What Do Student Nutritionists Learn About Acute Coronary Syndrome?
Acute coronary syndrome is acute pain that results from a sudden decrease in the blood supply to the heart. The pain is so acute that it feels like the onset of a heart attack. In most cases, the patient feels as if the chest is being squeezed. In others the pain travels to the shoulders and arms and even the abdomen at times.
Causes of acute coronary syndrome
The cause of an acute coronary syndrome is not sudden. In fact there’s a slow and steady build up that can be detected in regular medical checkups. Plaque, made up of calcium & fatty deposits, accumulate in the coronary arteries over time. As the deposits increase the arteries narrow and the amount of blood that reaches the heart reduces. As the blockages increase there is a possibility of angina that results from reduced and inadequate blood that reaches the heart. When a piece of plaque disengages or breaks off, clotting might create a complete blockage causing acute coronary syndrome.
Symptoms of ACS
ACS symptoms are often mistaken for angina. However, they are generally more acute and severe in nature. A burning sensation in the chest and a tightening feeling that may occur immediately after exercise or consumptions of a large meal are common symptoms. The pain may sometimes also occur in other parts of the body like the upper arm, shoulders or jaws. It is also not uncommon to experience nausea, vomiting, dyspnea or breathlessness, diaphoresis or excessive sweating and a feeling of lightheadedness.
Management of acute coronary syndromes
Confirmation of acute coronary syndrome can be done by an ECG or Electrocardigram. This test records the cardiac electrical impulses with the use of electrodes. This is displayed on a monitor in the form of waves. Some blood tests can also detect a damaged heart due to the heart enzymes that leak into the blood stream. additional testing that are frequently done for further confirmation are:
- Cardiac Catheterization (Coronary angiogram)
- CT (Computerized tomography) angiogram
- Nuclear scan
- Chest x-ray
- Echocardiogram
Immediate treatment includes blood thinners like aspirin and heparin to remove the blood clotting that is suspected. ACE inhibitors are used to reduce blood pressure & beta blockers are used to relax heart muscles. Surgical procedures become necessary when medicines are ineffective. Angioplasty is the most common surgical procedure that is recommended. It involves insertion of a wire with a deflated balloon into the tube. As the balloon is inflated, it squeezes the plaque against the arterial walls.
Acute coronary syndrome guidelines
Prevention and management of acute coronary syndrome include various lifestyle and Nutritional management guidelines. Some of these are:
- Quitting smoking completely
- Consuming a heart healthy diet that is low on saturated fat, red meat and salt and high on high fiber food like wheat, fruits, vegetables, fish and lean meat
- Regular cholesterol and blood pressure check-ups to ensure levels are under control
- Maintenance of health weight with regular exercise
- Taking significant steps to reduce stress levelsModerate levels of consumption of alcohol