31^st World Heartcare Summit

Acute Coronary Syndromes

Acute coronary syndrome  is a term used to describe a variety of conditions involving a sudden and reduced blood flow to the heart. One such condition is a heart attack (myocardial infarction). This is when cardiac tissue is damaged or destroyed due to cell death. Acute coronary syndrome  refers to a group of disorders in which blood flow to the heart is reduced. Some examples are ST elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, and unstable angina. Acute coronary syndrome is usually caused by the build-up of fatty deposits (plaque) in the walls of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. When plaque deposits rupture or crack, clots form.