In a patient with acute coronary syndrome, what are the primary goals of treatment?

The primary goals of treatment in a patient with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are to relieve symptoms, minimize myocardial damage, and prevent complications. This approach is essential because ACS can lead to serious outcomes such as myocardial infarction, which can cause extensive heart damage and increase the risk of mortality.

Relieving symptoms focuses on providing immediate comfort to the patient, often through the use of medications such as nitroglycerin for angina. Minimizing myocardial damage involves re-establishing blood flow to the heart muscle as quickly as possible, which can include administering antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, and thrombolytics or performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) if indicated. Additionally, preventing complications means closely monitoring the patient for potential issues like arrhythmias or heart failure and addressing those proactively.

While managing risk factors is crucial for long-term health and prevention of future cardiac events, it does not address the immediate needs of a patient experiencing ACS. Surgical interventions may be necessary in some cases, but they are not the first line of treatment for all patients with ACS. Increasing physical activity is important for rehabilitation but is not an immediate goal during the acute phase of the syndrome.