Acute coronary syndrome
The article on Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is part of both Topic:Cardiology and Topic:Emergency Medicine.
The term acute coronary syndrome (ACS) includes:
- unstable angina (UA)
- non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)
- ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (commonly known as 'heart attack')
STEMI is one of the leading causes of death in the western world. ACS may develop suddenly or gradually. UA may progress to STEMI. An apprpriate management of STEMI may help restore the blood supply to the areas of the heart affected by the infarction. The term appropriate here means AT TIME.