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Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is a term doctors use to describe 3 conditions caused by the sudden blockage of 1 or more heart arteries (blood vessels that bring blood and oxygen to the heart muscle). Acute Coronary Syndrome conditions include:

  • heart-related chest pain (unstable angina)
  • a heart attack caused by a partially blocked artery (non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction ["NSTEMI"] or "non–Q-wave" heart attack)
  • a heart attack caused by a completely blocked artery (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction ["STEMI"] or "Q-wave" heart attack)

With Acute Coronary Syndrome, a sudden rupture of plaque within 1 or more heart arteries causes platelets in the blood to stick together and form a clot—which can limit or completely stop the flow of blood to part of the heart. The type of Acute Coronary Syndrome is determined by the location of the blockage, the length of time that the blood flow is blocked, and the amount of damage to the heart muscle. Acute Coronary Syndrome conditions are life-threatening. Acute Coronary Syndrome requires emergency medical care.

If you have been diagnosed with Acute Coronary Syndrome, you are at increased risk of having a heart attack, or even a stroke, in the future. Your doctor may prescribe PLAVIX with aspirin to help reduce your risk. PLAVIX, taken with aspirin, helps increase your protection against a future heart attack or stroke by going beyond what aspirin and other heart medicines do alone to help keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots. And that's important, because more than 90% of heart attacks and more than 85% of strokes are caused by clots.

What causes heart-related chest pain (unstable angina)?

The heart needs oxygen to be able to pump blood through the body. When plaque buildup or a clot partially blocks an artery leading to the heart, the heart can't get the oxygen it needs. This causes pain, pressure, or squeezing in the chest area or discomfort in the back, neck, jaw, or arm. This is called angina. People with stable angina experience chest pain in predictable situations, such as during physical exertion or emotional stress. The activities that lead to pain remain fairly constant.

Did You Know?

Did You Know?

PLAVIX in combination with aspirin provides more protection from future heart attack or stroke than aspirin and other heart medicines alone.

But sometimes the symptoms of angina appear unpredictably, even at rest. This is called unstable angina, and it often occurs as a warning sign before a heart attack. If you have unstable angina, PLAVIX taken with aspirin and other heart medicines helps provide greater protection against heart attack or stroke than aspirin and other heart medicines alone, by helping to keep platelets from sticking together and forming clots.

Unstable angina associated with Acute Coronary Syndrome is a serious heart condition that should be treated as an emergency.

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What is unstable angina?

People with unstable angina experience chest pain unexpectedly and usually while at rest. The pain may be more severe and last longer compared with pain in people with stable angina. Unstable angina can occur in someone who has never had angina pain before. This first episode may be very severe and may recur frequently. Unstable angina can also appear in people who have had a stable pattern of angina in the past. For these people, a stable pattern of angina may become unstable—suddenly brought on by far less exercise than in the past or while at rest.

What are the different types of heart attack?

There are 2 types of heart attack. If you have had a heart attack caused by a completely blocked artery, you've had what doctors call an "ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)" or "Q-wave" heart attack. This is the most serious type of heart attack, and it results in significant heart muscle damage. You should know, if you've had a life-threatening heart attack (ST-elevation heart attack), PLAVIX with aspirin has been proven to help save lives.

The second type of heart attack is called a "non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)" or "non–Q-wave" heart attack. This type of heart attack is caused by a partially blocked artery and may also cause damage to your heart muscle. In patients who have experienced an NSTEMI, PLAVIX, taken with aspirin, has been proven to add more protection against a future heart attack or stroke.

If you've experienced either type of heart attack, you're at an increased risk of having a future heart attack or stroke.

PLAVIX taken with aspirin may help

Talk to your doctor about PLAVIX with aspirin. PLAVIX is proven to help keep platelets in the blood from sticking together and forming dangerous clots. PLAVIX, taken with aspirin, plays its own role in helping to keep platelets from sticking together. This allows blood to flow more easily and provides more protection against a future heart attack or stroke than aspirin alone.

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