Acute Coronary Syndrome

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) occurs when a plaque inside a coronary artery suddenly ruptures. A blood clot forms and blocks blood flow to the heart muscle. This deprives the heart of oxygen-rich blood and causes unstable angina or a heart attack. The amount of time blood flow is blocked and the extent of heart damage determine which type of ACS occurs. But it is always considered a life-threatening condition.