How to Treat Acute Coronary Syndrome
Acute coronary syndrome can occur when blood flow to the heart is reduced drastically or suddenly. When this happens, this event can cause several conditions in the heart so how to treat acute coronary syndrome must be done in a fast and appropriate time.
Acute coronary syndrome is a condition where there is a significant blockage in the coronary arteries of the heart. Coronary arteries of the heart are blood vessels that supply blood to the heart, if there is a blockage then the blood flow to the heart will be drastically reduced. This condition can lead to heart attacks and unstable angina attacks. Usually these two conditions are characterized by chest discomfort or severe chest pain.
Causes and Risk Factors for Acute Coronary Syndrome
What causes acute coronary syndrome? Usually acute coronary syndrome can be caused by atherosclerosis, which is the formation of plaques or cholesterol piles on the walls of the coronary arteries that result in a blockage of blood flow to the heart. In addition, acute coronary syndrome can also be caused due to the use of certain substances, such as nicotine and cocaine that can trigger the occurrence of spasms or the sudden narrowing of the coronary arteries.
Some factors that can increase a person's risk of suffering from acute coronary syndrome are as follows:
- Entering old age
- Suffering from high cholesterol and high blood pressure
- Suffering from diabetes
- Suffering from obesity or being overweight
- Lack of physical activity or exercise
- Have a family history of heart disease or stroke
- Smoke
Symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndrome
Generally, the symptoms of acute coronary syndrome are chest pain that is very annoying. The pain can sometimes radiate to the jaw and arm. Pain can feel like pressure from a heavy object or unexplained discomfort.
A person can indeed experience chest pain that comes and goes. However, this chest pain is not included in the acute coronary syndrome. That's because chest pain in acute coronary syndrome usually lasts more than 15 minutes and won't get better with just rest.
Other symptoms that can be felt by patients with acute coronary syndrome are:
- A cold sweat
- Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- Hard to breathe
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headaches and dizziness like you want to pass out
- Restless
How to Manage Acute Coronary Syndrome
Acute coronary syndrome is a medical emergency that must be treated immediately so as not to cause death. After being treated in the ER, usually the patient will also be treated in the intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) for several days.
Treatment begins with giving oxygen and continues with drugs to treat acute coronary syndrome such as anticoagulants: aspirin and clopidogrel, to prevent blood clots, nitroglycerin to dilate the heart's blood vessels. Furthermore, if chest pain is still very bothersome, the doctor can give painkillers.
Surgical procedures, such as cardiac catheterization or CABG (coronary artery bypass graft), need to be considered in cases of acute coronary syndrome accompanied by extensive heart muscle damage, damage to the right heart wall, shock conditions, low blood pressure, or chest pain that persists after the administration of medications.
Can acute coronary syndrome be cured? Acute coronary syndrome is an emergency condition that can be life threatening. If acute coronary syndrome is treated quickly and appropriately, then the condition can improve. However, it is possible that this situation could reoccur. Therefore, prevention is very important to do, especially for someone who has or is at risk of experiencing it.
How to Prevent Acute Coronary Syndrome
How to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of acute coronary syndrome is related to a heart-healthy lifestyle such as eating foods that are healthy for the heart, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, controlling stress, maintaining an ideal weight, and exercising regularly.
For those who have diseases of acute coronary syndrome risk factors, such as high cholesterol, hypertension, or diabetes, you should take medicines given by doctors regularly so that the disease can be controlled and not cause acute coronary syndrome. In addition, so that the condition of heart health and overall health can always be monitored, regularly check with the doctor according to a predetermined schedule.
That's an explanation of how to treat acute coronary syndrome, if at any time you feel symptoms of chest pain that do not improve with rest, especially if it is accompanied by other symptoms that lead to acute coronary syndrome, then immediately go to the ER to get the right treatment.
