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Figure 3. Coronary anatomy and blood flow in the normal artery and myocardial infarction: (A) normal arterial lumen with normal, non-restricted blood flow; (B) restricted blood flow from partially occluded vessel can result in NSTEACS or angina; (C) complete vessel occlusion from plaque rupture and local thrombus formation leading to STEACS; and (D) age-related physiological changes that increase susceptibility to ACS. Aging is associated with an increase in the production of reactive oxidative species and free radicals, which impair endothelium-mediated vasodilation, leading to vascular endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction causes the phenotype of vessels to be more prone to atherogenesis. The aging process also leads to platelet hyperreactivity to activation and aggregation, and immune dysregulation leads to a chronic systemic inflammatory state. NSTEACS: Non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome; STEACS: ST elevation acute coronary syndrome; ACS: acute coronary syndrome.