Acute coronary syndrome is a medical term that describes conditions in which blood flow to the heart decreases dramatically or suddenly. Symptoms include severe chest pain, pain can spread to the left arm, and nausea, vomiting. This is an emergency medical condition that requires immediate treatment. Come on, recognize the symptoms, causes and treatment of the following!
Acute coronary syndrome often causes severe chest pain and discomfort. Heart attacks and unstable angina attacks are other forms of acute coronary syndrome, where there is significant blockage in the coronary arteries (heart blood vessels). Decreased blood flow disrupts heart function and indicates a high risk of heart attack.
There are three types of acute coronary syndromes, namely:
- Angina attacks are not stable, which is a condition in which blood supply to the heart is still very limited, but there is no permanent damage, so that the heart muscle is maintained. Although it is the mildest type of acute coronary syndrome, it is still considered an emergency medical condition, because it can escalate to heart damage or STEMI.
- Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Although in this condition the blood supply to the heart is not completely blocked, but this type of acute coronary syndrome is still considered a serious emergency medical condition.
- ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is the most serious type of heart attack, where there is a disruption in the blood supply. This is caused by a total blockage of the coronary arteries, which can cause widespread damage to the heart area.
Know the Causes and Risk Factors of Acute Coronary Syndrome
Most cases of acute coronary syndrome are caused by narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart. This is usually caused by atherosclerosis or the presence of plaque that forms on the walls in the arteries and blocks blood flow. Plaque formation usually gradually over several years in one or more places in the coronary arteries.
Other various conditions that can clog coronary arteries include:
- Blood clots from other organs in the body, for example in the heart chamber, and carry up to the coronary arteries and trapped.
- Complications of heart surgery.
- Inflammation in the coronary arteries.
- Stab wounds to the heart.
- Consuming cocaine, which can cause a coronary artery spasm.
- Some other rare heart disorders.
Meanwhile, risk factors that can trigger acute coronary syndrome include:
- People over 45 years old.
- Suffers from high blood pressure.
- High levels of colosterol in the blood.
- Smoke.
- Eating an unhealthy diet.
- Obesity or being overweight.
- Suffering from diabetes.
- Family history of chest pain, heart disease or stroke.
- Lack of exercise or physical activity.
Symptoms of acute coronary syndrome that you need to be aware of
The most common symptom of acute coronary syndrome is severe chest pain. You like feeling the heavy pressure on the chest. The pain can also extend to your jaw and left arm, or even to your two arms. Other symptoms include sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, nausea, anxiety, and irregular heartbeat.
The pain can be similar to a normal (stable) angina attack. However, it is usually more severe and lasts longer. Pain in people with stable angina attacks, usually will subside after a few minutes. However, pain in people suffering from acute coronary syndrome usually lasts more than 15 minutes, or even for hours.
But to watch out for, the elderly and diabetics who also have acute coronary syndrome often do not experience chest pain.
Diagnosis and Management of Acute Coronary Syndrome
In addition to physical examination, the doctor will recommend a series of tests to diagnose possible symptoms of acute coronary syndrome. The series of tests is to use an electrocardiogram (ECG), a blood test to see if there is an increase in heart enzymes, to a heart perfusion scan (to count the amount of blood in the heart muscle during rest and during activity). Scanning examinations such as chest X-ray, echocardiography, and angiography are also important to diagnose and evaluate this condition.
Acute coronary syndrome is a medical emergency. If not immediately get help, the risk of death will increase. Patients with this condition need to get immediate hospital care and a rigorous evaluation in the intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU). For treatment of emergency medical conditions, treatment begins with stabilizing the patient's condition (airway evaluation and general condition), administering oxygen, as well as aspirin, clopidogrel, or other anticoagulant drugs to prevent blood clots. Treatment at the hospital is usually also by giving nitroglycerin which is useful for dilating heart blood vessels, improving blood flow, and relieving symptoms such as chest pain. Your doctor can also give you painkillers such as morphine or fentanyl.
The results of tests on acute coronary syndromes will help your doctor decide what type of treatment is right for you, such as coronary angioplasty for heart stenting or heart bypass to improve blood flow to the heart. Surgery should be considered in cases of acute coronary syndrome accompanied by extensive heart muscle damage, decreased blood pressure, shock conditions, right heart wall damage, or persistent chest pain after drug administration.
For further treatment at home, the doctor will usually provide drugs that are useful to reduce the risk of heart attack. These drugs include beta-blockers, aspirin or other drugs to prevent blood clots, blood pressure-lowering drugs, and cholesterol-lowering drugs. A healthy lifestyle must also be applied to support the healing process and avoid a heart attack. Stopping smoking, eating healthy foods that are good for heart health, and exercising regularly are important steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing acute coronary syndrome.
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