Acute Coronary Syndrome is a name given to three types of coronary artery diseases that are associated with sudden rupture of plaque inside the coronary artery: Unstable angina, Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction or heart attack (NSTEMI), or 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 most often require emergency medical care.

Unstable angina is a new symptom or a change from stable angina. The angina may occur more frequently, occur more easily at rest, feel more severe, or last longer. Although this angina can often be relieved with oral medications, it is unstable and if not treated timely may progress to a heart attack. Usually more intense medical treatment or a procedure is required. Unstable angina is an acute coronary syndrome and should be treated as a medical emergency.

Heart attack:  Non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI): This heart attack, or MI, does not cause changes on an electrocardiogram (ECG). However, chemical markers like Cardiac Troponin in the blood indicate that damage has occurred to the heart muscle. In NSTEMI, the blockage may be partial or temporary, and so the extent of the damage relatively minimal.

Heart attack: ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI): This heart attack, or MI, is caused by a prolonged period of blocked blood supply. It affects a large area of the heart muscle, and so causes changes on the ECG as well as in blood levels of key chemical markers. ST segment will elevate in chest leads or arm leads of ECG depending upon location of heart muscle damage.

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