Acute Coronary Syndrome

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Abstract
Although knowledge about heart disease and its symptoms is not sufficient to reduce delay in seeking treatment, it is necessary for patients to have this information so that they can quickly identify symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and take prompt action to seek care. A decision to seek care quickly is critical to minimizing morbidity and mortality in ACS.1-4 In fact, the goal for instituting definitive treatment in an evolving acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is 1 hour from symptom onset,5 with survival rates improved by up to 50% if reperfusion is achieved within 1 hour.5 Delaying treatment even by 30 minutes reduces the mean life expectancy by 1 year,6 underscoring the importance of patients knowing the nature of ACS symptoms and seeking care quickly. The median time from symptom onset to admission to the hospital is 2.5 to 3.0 hours, and this delay has not changed substantially for the past decade, despite extensive community education programs.7,8

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