Acute Coronary Syndrome

Acute Coronary Syndrome is the term used to describe any condition brought on by sudden, reduced blood flow to the heart. Acute Coronary Syndrome is usually diagnosed in an emergency room and includes chest pain you feel while you’re at rest or exercising lightly (unstable angina). Acute Coronary Syndrome also describes the chest pain felt during a heart attack.

The board-certified emergency room physicians at MetroSouth Medical Center are highly experienced in treating these types of emergencies.  The chest pain team at MetroSouth Medical Center also includes leading cardiologists, interventional cardiologists and thoracic surgeons.

Symptoms:

• Squeezing pain, fullness or pressure in the middle of your chest (angina) lasting more than a few minutes or that occurs with exercise, emotional stress or eating a large meal
• Fainting
• Sudden, heavy sweating (diaphoresis)
• Pain extending beyond the chest to arm, back, shoulder or even to the teeth and jaw
• Vomiting and nausea
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea)

For women, symptoms can also include:

• Heartburn or pain in the abdomen
• Clammy skin
• Dizziness and/or lightheadedness
• Unexplained fatigue