Abdominal
aorta - The portion of the aorta in the
abdomen.
Ablation - Elimination or removal.
ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) Inhibitor
- A drug that lowers blood pressure by interfering
with the breakdown of a protein-like substance
involved in blood pressure regulation.
Acetylcholine - A type of chemical
(called a neurotransmitter) that transmits messages
among nerve cells and muscle cells.
Alveoli - Air sacs in the lungs
where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged.
Ambulatory ECG Monitor - A
device worn for an extended period (usually 24
hours) to record heart rhythms for future study.
Patients record their daily activity and symptoms
while the device records the ECG.
Aneurysm - A balloon-like sac
in the wall of an artery, vein, or heart caused
by a weakening of the wall by injury, disease,
or abnormality present at birth. If left untreated,
the bulge may burst or tear causing loss of blood.
Angina or Angina Pectoris -
Chest pain that occurs when diseased blood vessels
restrict blood flow to the heart. May manifest
as pain or discomfort, heaviness, tightness, pressure
or burning, numbness aching, tingling in the chest,
back, neck, throat, jaw or arms.
Angiography - An x-ray technique
that using contrast media or dye injected into
the coronary arteries to study blood circulation
through the vessels. The test measures the degrees
of obstruction to blood flow. Circulation through
an artery is not seriously reduced until the inside
diameter of the vessel is more than 75% obstructed.
Angiogram - An x-ray of blood
vessels or chambers of the heart that shows the
course contrast media or dye injected into the
bloodstream.
Angioplasty - A non-surgical
procedure in which a balloon at the end of a catheter
is used to dilate or widen diseased arteries by
temporarily inflating the balloon inside the artery.
When the obstruction is opened enough to allow
sufficient blood to pass through, the catheter
is removed.
Annulus - The ring around a
heart valve where the valve leaflet merges with
the heart muscle.
Antiarrhythmics - Any drug used
to control or treat irregular heart beats and
slow an overactive heart.
Anticoagulant - Any drug that
keeps blood from clotting; a blood thinner.
Antihypertensive - Any drug
or other therapy that lowers blood pressure.
Aorta - The largest artery in
the body and the initial blood-supply vessel from
the heart.
Aortic Valve - The valve that
regulates blood flow from the heart into the aorta.
Aphasia - The inability to speak,
write or understand spoken or written language
because of brain injury or disease.
Arrhythmia (or dysrhythmia)
- An abnormal rhythm of the heart.
Arterioles - Small, muscular
branches of arteries. When contracted, they increase
resistance to blood flow and blood pressure in
the arteries.
Artery - A blood vessel conveying
oxygenated rich blood in a direction away from
the heart.
Arteritis - Inflammation of
the arteries.
Arteriosclerosis - A disease
process, commonly called hardening of the arteries,
which includes a variety of conditions that cause
artery walls to thicken and lose elasticity.
Ascending Aorta - The first
portion of the aorta, emerging from the heart's
left ventricle.
Atherectomy - A non-surgical
technique for treating diseased arteries using
a catheter and rotating device that cuts or shaves
away plaque from artery walls.
Atherosclerosis - A disease
process that leads to the accumulation of a waxy
substance, called plaque, inside blood vessels.
As the interior walls of arteries become lined
with plaque, the arteries become narrowed, and
the flow of blood through them is reduced.
Atria - The two upper or holding
chambers of the heart.
Atrial Flutter - A type of arrhythmia
where the upper chambers of the heart (the atria)
beat very fast, causing the walls of the lower
chambers (the ventricles) to beat inefficiently
as well.
Atrial Septum - The wall dividing
the right and left atria.
Atrioventricular Block - An
interruption or disturbance of the electrical
signal between the heart's atria (upper two chambers)
and the ventricles (lower two chambers).
Atrioventricular (AV) Node -
A group of cells located between the atria (upper
two chambers) and the ventricles (lower two chambers)
that regulate the electrical current (heart rhythm)
that passes through it to the ventricles.
Atrium - Either one of the heart's
two upper chambers in which blood collects before
being passed to the ventricles.
Autoregulation - When blood
flow to an organ remains constant while pressure
changes in the artery that delivers blood to that
organ may have changed.
Bacterial Endocarditis - A bacterial
infection of the heart lining or valves. Individuals
with abnormal heart valves or congenital heart
defects are at increased risk of developing bacterial
endocarditis.
Balloon Catheter - A long tube-like
device with a small balloon on the end that can
be threaded through an artery.
Balloon Valvuloplasty - A procedure
to repair a heart valve using a balloon-tipped
catheter threaded through an artery and into the
heart. The balloon is inflated to open and separate
any narrowed or stiffened flaps (called leaflets)
of a valve. The catheter and deflated balloon
are removed after the procedure.
Beta Blocker - An antihypertensive
drug that limits the activity of epinephrine,
a hormone that increases blood pressure.
Biopsy - The process by which
a small sample of tissue is taken for examination.
Blood Clot - A mass of blood
tissue formed by clotting factors in the blood.
Clots stop the flow of blood from an injury, can
form inside an artery whose walls are damaged
by atherosclerotic build-up, and can cause a heart
attack or stroke.
Blood Pressure - The force or
pressure exerted by the heart in pumping blood.
Bradycardia - Abnormally slow
heartbeat, usually under 50 beats per minute.
Bundle-branch Block - A condition
in which portions of the heart's conduction system
are defective and unable to conduct the electrical
signal normally, causing arrhythmias.
Bypass - Surgery that can improve
blood flow to the heart (or other organs and tissues)
by providing a new route, or "bypass,"
around a section of clogged or diseased artery.
Calcium Channel Blocker (or
calcium blocker) - A drug that lowers blood pressure
by regulating calcium-related electrical activity
in the heart.
Capillaries - Microscopically
small blood vessels between arteries and veins
that distribute oxygenated blood to the body's
tissues.
Cardiac Arrest - The stopping
of the heartbeat, usually because of interference
with the electrical signal (often associated with
coronary heart disease).
Cardiac Catheterization - A
procedure that involves inserting a fine, hollow
tube (catheter) into an artery, usually in the
groin area, and passing the tube into the heart.
Often used in conjunction with angiography and
other procedures, cardiac catheterization has
become a common procedure for visualizing the
heart and blood vessels and diagnosing and treating
heart disease.
Cardiac Enzymes - Complex substances
capable of speeding up certain biochemical processes
in the cardiac muscle. Abnormal levels of these
enzymes signal heart attack.
Cardiac Output - The amount
of blood the heart pumps through the circulatory
system in one minute.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass - The
process by which a machine is used to do the work
of the heart and lungs so the heart can be stopped
during surgery.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- A technique involving a combination of chest
compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing used
during cardiac arrest to keep oxygenated blood
flowing to the heart muscle and brain until advanced
cardiac life support can be initiated or an adequate
heartbeat resumes.
Cardioversion - A technique
of applying an electrical shock to the chest in
order to convert an abnormal heartbeat to a normal
rhythm.
Cardiomyopathy - A disease of
the heart muscle that leads to generalized deterioration
of the muscle and its pumping ability.
Cardiomyoplasty - A procedure
that takes muscles from the back or abdomen and
wraps them around the heart. The muscle is stimulated
by a device similar to a pacemaker and may boost
the heart's pumping action.
Carotid Artery - A major artery
(right and left) in the neck supplying blood to
the brain.
Carotid Duplex Doppler - An
ultrasound test done over the neck and the carotid
arteries to look for blockages in blood flow to
the brain.
Catheter - A thin, flexible
tube.
Catheterization - A procedure
that involves inserting a fine, hollow tube (catheter)
into an artery, usually in the groin area, and
passing the tube into the heart. Often used in
conjunction with angiography and other procedures,
cardiac catheterization has become a prime tool
for visualizing the heart and blood vessels and
diagnosing and treating heart disease.
Cerebral Embolism - A blood
clot formed in one part of the body and then carried
by the bloodstream to the brain, where it blocks
an artery.
Cerebral Hemorrhage - Bleeding
within the brain resulting from a ruptured blood
vessel, aneurysm, or a head injury.
Cerebral Thrombosis - Formation
of a blood clot in an artery that supplies part
of the brain.
Cerebrovascular - Pertaining
to the blood vessels of the brain.
Cerebrovascular Accident - Also
called cerebral vascular accident, apoplexy or
stroke. An impeded blood supply to some part of
the brain, resulting in injury to brain tissue.
Cerebrovascular Occlusion -
The obstruction or closing of a blood vessel in
the brain.
Cholesterol - The most abundant
fatty substance in animal tissues. Limited quantities
are essential to the normal development of cell
membranes. High levels in the diet contribute
to the development of atherosclerosis.
Cineangiography - The technique
of taking moving pictures to show the passage
of an opaque dye through blood vessels, which
allows physicians to diagnose diseases of the
heart and blood vessels.
Circumflex Artery - The blood
vessel that wraps around the left side of the
heart.
Claudication - A tiredness or
pain in the arms and legs caused by an inadequate
supply of oxygen to the muscles, usually due to
narrowed arteries.
Collateral Circulation - Blood
flow through small, nearby vessels in response
to blockage of a main blood vessel.
Commissurotomy - A procedure
used to widen the opening of a heart valve that
has been narrowed by scar tissue. First developed
to correct rheumatic heart disease.
Computed Tomography (CT or CAT scan)
- An x-ray technique that uses a computer to create
cross-sectional images of the body.
Conduction System - Special
muscle fibers that conduct electrical impulses
throughout the muscle of the heart.
Congenital - Refers to conditions
existing at birth.
Congenital Heart Defects - Malformation
of the heart or of its major blood vessels present
at birth.
Congestive Heart Failure - The
inability of the heart to pump all the blood returning
to it, leading to a back up of blood in vessels
and accumulation of fluid in body tissues, including
the lungs.
Coronary Arteries - Two arteries
arising from the aorta that arch down over the
top of the heart and divide into branches. They
provide blood to the heart muscle.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
(CABG) - Surgical rerouting of blood around a
diseased vessel that supplies the heart by grafting
either a piece of vein from the leg or the artery
from under the breastbone.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
- A narrowing of the inside diameter of arteries
that supply the heart with blood. The condition
arises from accumulation of plaque and greatly
increases a person's risk of having a heart attack.
Coronary Care Unit (CCU) -
A specialized facility in a hospital or emergency
mobile unit equipped with monitoring devices and
staffed with trained personnel design specifically
to treat coronary patients.
Coronary Heart Disease - Disease
of the heart caused by atherosclerotic narrowing
of the coronary arteries likely to produce angina
pectoris or heart attack.
Coronary Occlusion - An obstruction
of one of the coronary arteries that hinders blood
flow to some part of the heart muscle.
Coronary Thrombosis - Formation
of a clot in one of the arteries that carry blood
to the heart muscle. Also called coronary occlusion.
Cyanosis - Blueness of skin
caused by insufficient oxygen in the blood.
Cyanotic Heart Disease - A birth
defect of the heart that causes oxygen-depleted
(blue) blood to circulate to the body without
first passing through the lungs
Deep vein thrombosis - A blood
clot in the deep vein in the calf.
Defibrillator - An electronic
device that helps reestablish normal contraction
rhythms in a malfunctioning heart.
Diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus)
- A disease in which the body doesn't produce
or properly use insulin. Insulin is needed to
convert sugar and starch into the energy needed
in daily life.
Diastolic Blood Pressure - The
lowest blood pressure measured in the arteries,
it occurs when the heart muscle is relaxed between
beats.
Digitalis (Digoxin, Digitoxin)
- A drug that strengthens the contraction of the
heart muscle, slows the rate of contraction of
the heart and promotes the elimination of fluid
from the body tissues when heart failure is present.
In addition, the drug is used in treating certain
heart rhythm abnormalities.
Dissecting aneurysm - A condition
in which the layers of an artery separate or are
torn, causing blood to flow between the layers.
Dissecting aneurysms usually happen in the aorta,
which is the large vessel that carries blood from
the heart to other parts of the body.
Diuretic - A drug that lowers
blood pressure by stimulating fluid loss; promotes
urine production.
Doppler Ultrasound - A test
that uses sound waves to assess blood flow within
the heart and blood vessels and to identify leaking
valves.
Dysarthria - The imperfect articulation
of speech resulting from muscular problems caused
by damage to the brain or nervous system.
Dysrhythmia - See Arrhythmia.
Dyspnea - Shortness of breath
Echocardiography - A non-invasive
method of studying the heart's structure and function
by analyzing sound waves bounced off the heart
and recorded by an electronic sensor placed on
the chest. A computer processes the information
to produce a one-, two- or three-dimensional moving
picture that shows how the heart and heart valves
are functioning.
Edema - Swelling caused by fluid
accumulation in body tissues.
Ejection Fraction - A measurement
of blood that is pumped out of a filled ventricle.
The normal rate is 50 percent or more.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- A test in which several electronic sensors are
placed on the body to monitor the electrical conduction
system of the heart.
Electroencephalogram (EEG) -
A test that can detect and record the brain's
electrical activity. The test is done by pasting
metal disks, called electrodes, to the scalp.
Electrolytes - Elements or
chemicals needed to enable the body and heart
to work properly. The most frequently tested by
blood test include sodium, potassium and chloride.
If the levels are too high or too low in the blood,
it cardiac problems may occur.
Electrophysiological Study (EPS)
- A test that uses cardiac catheterization to
study patients who have arrhythmias. An electrical
current stimulates the heart to provoke arrhythmia,
which is immediately treated with medication.
EPS is used to identify the origin of arrhythmias
and test the effectiveness of drugs used to treat
abnormal heart rhythms.
Embolus (Embolism) - A blood
clot that forms in the blood vessel in one part
of the body and travels to another part.
Endarterectomy - Surgical removal
of plaque deposits or blood clots in an artery.
Endocardium - The smooth membrane
covering the inside of the heart. The innermost
lining of the heart.
Endothelium - The smooth inner
lining of many body structures, including the
heart (endocardium) and blood vessels.
Endocarditis - A bacterial
infection of the heart's inner lining (endothelium).
Enlarged Heart - A state in
which the heart is larger than normal due to heredity,
long-term heavy exercise, or diseases and disorders
such as obesity, high blood pressure, and coronary
artery disease.
Enzyme - A complex chemical
capable of speeding up specific biochemical processes
in the body.
Epicardium - The thin membrane
covering the outside surface of the heart muscle.
Exercise stress test - A common
test used for diagnosing coronary artery disease,
especially in symptomatic patients. The test helps
assess blood flow through coronary arteries in
response to exercise at varied speeds and for
various lengths of time on a treadmill. A stress
test may include use of electrocardiography, echocardiography,
and injected radioactive substances.
Familial Hypercholesterolemia
- A genetic predisposition to dangerously high
cholesterol levels.
Fatty Acids (Fats) - Substances
that occur in several forms in foods; different
fatty acids have different effects on lipid profiles.
Fibrillation - Rapid, uncoordinated
contractions of individual heart muscle fibers.
The heart chamber involved can't contract all
at once and pumps blood ineffectively, if at all.
First-degree Heart Block -
When an electrical impulse from the heart's upper
chambers (the atria) is slowed as it moves through
the atria and atrioventricular (AV) node.
Flutter - The rapid, ineffective
contractions of any heart chamber. A flutter is
considered to be more coordinated than fibrillation.
Fusiform Aneurysm - A tube-shaped
aneurysm that causes the artery to bulge outward.
Involves the entire circumference (outside wall)
of the artery.
Gated Blood Pool Scan - An x-ray
analysis of how blood pools in the heart during
rest and exercise. The test makes use of a radioactive
substance injected into the blood to tag or label
red cells. The test provides an estimate of the
heart's overall ability to pump and its ability
to compensate for one or more blocked arteries.
Also called MUGA, for multi-unit gated analysis.
Heart Attack - Medically known
as an acute myocardial infarction or MI, refers
to the death of, or damage to, part of the heart
muscle due to an insufficient blood supply. This
occurs when a coronary artery is completely blocked
or almost completely blocked and blood and nutrients
are not able to reach the part of the heart muscle
below the blockage. The severity of the heart
attack is a result primarily of the area of the
heart that is affected.
Heart Block - General term for
conditions in which the electrical impulse that
activates the heart muscle cells is delayed or
interrupted somewhere along its path.
Heart-lung Machine - An apparatus
that oxygenates and pumps blood to the body during
open heart surgery.
Heart Valve Prolapse - A condition
of the heart valve in which it is partially open
when it should be closed.
High Blood Pressure - A chronic
increase in blood pressure above its normal range.
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL)
- A component of cholesterol, HDL helps protect
against heart disease by promoting cholesterol
breakdown and removal from the blood; hence, its
nickname "good cholesterol."
Holter Monitor - A portable
device for recording heartbeats over a period
of 24 hours or more.
Hypertension - High blood pressure.
A constant measurement in blood pressure above
140/90.
Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy
(HOCM) - An overgrown heart muscle that creates
a bulge into the ventricle and impedes blood flow.
Hypertrophy - Tissues or organs
that have grown in size because of increased workload.
Hyperventilation - Rapid breathing
usually caused by anxiety. Persons feel like they
can't get enough air, so they breathe heavily
and rapidly, which can lead to numb or tingly
arms and legs, or fainting.
Hypoglycemia - Low levels of
glucose in the blood.
Hypotension - Abnormally low
blood pressure
|
Hypoxia
- Less than normal content of oxygen in the organs
and tissues of the body.
Implantable Cardioverter/Defibrillator
- A device designed to produce an electric shock
to control rapid arrhythmias and restore normal
heartbeat. It is implanted beneath the skin of
the chest and connected to the heart via patches.
Immunosuppressives - Any drug
that suppresses the body's immune system. These
medications are used to minimize the chances that
the body will reject a newly transplanted organ
such as a heart.
Impedance Plethysmography -
A noninvasive diagnostic test used to evaluate
blood flow through the leg.
Incompetent Valve - Also called
insufficiency; a valve that is not working properly,
causing it to leak blood back in the wrong direction.
Infarct - The area of heart
tissue permanently damaged by an inadequate supply
of oxygen.
Infective Endocarditis - An
infection of the heart valves and the innermost
lining of the heart (the endocardium), caused
by bacteria in the bloodstream.
Inferior Vena Cava - The large
vein returning blood from the legs and abdomen
to the heart.
Inotropics - Any drug that increases
the strength of the heart's contraction.
Intracoronary Ultrasound - A
noninvasive technique that uses sound waves and
their echoes to visualize structures and blood
flow within the heart.
Intravascular Echocardiography
- A marriage of echocardiography and cardiac catheterization.
A miniature echo device on the tip of a catheter
is used to generate images inside the heart and
blood vessels.
Invasive Procedure - Any procedure,
test or surgery that involves going through the
skin or muscle or into a vein or artery.
Ischemia - Decreased blood flow
to an organ, usually due to constriction or obstruction
of an artery.
Ischemic Heart Disease - Also
called coronary artery disease and coronary heart
disease, this term is applied to heart ailments
caused by narrowing of the coronary arteries,
and therefore characterized by a decreased blood
supply to the heart.
Jugular Veins - The veins that
carry blood back from the head to the heart.
Left Ventricular Assist Device
- A mechanical pumping device that is surgically
implanted to help maintain pumping action of the
heart. It is often used in patients who are waiting
for a heart transplant.
Lesion - An injury or wound.
An atherosclerotic lesion is an injury to an artery
due to hardening of the arteries.
Lipid - A fatty substance insoluble
in blood.
Lipoprotein - A lipid surrounded
by a protein; the protein makes the lipid soluble
in blood.
Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL)
- The body's primary cholesterol-carrying molecule.
High blood levels of LDL increase a person's risk
of heart disease by promoting cholesterol attachment
and accumulation in blood vessels.
Lumen - The hollow area within
a tube, such as a blood vessel.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- A technique that produces images of the heart
and other body structures by measuring the response
of certain elements (such as hydrogen) in the
body to a magnetic field. When stimulated by radio
waves, the elements emit distinctive signals in
a magnetic field. MRI can produce detailed pictures
of the heart and its various structures without
the need to inject a dye.
Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
- A surgical procedure that is less invasive than
conventional coronary artery bypass surgery. A
smaller incision allows access to the heart without
surgical division of the breastbone and eliminates
the need for a heart-lung machine.
Mitral Stenosis - A narrowing
of the mitral valve, which controls blood flow
from the heart's upper left chamber (the left
atrium) to its lower left chamber (the left ventricle).
May result from an inherited (congenital) problem
or from rheumatic fever.
Mitral valve - The structure
that controls blood flow between the heart's left
atrium (upper chamber) and left ventricle (lower
chamber).
Mitral Valve Prolapse - A condition
that occurs when the leaflets of the mitral valve
between the left atrium (upper chamber) and left
ventricle (lower chamber) bulge into the ventricle
and permit backflow of blood into the atrium.
The condition is often associated with progressive
mitral regurgitation.
Mitral Valve Regurgitation
- Failure of the mitral valve to close properly,
causing blood to flow back into the heart's upper
left chamber (the left atrium) instead of moving
forward into the lower left chamber (the left
ventricle).
Monounsaturated Fats - A type
of fat found in many foods but predominantly in
avocados and canola, olive and peanut oil. Monounsaturated
fat tends to lower LDL cholesterol levels, and
some studies suggest that it may do so without
also lowering HDL cholesterol levels.
Mortality - The total number
of deaths from a given disease in a population
during an interval of time, usually a year.
Mortality Rate (Risk-Adjusted)
- A mortality rate that has been standardized
for a variety of risk factors so different populations
can be compared or the same population can be
compared over time.
Murmur - Noises superimposed
on normal heart sounds. They are caused by congenital
defects or damaged heart valves that do not close
properly and allow blood to leak back into the
chamber from which it has come.
Myocardial Infarction - The
damage or death of an area of the heart muscle
(myocardium) resulting from a blocked blood supply
to the area. The affected tissue dies, injuring
the heart. Symptoms include prolonged, intensive
chest pain and a decrease in blood pressure that
often causes shock.
Myocardial Ischemia - Deficient
blood flow to part of the heart muscle.
Myocardium - The muscular wall
of the heart. It contracts to pump blood out of
the heart and then relaxes as the heart refills
with returning blood.
Myxomatous Degeneration - A
connective tissue disorder that causes the heart
valve tissue to weaken and lose elasticity.
Nitroglycerin - A drug that
helps relax and dilate arteries to enable blood
to flow more easily, often used to treat cardiac
chest pain (angina). Can be taken by mouth, spray,
skin patch, or intravenously.
Necrosis - Referring to the
death of tissue within a certain area.
Noninvasive Procedures - Any
diagnostic or treatment procedure in which no
instrument enters the body.
Nuclear Cardiology - Noninvasive
tests to evaluate heart disease using a small
amount of radioactive substance injected into
a vein. Its presence is detected by a gamma camera.
Images reveal areas of the heart that are not
getting sufficient blood. Obesity - The condition
of being significantly overweight. It is usually
applied to a condition of 30 percent or more over
ideal body weight.
Obesity - A risk factor in which
excessive weight puts a strain on the heart and
can increase the chance of developing high blood
pressure and diabetes.
Occluded Artery - An artery
in which the blood flow has been impaired by a
blockage.
Open Heart Surgery - An operation
in which the chest and heart are opened surgically
while the bloodstream is diverted through a heart-lung
(cardiopulmonary perfusion) machine.
Pacemaker - A surgically implanted
electronic device that helps regulate the heartbeat.
Palpitation - An uncomfortable
sensation within the chest caused by an irregular
heartbeat.
Patent Ductus Arteriosus - A
congenital defect in which the opening between
the aorta and the pulmonary artery does not close
after birth.
Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty
(PTCA) - See angioplasty.
Pericarditis - Inflammation of the outer membrane
surrounding the heart. Rheumatic fever, tuberculosis,
and many other agents are its possible causes.
Pericardiocentesis - A diagnostic
procedure using a needle to withdraw fluid from
the sac or membrane surrounding the heart (pericardium).
Pericardium - The thin, tissue-like
sac enclosing the heart and beginning parts of
the large blood vessels that leave and enter the
heart.
Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
- A condition in which blood vessels throughout
the body have plaque or disease which reduces
blood flow to a particular part of the body such
as the legs or kidneys.
Plaque - A deposit of fatty
(and other) substances in the inner lining of
the artery wall; it is characteristic of atherosclerosis.
Platelets - One of the three
types of cells found in blood; they aid in the
clotting of the blood.
Polyunsaturated Fat - The major
fat constituent in most vegetable oils including
corn, safflower, sunflower, and soybean. These
oils are liquid at room temperature. Polyunsaturated
fat actually tends to lower LDL cholesterol levels
but may also reduce HDL cholesterol levels as
well.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
- A test that uses positron emitting substances
to assess information about the metabolism of
elements that can be used to indicate whether
heart muscle is alive and functioning. A ring
of radiosensitive detectors positioned around
the chest reconstructs a two- or three-dimensional
image of the heart.
Premature ventricular contraction
(PVC) - An early or extra heartbeat that happens
when the heart's lower chambers (the ventricles)
contract too soon, out of sequence with the normal
heartbeat.
Prevalence - The total number
of cases of a given disease that exist in a population
at a specific time.
Pulmonary - Referring to the
lungs and respiratory system.
Pulmonary Embolism - A condition
in which a blood clot that has formed elsewhere
in the body travels to the lungs.
Pulmonary Edema - A condition
in which there is a fluid accumulation in the
lungs caused by an incorrectly functioning heart.
Pulmonary Valve - The heart
valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary
artery. It controls blood flow from the heart
into the lungs.
Pulmonary Vein - The blood vessel
that carries newly oxygenated blood from the lungs
back to the left atrium of the heart.
Pulse oximeter - A device that
measures the amount of oxygen in the blood.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
- A special procedure used to treat heart tissue
responsible for causing some fast heart rates.
Radioisotope - A radioactive
material injected into the body so that a nuclear
scanner can produce images.
Radionuclide imaging - A test
in which a harmless radioactive substance is injected
into the bloodstream to show information about
blood flow through the arteries. Damaged or dead
heart muscle can often be identified, as can serious
narrowing in an artery.
Radionuclide ventriculography
- A diagnostic test used to determine the size
and shape of the heart's pumping chambers (the
ventricles).
Regurgitation - Backward flow
of blood through a defective heart valve.
Renal - Pertaining to the kidneys.
Rheumatic Fever - A disease,
usually occurring in childhood, that may follow
a streptococcal infection. Symptoms may include
fever, sore or swollen joints, skin rash, involuntary
muscle twitching, and development of nodules under
the skin. If the infection involves the heart,
scars may form on heart valves, and the heart's
outer lining may be damaged.
Rheumatic Heart Disease - Damage
done to the heart, particularly the heart valves,
by one or more attacks of Rheumatic Fever.
Risk Factor - An element or
condition involving a certain hazard or danger.
When referring to heart and blood vessels, a risk
factor is associated with an increased chance
of developing cardiovascular disease, including
stroke.
Nonmodifiable risk factors include
family history, age and gender. Modifiable risk
factors include smoking, high blood pressure,
diet high in fat, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes,
stress, type "A" personality, obesity
and excessive use of alcohol.
Rotoblade - A high-speed rotating
device that connects to the end of a catheter
and is used to grind away material that is blocking
a coronary artery. Used in an atherectomy, a procedure
to open coronary arteries often performed with
an angioplasty.
Saccular Aneurysm - A round
aneurysm that bulges out from an artery. Involves
only part of the circumference (outside wall)
of the artery.
Saturated Fat - Type of fat
found in foods of animal origin and a few of vegetable
origin; they are usually solid at room temperature.
Abundant in meat and dairy products, saturated
fat tends to increase LDL cholesterol levels,
and it may raise the risk of certain types of
cancer.
Second-degree Heart Block -
Impulses traveling through the heart's upper chambers
(the atria) are delayed in the area between the
upper and lower chambers (the AV node) and fail
to make the ventricles beat at the right moment.
Septal Defect - A hole in the
wall of the heart separating the atria or in the
wall of the heart separating the ventricles.
Septum - The muscular wall dividing
a chamber on the left side of the heart from the
chamber on the right.
Shock - A condition in which
body function is impaired because the volume of
fluid circulating through the body is insufficient
to maintain normal metabolism. This may be caused
by blood loss or by a disturbance in the function
of the circulatory system.
Shunt - A connector that allows
blood to flow between two locations. Sick sinus
syndrome - The failure of the sinus node to regulate
the heart's rhythm.
Silent Ischemia - Episodes of
cardiac ischemia that are not accompanied by chest
pain.
Sinus (SA) Node - The "natural"
pacemaker of the heart. The node is a group of
specialized cells in the top of the right atrium
which produces the electrical impulses that travel
down to eventually reach the ventricular muscle,
causing the heart to contract.
Sphygmomanometer - An instrument
used to measure blood pressure.
Stent - A device made of expandable,
metal mesh that is placed (by using a balloon
catheter) at the site of a narrowing artery. The
stent is then expanded and left in place to keep
the artery open.
Stenosis - The narrowing or
constriction of an opening, such as a blood vessel
or heart valve.
Stethoscope - An instrument
for listening to sounds within the body.
Streptococcal Infection ("strep")
- An infection, usually in the throat, resulting
from the presence of streptococcus bacteria.
Streptokinase - A clot-dissolving
drug used to treat heart attack patients.
Sternum - The breastbone.
Stress - Bodily or mental tension
resulting from physical, chemical or emotional
factors. Stress can refer to physical exertion
as well as mental anxiety.
Stroke (Apoplexy, Cerebrovascular
Accident, or Cerebral Vascular Accident) - An
onset of symptoms resulting from injury to the
brain caused by a blood clot or hemorrhage. This
is usually secondary to hypertension, atherosclerosis
or both.
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - Bleeding
from a blood vessel on the surface of the brain
into the space between the brain and the skull.
Sudden Death - Death that occurs
unexpectedly and instantaneously or shortly after
the onset of symptoms. The most common underlying
reason for patients dying suddenly is cardiovascular
disease, in particular coronary heart disease.
Superior Vena Cava - The large
vein that returns blood from the head and arms
to the heart.
Syncope - A temporary, insufficient
blood supply to the brain which causes a loss
of consciousness. Usually caused by a serious
arrhythmia.
Systolic Blood Pressure - The
highest blood pressure measured in the arteries.
It occurs when the heart contracts with each heartbeat.
Tachycardia - Accelerated beating
of the heart, usually over 110 beats per minute.
Paroxysmal tachycardia is a particular form of
rapid heart action, occurring in seizures that
may last from a few seconds to several days.
Tachypnea - Rapid breathing.
Thallium Stress Test - An x-ray
study that follows the path of radioactive potassium
carried by the blood into heart muscle. Damaged
or dead muscle can be defined, as can the extent
of narrowing in an artery.
Third-degree Heart Block (also
called Stokes-Adams attack) - Impulses from the
heart's upper chambers (the atria) are completely
blocked from reaching the heart's lower chambers
(the ventricles). To make up for this, the ventricles
use their own "backup" pacemaker with
its slower rate.
Thrombolysis - The breaking
up of a blood clot.
Thrombosis - A blood clot that
forms inside the blood vessel or cavity of the
heart.
Thrombolytic therapy - Intravenous
or intraarterial drugs used to dissolve blood
clots in an artery.
Thrombus - A blood clot located
in a blood vessel or cavity of the heart.
Tissue Plasminogen Activator (TPA)
- A clot-dissolving drug used to treat heart attack
patients.
Trans Fat - Created when hydrogen
is forced through an ordinary vegetable oil (hydrogenation),
converting some polyunsaturates to monounsaturates,
and some monounsaturates to saturates. Trans fat,
like saturated fat, tends to raise LDL cholesterol
levels, and, unlike saturated fat, trans fat also
lowers HDL cholesterol levels at the same time.
Transesophageal Echocardiography
(TEE) - A diagnostic test that analyzes sound
waves bounced off the heart. The sound waves are
sent through a tube-like device inserted in the
mouth and passed down the esophagus (food pipe),
which ends near the heart. This technique is useful
in studying patients whose heart and vessels,
for various reasons, are difficult to assess with
standard echocardiography.
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
- A transient (temporary) disruption of blood
flow to the brain that may last minutes to hours.
Symptoms vary from visual disturbance, speech
difficulties, motor weakness, dizziness, numbness
or staggering.
Transmyocardial Revacularization
(TMR) - A procedure that creates new channels
in the heart believed to restore blood flow.
Tricuspid Valve - The structure
that controls blood flow from the heart's right
atrium (upper chamber) into the right ventricle
(lower chamber).
Triglyceride - The most common
fatty substance found in the blood; normally stored
as an energy source in fat tissue. High triglyceride
levels may thicken the blood and make a person
more susceptible to clot formation. High triglyceride
levels tend to accompany high cholesterol levels
and other risk factors for heart disease such
as obesity.
Ultrasound - High-frequency
sound vibrations, not audible to the human ear,
used in medical diagnosis.
Valves - Pieces of tissue in
the heart or blood vessels that prevent the backward
flow of blood.
Valve Replacement - An operation
to replace a heart valve that is either blocking
normal blood flow or causing blood to leak backward
into the heart (regurgitation).
Valvuloplasty - Reshaping of
a heart valve with surgical or catheter techniques.
Varicose Vein - Any vein that
is abnormally dilated.
Vascular - Pertaining to the
blood vessels.
Vasodilators - Any medication that dilates (widens)
the arteries.
Vasopressors - Any medication
that elevates blood pressure.
Vein - Any one of a series of
blood vessels of the vascular system that carries
blood from various parts of the body back to the
heart; returns oxygen-depleted blood to the heart.
Ventricle - (Right and Left)
One of the two lower chambers of the heart.
Ventricular fibrillation - A
condition in which the ventricles contract in
a rapid, unsynchronized fashion. When fibrillation
occurs, the ventricles cannot pump blood throughout
the body.
Ventricular Tachycardia - An
arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat) in the ventricle
characterized by a very fast heartbeat.
Vertigo - A feeling of dizziness
or spinning.
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
- A condition in which an extra electrical pathway
connects the atria (two upper chambers) and the
ventricles (two lower chambers). It may cause
a rapid heartbeat.
X-ray - Form of radiation used
to create a picture of internal body structures
on film.
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