Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a syndrome due to
decreased blood flow in the coronary arteries such that part of the heart
muscle is unable to function properly or dies. The most common symptom is chest
pain, often radiating to the left arm or angle of the jaw, pressure-like in
character, and associated with nausea and sweating. Acute coronary syndrome is
usually caused by one of three problems: ST elevation myocardial infarction
(STEMI, 30%), non ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI, 25%), or unstable
angina (38%). ACS should be distinguished from stable angina, which develops
during exertion and resolves at rest. In contrast with stable angina, unstable
angina occurs suddenly, often at rest or with minimal exertion, or at lesser
degrees of exertion than the individual's previous angina (“crescendo angina”).
New onset angina is also considered unstable angina, since it suggests a new
problem in a coronary artery.
In the present book, fifteen typical
literatures about acute coronary syndrome published
on international authoritative journals were selected to introduce the
worldwide newest progress, which contains reviews or original researches on medical
science, ischemic heart diseases, cardiovascular
disease, epidemiology, ect. We hope
this book can demonstrate advances in acute coronary syndrome as well as give
references to the researchers, students and other related people.