A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Ablation - Elimination or removal

Aneurysm - A bulge in a blood vessel or in the heart.

Angina Pectoris - The medical term for chest pain that results from restricted blood flow in the coronary arteries. The blood flow does not meet the oxygen needs of the heart muscle.

Angiocardiography - A contrast medium or dye is injected into the heart and traces the outlines of the blood vessels and chambers of the heart. X-rays are taken during the procedure (when the contrast medium is in the heart). They are called angiograms.

Angiogram - A contrast medium or dye is injected into the heart or blood vessels. An x-ray picture is taken during the procedure (when the contrast medium is injected). The x-ray of the blood vessels or heart shows the course of the contrast medium or dye injected into the bloodstream.

Angioplasty - A non-surgical procedure that dilates or opens narrowed arteries. The artery is widened when a catheter with a balloon on it's tip is passed into the narrowed artery. The balloon is inflated and the artery is widened.

Anticoagulant - A medication that keeps the blood from clotting, a blood thinner.

Aorta - The largest artery in the body. It receives blood from the heart's left ventricle and distributes it to all other arteries throughout the body.

Aortic valve - The heart valve that regulates blood flow from the left ventricle and the aorta. It has three flaps or cusps.

Apoproteins - Proteins that combine with fats or lipids to make them dissolve in the blood.

Arrhythmia (or dysrhythmia) - An abnormal heartbeat or heart rhythm.

Arteriography - A testing procedure to determine if arteries are diseased. A contrast medium is injected into the bloodstream, and then x-rays are taken that outline the anatomy of the artery.

Arteriosclerosis - A disease process commonly called hardening of the arteries. This includes a variety of conditions that cause artery walls to thicken and lose elasticity.

Artery - A vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood to the body.

Atherosclerosis - A disease process that leads to the accumulation of fat, cholesterol and other substances, usually termed plaque, inside the blood vessels.

Atria - The two upper, or receiving chambers of the heart.

Atrioventricular (AV) Node - A group of cells located between the atria and ventricles through which the electrical impulse stimulating the heart to contract must pass to reach the ventricles.

Atrium - Either one of the two upper chambers of the heart in which blood is received from the body before being passed to the ventricles.

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B

Balloon Angioplasty - see angioplasty

Blood Clot - A mass of blood tissue formed by clotting factors in the blood. Clots can stop the flow of blood from an injury. They can also form inside an artery whose walls are damaged by atherosclerotic buildup (causing a heart attack or stroke).

Blood Pressure - The force or pressure of blood against the arterial walls as it moves in the arteries.

Bradycardia - A slow heartbeat (usually less than 50 or 60 beats per minute).

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C

Cardiac Arrest - A condition in which the heart stops beating and breathing ceases, usually because of a heart rhythm disturbance.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) - A combination of rescue breathing and chest compressions to supply oxygen and blood to a person whose heartbeat and breathing have stopped.

Cardioversion - An electrical shock applied to the chest to convert an abnormal heartbeat to normal.

Carotid artery - Two major arteries in the neck that supply the brain and head with blood and oxygen.

Catheterization - The process of examining any part of the body by introducing a thin tube (catheter) into a vein or artery and passing it into the area being studied (i.e. the heart).

Cholesterol - A type of fat used in your body to build cells and certain hormones. Cholesterol is also present in foods from animal sources such as whole milk, dairy products, meat, poultry, animal fats and egg yolks.

Collateral Vessels - Small branches of blood vessels that develop to bypass narrowed or blocked sections.

Conduction System - Special fibers that conduct electrical impulses throughout the muscle of the heart.

Congenital - A defect that is present at birth.

Congenital Heart Defects - Defect of the heart or of its major blood vessels that exists at birth.

Congestive Heart Failure - A condition in which the heart cannot pump all the blood returning to it. This results in a back up of blood in the veins that lead to the heart and sometimes to fluid accumulating in body tissues, including the lungs.

Coronary Arteries - Two arteries arising from the aorta that arch over the top of the heart and divide into branches. They provide blood to the heart muscle.

Coronary Artery Disease - A narrowing of the diameter of the coronary arteries. This arises from accumulation of plaque and increases the risk of heart attack.

Coronary Bypass Surgery - Surgical re-routing of blood around diseased vessels that supply the heart. The surgery provides new vessels that "bypass" the blocked coronary arteries.

Coronary Occlusion - An obstruction of one of the coronary arteries that hinders or completely obstructs blood flow to some part of the heart muscle.

Coronary Thrombosis - A clot forms in one of the coronary arteries, causing an occlusion.

Cyanosis - Blueness of skin, nails lips or tongue due to lack of oxygen-rich blood.

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D

Defibrillation - An electrical shock applied to the chest to stop fibrillation.

Defibrillator - A machine used to deliver an electrical shock to the chest to stop fibrillation and help re-establish a normal rhythm and contraction in the heart. It can be internal or external.

Diastole - The period of the cardiac cycle when the heart is relaxed and allows blood to flow into the chambers.

Diastolic Blood Pressure - The pressure in the arteries when the heart muscle is relaxed between contractions. It is the bottom number on the blood pressure measurement.

Diuretic - A drug that lowers blood pressure by stimulating fluid loss and promoting urine production.

Dissection - Separation of the inner layers of a blood vessel from the outer layers.

Dyspnea - Shortness of breath.

Dysrhythmia - See arrhythmia.

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E

Echocardiography - A noninvasive diagnostic test of the heart's structure and function by analyzing sound waves (sonogram) bounced off the heart.

Edema - Swelling caused by leakage of fluid from the bloodstream into the surrounding fluid.

Effusion - Fluid accumulation (i.e. pericardial effusion is a fluid accumulation in the heart that surrounds the heart).

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) - A graphic record of electrical impulses produced by the heart.

Enzyme - A complex chemical capable of speeding up specific biochemical processes in the body.

Ejection Fraction - The amount of blood that is pumped out of a filled ventricle divided by the amount of blood that was in the ventricle at the beginning of the contraction (normal is 50% or more).

Embolism - The blocking of a blood vessel by a blood clot that has formed in one place, has traveled to another point in the circulatory system and has lodged at that point.

Endarterectomy - Surgical removal of material from an artery.

Endocarditis - Inflammation of the membrane that lines the chambers and valves of the heart, usually caused by an infection of the valve.

Endocardium - The smooth membrane that covers the inner surfaces of the heart.

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F

Fibrillation - Rapid, uncoordinated contractions of chambers of the heart.

Fluoroscopy - Use of x-rays to see motion. This is usually captured on film as opposed to still x-rays captured on film.

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G

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H

Heart Attack - A lack of blood and oxygen causes death of a portion of the heart muscle. The damaged area can be very small or very extensive.

Heart Failure - See congestive heart failure

Heart-Lung Bypass Machine - The equipment that oxygenates and pumps blood to the body during open heart surgery.

High Blood Pressure - An increase in blood pressure above its normal range. High blood pressure is diagnosed with several blood pressure readings that indicate an elevation (one reading is not indicative of high blood pressure).

High Density Lipoprotein - "Good cholesterol." A component of cholesterol that helps transport cholesterol away from the tissues and bloodstream and out of the body.

Hypertension - See high blood pressure.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - Overgrowth of heart muscle that impedes blood flow into and out of the heart.

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I

Infarct - Area of permanently damaged tissue (scar) caused by inadequate oxygen supply.

Ischemia - Insufficient amount of blood and oxygen reaching an organ, usually due to constriction or obstruction of an artery.

Ischemic Heart Disease - Narrowing of the coronary arteries causing a decreased blood supply to the heart. Also called coronary artery disease and coronary heart disease.

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J

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K

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L

Lipid - Generally refers to fats circulating in the bloodstream.

Lipoprotein - A lipid surrounded by a protein; the protein makes the lipid soluble in blood.

Low Density Lipoprotein - "Bad cholesterol." It is the main carrier of cholesterol in the blood. It provides cholesterol for necessary body functions, but in increased amounts, it tends to accululate in artery walls.

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M

Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to construct images of internal body structures.

Mitral Valve - The structure that controls blood flow between the heart's left atrium and left ventricle. It has two flaps or cusps.

Mitral Valve Prolapse - Bulging of the leaflets of the mitral valve into the left atrium during the heart's contraction.

Monounsaturated Fat - A type of fat that tends to lower LDL cholesterol levels. It is found in many foods but predominantly in canola, olive and peanut oil and avocados.

Murmur - A sound made by turbulent blood moving through the chambers and valves of the heart or through the blood vessels near the heart, usually signifying an abnormality of blood flow caused by a structural defect in the heart or valves.

Myocardial Infarction - A heart attack. An area of heart tissue dies because its blood supply is blocked.

Myocardial Ischemia - Insufficient blood flow to part of the heart muscle.

Myocardium - The heart muscle.

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N

Nitroglycerin - A drug that helps relax and dilate the blood vessels and is often used in treating angina pectoris.

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O

Open Heart Surgery - Opening the chest wall and sternum to operate on the heart or its structures while the bloodstream is diverted through a heart-lung bypass machine.

Orthopnea - Difficulty breathing except in the upright position.

Orthostatic Hypotension - Low blood pressure upon standing that may lead to light-headedness or passing out.

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P

Pacemaker - A device that delivers electrical stimulus to the heart, causing it to contract. The "natural" pacemaker of the heart is the sinus node.

Palpitations - Uncomfortable sensations of your heartbeat in your chest.

Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) - See angioplasty.

Pericarditis - Inflammation of the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart).

Pericardium - The "sac" or membrane that surrounds the heart.

Plaque - A deposit of material (fat and other substances) inside an artery which can reduce or block blood flow.

Platelets - One of the components of blood that aids in the clotting of the blood.

Premature Contraction - A heartbeat that comes too soon.

Prophylaxis - Treatment that prevents something (using an antibiotic to prevent an infection).

Pulmonary -The lungs and respiratory system.

Pulmonary Edema - Fluid buildup in the lungs.

Pulmonic (Pulmonary) Valve - The heart valve at the opening of the right ventricle and pulmonary artery. It has three flaps or cusps.

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Q

No listing

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R

Regurgitation - Backward flow.

Rheumatic Heart Disease - Damage done to the heart valves and outer lining by one or more attacks of rheumatic fever.

Reperfusion - Resumption of blood flow.

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S

Saturated Fats - Fats in foods of animal origin (abundant in meat and dairy products) and a few of vegetable origin; they are usually solid at room temperature. They tend to increase LDL levels.

Septal Defect - A hole in the wall separating the atria or in the wall separating the ventricles.

Septum - The wall separating the left and right atria and the left and right ventricles.

Sick Sinus Syndrome - Failure of the sinus node to perform its normal function of regulating the heartbeat. It often results in periods of fast and slow heartbeats.

Silent Ischemia - Insufficient amounts of blood and oxygen reach portions of the heart muscle, but angina (chest pain) is not produced.

Sinus Node - The heart's natural pacemaker.

Sphygmomenometer - A device to measure blood pressure.

Stenosis - Narrowing or stiffening of an opening (usually a blood vessel or heart valve).

Stent - A device made of expandable metal mesh that is placed at the site of a narrowed artery. The stent is expanded, using a catheter, and left in place to keep the artery open.

Stroke (also called Cerebrovascular Accident) - A sudden disruption of blood supply to the brain, caused by a blood clot, narrowed artery (due to arteriosclerosis) or leak in a blood vessel.

Syncope - Loss of consciousness due to temporary insufficient blood supply to the brain, often caused by a serious dysrhythmia.

Systole - Period of contraction in the cardiac cycle when the heart squeezes or pumps.

Systolic Blood Pressure - The top number of a blood pressure reading. It shows the pressure in the arteries when the heart is contracting and sending blood into the body.

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T

Tachycardia - Rapid heartbeat.

Tamponade - Excess fluid in the pericardium prevents the heart from

Thrombolysis - Use of medication to break up a blood clot.

Thrombosis - The formation of a blood clot (thrombus) inside a blood vessel or the heart.

Thrombus - A blood clot.

Tricuspid Valve - The structure that controls blood flow between the right atrium and the right ventricle. It has three flaps or cusps.

Triglyceride - A fat that is used in the body as a source of energy. Elevated triglycerides contribute to heart disease.

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U

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V

Valvuloplasty - Reshaping or repairing any heart valve with surgical or catheter techniques.

Vascular - Pertaining to blood vessels (arteries and veins).

Vein - A blood vessel that returns blood to the heart from the body or lungs.

Ventricle - One of the two large, lower pumping chambers of the heart.

Ventricular Fibrillation - A condition in which the ventricles contract in an uncoordinated fashion so blood is not able to be pumped from the heart to the body.

Ventricular Tachycardia - A heart rhythm disturbance in the ventricle that is characterized by a very fast heartbeat. In most cases, the ventricles are not able to pump adequate blood to the body.

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W

Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome - Condition in which an extra electrical pathway connects the atria and ventricles; it may cause a rapid heartbeat.

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X

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Y

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Z

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