Acute Coronary Syndrome

Acute Coronary Syndrome is a name given to three types of coronary artery disease that are associated with sudden rupture of plaque inside the coronary artery:

• Unstable angina
• Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction or heart attack (NSTEMI)
• ST segment elevation myocardial infarction or heart attack (STEMI).

The location of the blockage, the length of time that blood flow is blocked and the amount of damage that occurs determines the type of acute coronary syndrome. These life-threatening conditions require emergency medical care.