Dictionary of Heart/Vascular Terms
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
An abnormal enlargement of the aorta, the main artery that supplies blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The enlargement is caused by a weakening of the vessel wall. Because there are frequently no symptoms of AAA, it is called a silent killer. Men over the age of 60, smokers (and former smokers) and persons with Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), are at increased risk for AAAs.
see Atrial Fibrillation
A physician who administers sedation during surgery (puts you to sleep) and monitors your vital signs to ensure that you are tolerating surgery.
An area of a blood vessel that has become weakened and, as a result has enlarged and filled with blood. Aneurysms, especially those of a certain size and those that grow quickly, can be life-threatening.
Ankle Brachial Index (ABI)
A measurement of blood pressure at the ankles to check for signs of Peripheral Artery Disease. A painless, non-invasive test, the ABI is calculated by comparing blood pressure readings from the ankles and the arms. Significant variance between the two readings may indicate disease.
Therapy to reduce clotting of the blood, such as with medication. One of the most commonly prescribed medications is called Coumadin (warfarin). Often prescribed for individuals with heart arrhythmias and valve defects.
The main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It is the largest blood vessel of the body and has three branches.
A diagnostic examination of the aorta (the large artery that carries blood from the heart to smaller arteries through the body).
An irregular heart beat. There are many different causes of irregular heart beat, including congenital defects (something you’re born with) and changes in the electrical pathways of the heart that cause the muscle to contract in an abnormal way.
The absence of electrical activity and contractions of the heart. The heart stands still.
A build-up of cholesterol and fat that narrows arteries so less blood can flow through.
Atria (plural of atrium)
Chambers of the heart that receive blood from the veins and forces it into the ventricles.
Very rapid, uncoordinated contractions of the upper chambers of the heart (the atria), resulting in ineffective ejection of the blood into the lower chambers (ventricles). Blood can pool in the atria, causing clots. Atrial fibrillation is the most common rhythm disorder, affecting as many as 10 percent of people over the age of 70.
A procedure performed by an interventional cardiologist that opens an obstructed coronary artery. In a balloon angioplasty, the cardiologist threads a catheter through the body to the area that is obstructed. Once the catheter is in place, a small balloon is opened which presses the blockage against the vessel wall, breaking it up.
The measurement of the pressure or force inside the blood vessels (arteries) with each beat of the heart. Blood pressure is expressed as two numbers, similar to a fraction. The top (or first) number is the systolic pressure and the bottom (or second) is the diastolic pressure.
Drugs used to prevent the formation of blood clots by hindering coagulation of the blood.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
A method of calculating your desirable body weight. BMI is calculated multiplying your weight (in pounds) by 705, then dividing by height (in inches) twice.
A measure of food energy. Some foods have more calories than others. If you eat more calories than your body needs, the excess is stored mainly as fat.
A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. Also see Interventional Cardiologist.
The study of the of the cardiovascular system.
A physician who specializes in heart, lung and chest surgery. Procedures may include Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG, also known as open heart surgery), valve repair and replacement, aneurysm repair, surgery on the lungs, maze procedures and so on.
A measurement by ultrasound to examine for narrowing of the carotid arteries.
A common sign of a heart attack. Patients use a variety of different words to describe chest pain, including aching, crushing, heaviness, squeezing, burning and pressure. It may also be felt as indigestion. Chest pain should never be ignored – seek medical help immediately (by calling 911).
A fatty, waxy substance made by your body and found in foods of animal origin. Your body needs cholesterol to maintain the health of your body’s cells. But too much cholesterol in your blood can cause coronary artery disease.
Composed of the heart and blood vessels, including arteries, veins and capillaries.
Congenital Heart Defect
An abnormality of the heart that is present at birth. It may involve the structure of the heart and/or large vessels (aorta, vena cave) of the newborn. Most either obstruct blood flow in the heart or vessels near it or cause blood to flow through the heart in an abnormal pattern. Heart defects are among the most common birth defects and are the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
A condition in which the heart is unable to maintain adequate circulation of oxygen-rich blood to the tissues of the body or to pump the oxygen-depleted blood returned to it through the veins to the lungs. Swelling of the legs and feet and shortness of breath are two common signs of CHF.
Controllable Risk Factors
Things that put you at risk for developing heart disease. Controllable factors are ones that you can change and include diet, physical activity, obesity, smoking and stress.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
A surgical procedure to bypass a blocked coronary (heart) artery. Typically, a segment of vein is used to go around the obstruction. This is done by attaching one end of the graft to the aorta and the other end to the blocked artery beyond the blockage. This restores blood flow to the heart muscle.
Coronary Artery Disease
A disease of the arteries in the heart. Coronary artery disease occurs when the normal lining of the arteries deteriorates, the walls of the arteries thicken and deposits of fat and plaque block the flow of blood through the arteries. The arteries that supply blood to the heart become severely narrowed, decreasing the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart, especially during times of increased activity.
Coronary Heart Failure
Heart failure in which the heart muscle is deprived of the blood necessary to work as a result of narrowing or blocking of one or more of the coronary arteries.
CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation)
A commonly taught rescue procedure that, when properly performed, can support an individual who has had a cardiac incident survive until advanced medical treatment is provided.
A disease that prevents your body from properly using the energy from food you eat. Persons with diabetes are at increased risk for developing heart disease.
The pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. The “bottom” or “second” number in the blood pressure measurement.
Door to Balloon (D2B)
The time between a patient’s arrival in the Emergency Department with a heart attack (myocardial infarction or MI) and the opening of the blocked artery in the cardiac catheterization lab. D2B is based on the adage that "time is muscle." The more quickly cardiologists can open the blocked artery, the less likely the patient will suffer heart muscle damage. The national standard for D2B is 90 minutes.
A visual measurement by ultrasound to examine the structure and functioning of the heart and to diagnose abnormalities and disease.
Ejection Fraction (EF)
The ratio of the volume of blood the heart empties during the contraction and the volume of blood in the heart during the refilling period (diastole). The EF is usually expressed as a percentage. In an average, healthy individual, the EF averages 60 to 70 percent.
A non-invasive test to measure electrical activity in the heart by attaching electrodes to the skin.
A physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating heart rhythm disorders (electrical problems with the heart).
See Holter Monitor.
A simple sugar found in the blood. It is the body’s main source of energy.
HDL (High Density Lipoprotein)
A lipoprotein particle in the blood. HDL is known as “good” cholesterol because it deposits cholesterol in the liver, where it is excreted by the body. High HDL is thought to protect against coronary artery disease.
When a blood clot or other blockage cuts blood flow to a part of the heart.
Heart Attack Signs & Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of a heart attack should never be ignored. They won’t “go away.” You must seek immediate medical attention in order to increase your chances for survival and a healthy life after a heart attack. Common symptoms of a heart attack include:
- Chest pain, which is often described as aching, crushing, heaviness, squeezing, burning, pressure or indigestion
- Pain in the jaw, neck, arm or between the shoulder blades
More subtle symptoms, often felt by women, include:
- Extreme fatigue
- Shortness of breath
Every one is different – and people experience heart attack in different ways. The presence of even one of these signs or symptoms is reason enough to seek immediate medical attention by calling 911.
The number of heartbeats per minute.
High Blood Pressure
Also known as hypertension. A condition when the blood flows through the blood vessels at a force greater than normal. High blood pressure strains the heart, harms the arteries, and increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney problems.
A portable device that records electrical activity of the heart and can be worn by during the course of daily activities for 30 days. The long monitoring timeline allows fleeting episodes of abnormal heart rhythm to be detected.
A physician who specializes in seeing and treating patients in the hospital setting. Because hospitalists work only in the hospital and do not maintain office hours, they are able to respond quickly to changes in patient's conditions, test results and so on.
A condition when the blood flows through the blood vessels at a force greater than normal, also known as high blood pressure. Hypertension strains the heart, harms the arteries, and increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney problems.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibriallator (ICD)
An electronic device, implanted in the chest, used to restore either the heart beat or to normalize the rhythm by applying an electrical shock.
A physician who specializes in the care and treatment of patients in intensive care.
A heart doctor who has received special training in performing procedures (interventions) on the heart. These are catheter-based and may include balloon angioplasty, angiography, and stent placement. These procedures are performed in the cardiac catheterization lab.
A temporary deficiency of blood flow to an organ or tissue, such as the heart or brain. Ischemia can be caused by narrowing of the arteries, spasms or disease.
LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein)
A lipoprotein particle in the blood responsible for depositing cholesterol into the lining of the artery. It is known as “bad” cholesterol because a high LDL is linked to coronary artery disease.
Another term for a fat or fat-like substance in the blood.
A procedure performed in the operating room by a cardiothoracic surgeon to destroy abnormal electrical pathways in the heart. These abnormal pathways can cause arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. During the maze procedure, the surgeon burns or freezes lines on the surface of the heart. This creates a maze that prevents the abnormal electrical impulses from causing contractions. A maze procedure may be performed alone or during another open heart procedure.
All of the physical and chemical processes in the body that occur when food is broken down, energy is created, and wastes are produced.
A minimally invasive approach to performing the maze procedure also performed by a cardiothoracic surgeon in the operating room. In a mini maze, the surgeon uses tiny cameras and instruments and approaches the heart through spaces between the ribs.
Extra heart sounds produced as a result of turbulent blood in the heart. Murmurs may be present in normal hearts without any heart disease. Murmurs may also be the result of various problems, such as narrowing or leaking of valves, or the presence of abnormal passages through which blood flows in or near the heart. Such murmurs, known as pathologic murmurs, should be evaluated by an expert.
Myocardial Infarction (MI)
Marked by sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, and loss of consciousness, and that sometimes results in death. Infarction is the death of living tissue due to loss of blood supply, disease, etc. Myocardial relates to the middle muscular layer of the heart wall.
A registered nurse with a master’s degree and national certification to provide advanced care, including ordering test and writing prescriptions. A nurse practitioner works under the direction of a medical doctor.
Excess fat caused by eating more calories than used. It is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30. See Body Mass Index for the formula.
An electrical device for stimulating or steadying the heartbeat or re-establishing the rhythm of an arrested heart.
Physician Assistant (PA-C)
A physician assistant has a bachelor’s or master’s degree and national certification. This person has been trained in providing advanced care. A PA works under the direction of a medical doctor.
A physician who specializes in lung problems.
Traits that are related to the development and progression of a disease, such as coronary artery disease. Some risk factors are controllable (diet, exercise, tobacco use, stress) and some are uncontrollable (family history, age).
These are generally solid at room temperature and raise blood cholesterol levels when eaten. Saturated fats are found in animal products (such as meat, cheese, egg yolks, butter, cocoa butter and ice cream) and some vegetable oils (such as coconut oil and palm oil).
A substance found naturally in food. Sodium (salt) is added to many foods to enhance flavor and to preserve it. The greatest source of sodium in the diet is table salt. Healthy diets limit sodium to 2,400 milligrams each day.
A short narrow metal or plastic tube often in the form of a mesh that is inserted into the cavity of an anatomical vessel (as an artery or bile duct) to keep a previously blocked passageway open.
The first instrument developed that allowed doctors to listen to the heart. Invented by Rene Laennec.
When part of the brain does not get enough blood due to a clot or a burst blood vessel.
Sudden Cardiac Death
Death occurring within minutes or hours following onset of acute symptoms of cardiac arrest resulting from an arrhythmia.
A class of carbohydrates that taste sweet. Sugar is a quick and easy fuel for the body to use. Some types of sugar are lactose, glucose, fructose and sucrose.
Loss of consciousness resulting from insufficient blood flow to the brain. Fainting.
The pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and fills them with blood. The “top” or “first” number in your blood pressure reading.
TPA (tissue plasminogen activator)
A clot-dissolving enzyme that is used to prevent damage to heart muscle following a heart attack and to reduce neurological damage following ischemic stroke.
A non-invasive procedure that uses sound waves to form an image of bodily structures. During an ultrasound, measurement of internal body structures and abnormalities can be performed.
Uncontrollable Risk Factors
Risk factors for heart disease that you can not control. These include family history and age.
Unsaturated fats are generally liquid at room temperature and come from vegetable and plant sources. They have less effect on blood cholesterol levels than saturated fats.
A surgical procedure to repair or replace a structure in a vein or lymphatic system that temporarily closes a passage or orifice or that permits movement of fluid in one direction only.
Disease of the vascular system. The vascular system includes hundreds of miles of arteries, capillaries and veins. These arteries can become narrowed or blocked. When the arteries of the heart become blocked, it is called Coronary Artery Disease. Arteries in other parts of the body may also become blocked, including the legs, neck, and abdomen. These blockages can cause a host of problems, including leg pain and weakness (peripheral artery disease); dizziness (carotid artery); and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). Although vascular disease can have serious, even life-threatening, implications, people often dismiss its symptoms until after serious damage has occurred.
A physician specializing in surgery involving the vascular system.
A tube or canal (such as an artery or vein) in which body fluid (blood) is contained and conveyed or circulated.