Returning home is the most important part of your recovery. This is your time togradually regain your strength and learn to care for yourself. The following are general guidelines. Specific instructions will be given by your doctor.

What is Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)?
ACS is a form of heart disease that causes a lack of oxygen to the heart. This lack of oxygen causes pain, damage and/or death to your heart. ACS may include angina or a heart attack.

What is Angina?
Angina is chest pain that occurs when your heart is not getting enough oxygen. The pain may start under the breastbone and spread into your arms, jaw, shoulders or back. Angina may start during exercise, after heavy meals, when you are upset or at other times. It is usually helped with rest and medication. If the heart goes without oxygen for too long part of the heart muscle will start to die. This is called a heart attack. Angina can be a warning sign that you may be at risk for a heart attack.

Given the aging population and the rise of the baby boomers, the prevalence of PVD is expected to increase significantly in the years to come---projected at 40% between 2000 and 2020.

With regards to cerebral vascular disease, the most significant risk is a stroke. Nearly one quarter of all strokes are fatal, the third largest cause of death in the United States. South Carolina has one of the highest, if not the highest stroke rates in the country.

Not only is cardiac disease a health problem for this country, but also it is a significant problem in our State and our community. RSFH recognizes that South Carolina ranks among the top 5 states in the country for the incidence of cardiac disease (and those contributors such as diabetes, hypertension and smoking that increase the risk of cardiac and vascular disease).

Given South Carolina's extraordinarily high incidence of diabetes, hypertension, and tobacco abuse, leading to atheresclerosis and the subsequent development of PVD and coronary heart disease, South Carolinians are at significant risk of increased mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease. It is certainly in line with our mission, that Roper St. Francis Healthcare position itself to efficiently and effectively identify, diagnose, and treat these patients and minimize the adverse effects on our communities.