Acute coronary syndrome

[Bazmack48]

Hubby had several incidents of chest pain last night, GTN and aspirin didn’t help. After four hours ambulance arrived and he was taken to local A& E, he had ECGS and bloods done, didn’t see doctor until four this morning. We have blood results and other documents e mailed so I was checking his results about one this morning. His sodium was very low, chloride also out of range. There were so many bad results so I won’t list them all. He is being moved to a ward, according to the discharge summary from A & E they think it is acute coronary syndrome. Mr Google is confusing me so any help appreciated. His kidneys aren’t doing their job so I don’t think that is helping.

[Sunnie2day]

Hopefully by now one of the medics has had time to sit down with you and explain acute coronary syndrome (a 'cover' label for several acute heart situations, usually used by a preliminary medic to suggest which direction further investigations should take) and which one they've determined your husband is having - the blood work results will give them even more information and lead them to investigations based on those results.

Even more hopefully by now the root condition of your husband's acute coronary syndrome has been discovered and treatment started.

Please keep us updated.

[Bazmack48 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Thank you for responding Sunnie2day. He was moved to a general medical ward yesterday and told he would be seeing an Endocrinologist. He wasn’t given any information about his condition. This morning he had a heated argument with staff as they were insisting he takes his various medication at times stipulated by them, he takes 31 tablets a day. Some of his drugs have to be taken on empty stomach others after food and a couple must be taken at least four hours after others, we have the timings just right. After the argument my husband insisted on speaking to a doctor which did happen even though it is Sunday. It appears that hubby is drinking too much fluid causing his sodium levels to drop very low along with several other electrolytes. They are hoping after a few tests tomorrow he will be allowed home. No mention again of ACS.

[Sunnie2day in reply to Bazmack48]

Thank-you so much for the update, and it sounds as though things are on the up. It must have been quite worrying to hear the words 'acute coronary syndrome', I'm glad that's apparently dropped off their concerns radar

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello! I am.a but late on this. As Sunnie2day has said ACS is a coverall term meaning Insufficient oxygen is reaching the heart. There are many possible reasons for this including narrowed (coronary) arteries, heart Insufficiency (this is a more logical term than failure) or a blood imbalance. Anyway it sounds as if they are making progress.

Timing of medication has been an issue for me at times. Often it seems more to do with shift patterns that what is best for the patient. Lanzoprole is an early in the day drug not something to take after breakfast.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to MichaelJH]

Other possible causes of Acute coronary syndrome , ACS due to a supply and demand mismatch, are coronary vasospasms, microvascular dysfunction and spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

Unstable angina is another term used.

When I go into hospital with a flare of coronary vasospasms, I am always assessed for ACS as I am considered to have unstable angina.