a fatty deposit breaks open. This triggers the formation of a blood clot at the site. The clot blocks blood flow to heart muscles, reducing their oxygen supply.
When heart cells don’t get enough oxygen, they can die. This cell death causes permanent muscle damage, resulting in a heart attack.
Sometimes, even without cell death, reduced oxygen affects how heart muscles function. These changes may be temporary or permanent. When no cell death occurs, the condition is called unstable angina.
The blockage severity determines the type of acute coronary syndrome that develops:
- Complete Blockage: Leads to a heart attack with muscle damage.
- Partial Blockage: May cause unstable angina with temporary symptoms.
Risk Factors
Several factors can increase your chance of developing acute coronary syndrome. These risk factors are similar to those for other heart conditions:
Age-Related Risk
- The risk increases as you get older
Health Conditions
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Previous COVID-19 infection
Lifestyle Factors
- Smoking tobacco
- Lack of regular physical activity
- Poor diet choices
- Being overweight or obese
Personal and Family History
- Previous heart attacks or chest pain
- Family history of heart disease
- Previous stroke
- Pregnancy complications (high blood pressure, preeclampsia, or diabetes)
- Early menopause in women
The more risk factors you have, the higher your risk might be.
Some of these factors cannot be changed, like your age or family history. However, many others can be managed through lifestyle changes and medical treatment.
For example, regular exercise, healthy eating, and not smoking can help lower your risk. If you have conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes, working with your doctor to control these conditions is important.
People with multiple risk factors should be especially careful about heart health. This includes regular check-ups and being aware of warning signs like chest pain or discomfort.
Women should note that pregnancy complications can affect heart health later in life. If you experienced high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy, mention this to your healthcare provider.
Your doctor can help assess your personal risk level by looking at all these factors together. They might recommend specific preventive measures based on your risk profile.
Risk assessment tools help healthcare providers estimate your chance of developing heart problems. These tools consider factors like age, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and whether you smoke or have diabetes.
