Acute Coronary Syndrome Study

Associates of Tidewater

Clinical Research

Improving Healthcare Through Quality Research for over 30 years

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Acute Coronary Syndrome

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) is a term used to describe any signs or symptoms of chest pains due to insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle. Severe heart problems are oftentimes a result of coronary artery disease (also called coronary heart disease).

Being heart-healthy is vital to extending your life. According to the American Heart Association about 79 million Americans have one or more heart and blood vessel diseases, with coronary heart disease as the leading cause of death.

About the Study:

Dr. Accettola and the research team of Clinical Research Associates of Tidewater are conducting an Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) Study.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential of a new drug to reduce cardiovascular death in patients who have been recently diagnosed with ACS.

You must be at least 45 years of age to participate in this study.

Here are some other Conditions and related terms to ACS:

Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection
A condition where the aorta stretches or dilates (aneurysm) and ruptures (dissection). A ruptured aneurysm is an emergency situation.

Angina
Chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle is not getting enough blood. Angina may feel like pressure or a squeezing pain in the chest. The pain may also occur in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back, and it may feel like indigestion. Angina is a symptom of coronary heart disease. Angina may be stable or unstable. Stable angina is chest pain that occurs on physical exertion or under mental or emotional stress. Unstable angina is chest pain that occurs even while at rest, without apparent reason.

Arrhythmias
Irregular, or abnormally fast or slow, beating of the heart. The heart beat is controlled by electrical impulses. When the timing or frequency of these electrical impulses are disrupted, arrhythmias develop. Some arrhythmias are quite serious. An example is ventricular fibrillation, a severely abnormal heart rhythm that causes death unless treated right away by providing an electrical shock to the heart (called defibrillation). Others are less severe but can develop into more serious conditions over time. A particular concern is atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is rapid, irregular beating of the upper chambers of the heart. The chambers can quiver instead of beating in a regular pattern. Blood is not fully pumped out of them and may pool and clot. For more information, see our atrial fibrillation fact sheet.

Cardiomyopathy
A weakening of the heart muscle or a change in heart muscle structure. It often results in inadequate heart pumping or other heart function abnormalities. These can result from various causes, including prior heart attacks, viral or bacterial infections, and others.

Congenital Heart Disease
Malformations of heart structures, present during pregnancy or at birth. These may be caused by genetic factors or by adverse exposures during pregnancy. Examples include holes in the walls that divide the heart chambers, abnormal heart valves, and others. Congenital heart defects can disrupt the normal flow of blood through the heart. Congenital heart defects are the most common type of major birth defect.

Heart Failure
This may also be called congestive heart failure or chronic heart failure. Heart failure is a condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to meet the needs of other body organs. Heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped, but that it cannot pump blood the way that it should. Heart failure is a serious condition. There is no cure for heart failure at this time, except a heart transplant. Once diagnosed, medicines are needed for the rest of the person's life. See our heart failure fact sheet.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)
Hardening of the arteries that supply blood to the arms and legs. PAD is usually the result of atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque and narrowing of the arteries. Blood flow and oxygen to the muscles in the arms and legs can be reduced or even fully blocked. Painful leg muscles, numbness, swelling in the ankles and feet, and weak pulse in the feet are some of the signs and symptoms of PAD.

Rheumatic Heart Disease
This condition is damage to the heart valves and other heart structures due to inflammation and scarring caused by rheumatic fever, which occurs from streptococcal infection.