Acute coronary syndrome





Acute coronary syndrome is a myocardial infarction ( heart attack ) and heart disease , including unstable angina , a term given to the doctors . These conditions reduce the amount of blood flowing to the heart of being a part of the reason there . Given the different treatment and this usually depends on the type of acute coronary syndrome . Treatment , pain relief , improving blood flow and help prevent any future complications .
The term acute coronary syndrome (ACS) covers a range of disorders including myocardial infarction (heart attack) and unstable angina that are caused by the same underlying problem.

The underlying problem is a sudden reduction of blood flow to part of the heart muscle. This is usually caused by a blood clot that forms on a patch of atheroma within a coronary artery (which is described below).

The types of problems range from unstable angina - when the blood clot causes a reduced blood flow, but not a total blockage so the heart muscle supplied by the affected artery does not infarct (die) - to an actual myocardial infarction (MI).

The location of the blockage, the length of time that blood flow is blocked, and the amount of damage that occurs determine the type of acute coronary syndrome.


090.gifThe heart is made mainly of special muscle. The heart pumps blood into arteries (blood vessels) which take the blood to every part of the body.

Like any other muscle, the heart muscle needs a good blood supply. The coronary arteries take blood to the heart muscle. The main coronary arteries branch off from the aorta. The aorta is the large artery which takes oxygen-rich blood from the heart chambers to the body. The main coronary arteries divide into smaller branches which take blood to all parts of the heart muscle.
ACS ranges from MI to unstable angina.

A myocardial infarction?

If you have an MI, a coronary artery or one of its smaller branches is suddenly blocked. The part of the heart muscle supplied by this artery loses its blood (and oxygen) supply. This part of the heart muscle is at risk of dying unless the blockage is quickly undone. (The word infarction means death of some tissue due to a blocked artery which stops blood from getting past.) An MI is sometimes called a heart attack or a coronary thrombosis.

Cross-section diagram of the heart
There are different types of MI which are based on what is seen on your heart tracing (also called an electrocardiograph (ECG)). The two main types are called ST elevation MI (STEMI) and non-ST elevation MI (NSTEMI). In a STEMI, the artery supplying an area of the heart muscle is completely blocked. However, in an NSTEMI, the artery is only partly blocked, so only part of the heart muscle being supplied by the affected artery is affected.


Unstable angina

Unstable angina occurs when the blood clot causes a reduced blood flow, but not a total blockage. This means that the heart muscle supplied by the affected artery does not infarct (die).

Note: this article discusses only NSTEMI and unstable angina. For information on STEMI, see separate leaflet called 'Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)'.
The majority of cases are due to there being some narrowing in the blood vessels supplying the heart. This is usually due to the presence of some atheroma within the lining of the artery. Atheroma is like fatty patches or plaques that develop within the inside lining of arteries. (This is similar to water pipes that get furred up.)

Plaques of atheroma may gradually form over a number of years in one or more places in the coronary arteries. Each plaque has an outer firm shell with a soft inner fatty core. Atheroma leads to the blood vessels narrowing.

Various other uncommon conditions can also block a coronary artery. For example: inflammation of the coronary arteries (rare); a stab wound to the heart; a blood clot forming elsewhere in the body (for example, in a heart chamber) and travelling to a coronary artery where it gets stuck; taking cocaine, which can cause a coronary artery to go into spasm; complications from heart surgery and some other rare heart problems. These are not dealt with further in this leaflet.
ACS is common. About 114,000 people in the UK are admitted to hospital with an ACS each year. Most occur in people aged over 50 and become more common with increasing age. Sometimes younger people are affected.

The risk factors for having an ACS are actually the same as the risk factors for having an MI or cardiovascular disease. See separate leaflet called 'Preventing Cardiovascular Diseases' which discusses these in more detail.

Briefly, risk factors that can be modified and may help to prevent an ACS include:
  • High blood pressure. If your blood pressure is high it can be treated.
  • If you are overweight, losing some weight is advised. Losing weight will reduce the amount of workload on your heart and also help to lower your blood pressure.
  • A high cholesterol. This should usually be treated if it is high.
  • Inactivity. You should aim to do some moderate physical activity on most days of the week for 20-30 minutes. For example, brisk walking, swimming, cycling, dancing, gardening, etc.
  • Diet. You should aim to eat a healthy diet.
  • Diabetes. People with diabetes have a higher risk of having ACS. This risk can be reduced by ensuring your blood pressure, cholesterol levels and glucose levels are within normal limits.
  • Family history. Your risk will be increased if there is a family history of heart disease or a stroke that occurred in your father or brother aged below 55, or in your mother or sister aged below 65.
  • Ethnic group. Certain ethnic groups, for example British Asians, have a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The most common symptom of a ACS is having severe chest pain. The pain often feels like a heavy pressure on your chest. The pain may also travel up into your jaw and down your left arm, or down both arms. You may also sweat, feel sick and feel faint. You may also feel short of breath.

The pain may be similar to a bout of stable (normal) angina, but it is usually more severe and lasts longer. (In people who have stable angina, an angina pain usually goes off after a few minutes. ACS pain usually lasts more than 15 minutes - sometimes several hours.)

Some people with an ACS may not have any chest pain, particularly those who are elderly or those who have diabetes.

It can sometimes be difficult for doctors to distinguish between ACS and other causes of pains in the chest. If you are suspected of having ACS then you should be referred urgently to hospital. On admission to hospital, various tests are usually done. These include:
  • A heart tracing called an electrocardiograph (ECG). There may be typical changes to the normal pattern of the heart tracing if you have an ACS. However, an ECG can also be normal in some cases.
  • Blood tests. A blood test that measures a chemical called troponin is the usual test that is done. This chemical is present in heart muscle cells. Damage to heart muscle cells releases troponin into the bloodstream. The level of troponin is raised if you have an MI but it is not raised in unstable angina.
Your heart tracing may be monitored for a few days to check on the heart rhythm. Various blood tests will be done to check on your general well-being. Other tests may also be done in some cases. This may be to clarify the diagnosis (if the diagnosis is not certain) or to diagnose complications such as heart failure if this is suspected. For example, an echocardiogram (an ultrasound scan of the heart).

Also, before discharge from hospital, you may be advised to have tests to assess the severity of atheroma in the coronary arteries. These are tests similar to those used to assess the severity of angina and are discussed more fully in the leaflet called Angina.
The treatment of ACS varies between cases. An MI is treated differently to unstable angina. Treatments may vary depending on your situation.

If you have had a STEMI then you will be treated the same as those who have had an MI (again, see separate leaflet called 'Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)' for more details). Treatment of people with unstable angina or NSTEMI consists of two phases: relief of any pain and preventing progression to, or limiting the extent of, an MI.

Your treatment usually varies depending on your risk score. This is a risk score for a myocardial infarction in the future. Various factors are taken into account for this score, including your age, your other risk factors for cardiovascular disease (for example, if you smoke, have raised cholesterol or have high blood pressure or diabetes), your blood test results and what your ECG looks like when you first attend the hospital.

Aspirin and other antiplatelet drugs

As soon as possible after an ACS is suspected you will be given a dose of aspirin. Aspirin reduces the stickiness of platelets. Platelets are tiny particles in the blood that trigger the blood to clot. It is the platelets that become stuck on to a patch of atheroma inside an artery that go on to form the clot (thrombosis) of an MI.

Another antiplatelet drug called clopidogrel is also sometimes given. This works in a different way to aspirin and adds to the action of reducing platelet stickiness. It is usually given with aspirin if there is a change in your heart rhythm or if your troponin level is raised in your blood test. In some cases it is given as an alternative to aspirin (for example, if you are allergic to aspirin).

Injections of heparin or a similar drug

These are usually given for a few days to help prevent further blood clots forming.

Pain relief

A strong painkiller given by injection into a vein is given to ease the pain.

Glycoprotein llb/lla receptor antagonist

If the doctors think that you have a high risk of having an MI then you may be given a drug called a glycoprotein llb/lla receptor antagonist. This can help relieve your pain and also works to reduce the chances of blood clots completely blocking your arteries. This drug is given to you as a drip, directly into your veins. This drug is also used if you are going to have a treatment to help widen your arteries (for example, an angioplasty - see below).

After recovering from an ACS, it is natural to wonder if there are any dos and don'ts. However, regular exercise and getting back to normal work and life are usually advised. Much can be done to reduce the risk of a further ACS or an MI. See separate leaflet called 'Myocardial Infarction - After the MI' which discusses this more fully.

British Heart Foundation

Greater London House, 180 Hampstead Road, London, NW1 7AW
Tel (Heart Help Line): 0300 330 3311 Web: www.bhf.org.uk

HEART UK (the Hyperlipidaemia Education and Atherosclerosis Research Trust UK)

7 North Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 1PE
Tel (Helpline): 0845 450 5988 Web: www.heartuk.org.uk

British Cardiac Patients Association

15 Abbey Road, Bingham, Notts, NG13 8EE
Tel (Helpline): 01223 846845 Web: www.bcpa.co.uk

No comments:

Post a Comment