Page 11 - Mended Hearts-HeartGuide
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HEART DISEASE AND HEART EVENTS
Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) When you stop smoking it
takes just two years for your
You’ve heard of heart attacks, but what is this ACS that your health care team heart attack risk to normalize.
keeps talking about? Conditions featuring a blockage of blood to the heart—
most commonly, heart attack and unstable angina—are covered under the
umbrella of acute coronary syndrome. These emergency situations require
immediate treatment.
Risk Factors
Risk factors include smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol,
diabetes, being overweight or obese, inactivity, family history of chest pain,
heart disease, or stroke.
Symptoms
Any pain or discomfort in your chest may point to a problem with your
heart and should be taken seriously. It can come on suddenly (as with a
heart attack), be unpredictable, or get worse with rest.
ACS symptoms include:
Chest pain or discomfort (may be accompanied by pressure,
tightness, or fullness)
Pain or discomfort in the arms (one or both), jaw, neck, back,
or stomach
Shortness of breath
Feeling dizzy or light-headed
Nausea
Sweating
Diagnosis
Your health care provider will take a medical history and give you a
physical exam. If ACS is suspected, these further tests may be ordered:
A blood test to see if heart cells are dying
An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) to measure the heart’s electrical
activity and heart rhythm
Treatment
If tests show a blockage of blood flow to the heart, further testing may
confirm a diagnosis of ACS. The artery must then be reopened using
medicines or angioplasty, in which a small balloon is inflated inside the
artery to open it up. A wire mesh tube called a stent may also be placed in
the artery to keep it open.
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