What does acute coronary syndrome refer to?

Acute coronary syndrome refers to a range of conditions associated with sudden, reduced blood flow to the heart, primarily due to myocardial ischemia. This can manifest as conditions such as unstable angina or myocardial infarction (heart attack). The term encompasses the spectrum of symptoms and clinical presentations that arise from this insufficient blood supply to the myocardium, typically caused by the rupture of atherosclerotic plaques and subsequent thrombus formation.

In the context of the other options, they describe different cardiac conditions that are distinct from acute coronary syndrome itself. Aortic dissection pertains to a tear in the vessel wall of the aorta, which presents a different set of symptoms and requires different management. Inflammation of the heart muscle, known as myocarditis, is another condition that affects cardiac function but is not caused by ischemia. Similarly, a heart rhythm problem, or arrhythmia, can occur due to numerous reasons, including ischemia, but is not synonymous with acute coronary syndrome. Understanding that acute coronary syndrome is specifically related to symptoms from myocardial ischemia helps differentiate it from these other cardiac emergencies.