Angina Glossary of Terms

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Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the...

Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Acid reflux: A common condition and an abnormal one in which acid in the stomach rises up...

Aging: The process of becoming older, a process that is genetically determined and environ...

Allergy: A misguided reaction to foreign substances by the immune system, the body system ...

Angina: Chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. The pain is ...

Angina pectoris: Chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. The...

Angiogram: An X-ray image of blood vessels. The vessels can be seen because a contrast dye...

Angiography: A procedure performed to view blood vessels after injecting them with a radio...

Angioplasty: Procedure with a balloon-tipped catheter to enlarge a narrowing in a coronary...

Anxiety: A feeling of apprehension and fear, characterized by physical symptoms such as pa...

Arms: An appendage in anatomy and in clinical trials. See: Arm.

Arteriogram: An X-ray in which an injection of dye shows blood vessels.

Artery: A vessel that carries blood high in oxygen content away from the heart to the far...

Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a...

Asthma: A common lung disorder in which inflammation causes the bronchi to swell and narro...

Atherosclerosis: A process of progressive thickening and hardening of the walls of medium-...

Blood clot: A mass of coagulated blood. A blood clot can block a major blood vessel, causi...

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

Blood sugar: Blood glucose. See also: High blood sugar; Low blood sugar.

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

Bypass: An operation in which a new pathway is created for the transport of substances in ...

CAD: Coronary artery disease.

Caffeine: A stimulant compound found naturally in coffee, tea, cocoa (chocolate), and kola...

Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is ...

Cardiac: Having to do with the heart.

Cardiac rehabilitation: A program for people with heart disease designed to reduce future ...

Cardiologist: A physician who specializes in treating heart disorders.

Cardiovascular: Relating to the circulatory system, which comprises the heart and blood ve...

Catheter: A thin, flexible tube.

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Chest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart...

Chest X-ray: A type of X-ray commonly used to detect abnormalities in the lungs. A chest X...

Cholesterol: The most common type of steroid in the body. Cholesterol has a reputation for...

Cholesterol guidelines: The guidelines on cholesterol for adults. Controlling blood choles...

Circulation: In medicine, the movement of fluid through the body in a regular or circuitou...

Cocaine: A substance derived from the leaves of the coca plant that is a bitter, addictive...

Compression: 1. The act of pressing together. As in a compression fracture, nerve c...

Contraction: The tightening and shortening of a muscle.

Contrast: Short for "contrast media." Contrast media are X-ray dyes used to provide contra...

Coronary angiography: The most accurate method (the "gold standard") for evaluating and de...

Coronary arteries: The vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood rich in oxygen. The...

Coronary artery bypass graft: Abbreviated CABG. A form of bypass surgery that can create n...

Coronary artery disease: Impedance or blockage of one or more arteries that supply blood t...

Coronary artery spasm: A sudden constriction of a coronary artery that deprives the heart ...

Coronary insufficiency: Insufficient blood flow through one or more coronary arteries.

Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. 2. A time withou...

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

ECG: Electrocardiogram.

Electrocardiogram: A recording of the electrical activity of the heart. Abbreviated ECG an...

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

Family history: The family structure and relationships within the family, including inform...

Fats: Plural of the word "fat". See the definition of fat.

FDA: Food and Drug Administration.

Forearm: The portion of the upper limb from the elbow to the wrist. The forearm has two bo...

Gastroesophageal: Pertaining to both the stomach and the esophagus, as in the gastroesopha...

Gastroesophageal reflux: The return of stomach contents back up into the esophagus This fr...

Genetic: Having to do with genes and genetic
information.

GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Graft: Healthy skin, bone, kidney, liver, or other tissue that is taken from one part of t...

Groin: The area where the thigh meets the hip.

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Heart attack: The death of heart muscle due to the loss of blood supply. The loss of bloo...

Heart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ...

Heart muscle: A type of muscle with unique features only found in the heart. The heart mus...

Heart rate: The number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually per minute. The heart rate ...

Heartburn: An uncomfortable feeling of burning and warmth occurring in waves rising up be...

High blood pressure: A repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg. Chro...

Hypertension: High blood pressure, defined as a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceedi...

Incision: A cut through skin or other tissue performed by a health care professional.

Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or procedure advisable because of a particular ...

Infarction: The formation of an infarct, an area of tissue death, due to a local lack of o...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Internal medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment ...

Intervention: The act of intervening, interfering or interceding with the intent of modify...

Ischemia: Inadequate blood supply to a local area due to blockage of blood vessels leading...

Jaw: The movable junction of the bones below the mouth (the mandible) and the bone just ab...

Lab test: A test that is done in the laboratory where the appropriate equipment, supplies,...

Laser: A powerful beam of light that is used in some types of surgery to cut or destroy ti...

Left ventricle: The left lower chamber of the heart that receives blood from the left atri...

Leg: In popular usage, the part of the body from the top of the thigh down to the foot, an...

Lightheadedness: A feeling you are "going to faint." Lightheadedness is medically distinc...

Lipoprotein: A molecule that is a combination of lipid and protein. Lipids do not travel i...

Liver: The largest solid organ in the body, situated in the upper part of the abdomen on t...

Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon...

Medical history: 1. In clinical medicine, the patient's past and present which may ...

Microvascular: Pertaining to the microvasculature, the portion of the vasculature of the b...

Mortality: A fatal outcome or, in one word, death. The word "mortality" is derived from "m...

Mortality rate: A death rate. There are a number of different types of mortality rates as,...

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

Myocardium: The heart muscle.

Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in...

Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

Nicotine: An alkaloid (a nitrogen-containing chemical) made by the tobacco plant or produc...

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

Occlude: 1 To close, obstruct, or prevent the passage. To occlude an artery is to o...

Open heart surgery: Surgery in which the chest is opened and surgery is performed on the h...

Operation: In medicine, a surgical procedure. Many operations are named after persons. The...

Outpatient: A patient who is not hospitalized, but instead comes to a physician?s office, ...

Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

PA-C: Physician Assistant - Certified.

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Placebo: A "sugar pill" or any dummy medication or treatment.

Placebo effect: Also called the placebo response. A remarkable phenomenon in which a place...

Plaque: 1. An semi-hardened accumulation of substances from fluids that bathe an a...

Prinzmetal angina: See: Angina, Prinzmetal.

Radial: A word with diverse meanings in medicine and the biomedical sciences:

1. Pe...

Radioisotope: A version of a chemical element that has an unstable nucleus and emits radia...

Recurrent: Appearing or occurring again. For example, a recurrent fever is a fever that ha...

Reflux: The term used when liquid backs up into the esophagus from the stomach.

Rehabilitation: The process of helping a person who has suffered an illness or injury rest...

Respiratory: Having to do with respiration.

Rib: One of the 12 paired arches of bone that form the skeletal structure of the chest wal...

Rib cage: The structure formed by the thoracic vertebrae and ribs, the sternum (breastbone...

Rule out: Term used in medicine, meaning to eliminate or exclude something from considera...

Shortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing. Medically referred to as dyspnea. Shortness ...

Shoulder: A structure made up of two main bones: the scapula (shoulder blade) and the hume...

Sleep: The body's rest cycle.

Sore: 1. (adjective) A popular term for painful, such as a sore throat. 2. (...

Spasm: A brief, automatic jerking movement. A muscle spasm can be quite painful, with the ...

Statins: A class of drugs that lower cholesterol.

Stent: A tube designed to be inserted into a vessel or passageway to keep it open. Stents ...

Sternum: The long flat bone in the upper middle of the front of the chest. The sternum art...

Stress: In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional fact...

Sublingual: Underneath the tongue. For example, a sublingual medication is a type of lozen...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Sweating: The act of secreting fluid from the skin by the sweat (sudoriferous) glands. The...

Symptom: Any subjective evidence of disease. In contrast, a sign is objective. Blood comin...

Thallium: A metallic element having the symbol Tl and the atomic number 81 and an atomic w...

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Tongue: A strong muscle that is anchored to the floor of the mouth. The tongue is covered ...

Treadmill: A machine with a moving strip on which one walks without moving forward. A trea...

Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves. Ultra-sound waves can be bounced off tissues by us...

Upper respiratory infection: An infection of the upper part of the respiratory system whic...

Variant angina: Chest pain due to coronary artery spasm, a sudden constriction of a coron...

Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood that is low in oxygen content from the body back t...

Ventricle: A chamber of an organ. For example, the four connected cavities in the central ...

X-ray: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used...