Acute coronary syndrome
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) occurs when a plaque inside a coronary artery suddenly ruptures and blocks blood flow to the heart muscle, depriving the heart of oxygen-rich blood and causing unstable angina (a type of chest pain) or a heart attack. The amount of time blood flow is blocked and the extent of heart damage determine which type of ACS occurs, but it is always considered a life-threatening condition.
| Author | Robin Parks, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Ruth Schneider, MPH, RD - Diet and Nutrition |
| Last Updated | May 29, 2008 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
May 29, 2008
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