Bypassing Acute Coronary Syndrome

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a term applying to situations in which blood supplied to the heart muscle is suddenly blocked. A blockage in a coronary artery that is severe but partial often causes a dangerous situation with pain that comes and goes called unstable angina (an-ji-nuh). A blockage that is complete usually leads to a heart attack in which some of the heart muscle dies. Unstable angina can develop into a heart attack if it is not properly treated.