Acute coronary syndrome, or ACS, occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is suddenly stopped or interrupted. One type of ACS is a heart attack. This is a very serious condition for patients in Connecticut and around the country that needs to be diagnosed and treated quickly.
Causes of ACS
ACS is often caused by physical stress. Traumatic injury, anemia and infections are often linked to the development of ACS. These conditions put additional demands on the heart muscle. Sometimes, ACS is diagnosed as a myocardial infarction or heart attack.
Acute coronary syndrome can often be treated, resulting in less permanent damage to the patient, provided it is properly diagnosed early on. There are many classic symptoms of ACS. These include chest pain, pain in the arms, jaw pain, dizziness, heavy sweating and shortness of breath. Blood tests can also be used to diagnose ACS.
Problems arise when this condition is misdiagnosed. Sometimes ACS is wrongly diagnosed as pneumonia, peptic ulcer disease or cholecystitis, and significant delays in treatment can result, leading to complications or even death. Common treatments for ACS include beta blockers, blood thinners, clot busters and surgery. These can be very successful but only if ACS is recognized quickly.
Misdiagnosis may be medical malpractice
If you or a loved one believe that your ACS has been misdiagnosed, you may wish to contact a lawyer. An experienced attorney can help you to determine if you have a case for medical malpractice. That attorney will review the medical records and treatment, and perhaps consult with an expert, to determine if he or she believes that there may have been negligence in the diagnosis of the ACS.
