Unstable Angina

Excerpt

Unstable angina falls under the umbrella term "acute coronary syndrome." This public health issue affects a large portion of the population and remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Distinguishing between this condition and other causes of chest pain that include stable angina is important regarding the treatment and disposition of the patient. Clinicians should be aware of the signs and symptoms of acute coronary syndrome as patients rely on healthcare professionals to make the distinction from other causes of chest pain. Patients will often present to the emergency room; however, acute coronary syndrome can be seen in the outpatient setting as well. Over the years, a significant amount of research has been conducted to determine the appropriate and most effective treatment modalities and the diagnostic tools necessary for successfully managing unstable angina and other variants of acute coronary syndrome.