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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffAcute coronary syndrome may develop slowly over time by the building up of plaques in the arteries in your heart. These plaques, made up of fatty deposits, cause the arteries to narrow and make it more difficult for blood to flow through them. This buildup of plaques is known as atherosclerosis. Eventually, this buildup means that your heart can't pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your body, causing chest pain (angina) or a heart attack.
Another medical term closely related to acute coronary syndrome is coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease refers to the damage to your heart arteries from atherosclerosis.
If one of the plaques in your coronary arteries ruptures, it can cause a heart attack. In fact, many instances of coronary artery syndrome develop after a plaque ruptures. A blood clot will form on the site of the rupture, blocking the flow of blood through the artery.
- Acute coronary syndrome. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3010002. Accessed Feb. 7, 2008.
- Achar SA, et al. Diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome. American Family Physician. 2005;72(1):119-126.
- Acute coronary syndromes: A national clinical guideline. National Guideline Clearinghouse. http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=10585. Accessed Nov. 7, 2007.
- Rackley CE, et al. The role of plaque ruptures in acute coronary syndromes. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 18, 2008.
- Ryan TJ, et al. Management of suspected acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 18, 2008.
- Rosenson RS. Cholesterol lowering after an acute coronary syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 18, 2008.
