Heart Disease Glossary of Terms

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

Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

Abdominal pain: Pain in the belly. Abdominal pain can be acute or chronic. It may reflect ...

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...

Acute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness th...

Acute myocardial infarction: A heart attack.

Adenosine: A nucleoside containing adenine as its base. Adenosine acts to dilate the coron...

Alcohol abuse: Use of alcoholic beverages to excess, either on individual occasions (binge...

Analysis: In psychology, a term for conversation-based therapeutic processes used to gain ...

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...

Anterior: The front, as opposed to the posterior. The anterior surface of the heart is tow...

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

Aortic: Pertaining to the aorta, the largest artery in the body.

Aortic dissection: A progressive tear in the aorta. The inner lining (intima) of the aorta...

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

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...

Atherectomy: A procedure to remove plaque (atheroma) from the inside of a blood vessel. At...

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

Atrium: An entry chamber. On both sides of the heart, the atrium is the chamber that leads...

Back pain: Pain felt in the low or upper back. Causes of pain in the low and upper back in...

Blood clots: Blood that has been converted from a liquid to a solid state. Also called a t...

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.

Brachial artery: The artery that runs from the shoulder down to the elbow.

Brachytherapy: Radiation treatment given by placing radioactive material directly in or ne...

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 ...

CABG: Coronary artery bypass graft; and Coronary artery bypass grafting.

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

Calorie: A unit of food energy. The word calorie is ordinarily used instead of the more pr...

Cardiac: Having to do with the heart.

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...

Chewing tobacco: Tobacco that is chewed, not smoked. A form of smokeless tobacco.

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

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Circumflex: Curved like a bow. In anatomy, circumflex describes a structure that bends aro...

Clinical trial: A study that is intended to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of medic...

Clinical trials: Trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of medications or medical...

Computed tomography: An x-ray procedure that uses the help of a computer to produce a deta...

Congestion: An abnormal or excessive accumulation of a body fluid. The term is used broadl...

Contraction: The tightening and shortening of a muscle.

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

Coronary bypass: A bypass of a plaque within a coronary artery using part of a vein as a g...

CT scan: Computerized tomography scan. Pictures of structures within the body created by a...

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 ...

Dilate: To stretch or enlarge. Also known as dilatate.

Dilating: The widening and opening of an opening, such as the cervix or esophagus. For exa...

Dissection: The process of cutting apart or separating tissue as, for example, in the stud...

Dizziness: Painless head discomfort with many possible causes including disturbances of ...

Dysfunction: Difficult function or abnormal function.

ECG: Electrocardiogram.

Echocardiography: Echocardiography is a diagnostic test which uses ultrasound waves to m...

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...

Enzyme: A protein (or protein-based molecule) that speeds up a chemical reaction in a livi...

Enzymes: Proteins that act as a catalysts in mediating and speeding a specific chemical re...

Erectile dysfunction: A consistent inability to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual ...

Essential: In medicine, of unknown cause, as in essential hypertension (high blood pressur...

Excimer laser: A laser that emits very concentrated light in the ultraviolet (UV) region o...

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

Fasting: : going without food or drink. Patients may be advised to fast for a certain peri...

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

Fatty acids: Molecules that are long chains of lipid-carboxylic acid found in fats and oil...

Femoral: Having to do with the femur.

Garlic: A perennial herb of the lily family cultivated for its pungent, edible bulbs. Garl...

Groin: The area where the thigh meets the hip.

HDL: High density lipoprotein.

HDL cholesterol: High density lipoprotein cholesterol. Lipoproteins, which are combination...

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 ...

Heart rhythm disorders: Abnormal rhythm of the heartbeat due to irregularities in transmis...

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

Heredity: The genetic transmission of characteristics from parent to child.

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

Hormone: A chemical substance produced in the body that controls and regulates the activit...

Hypercholesterolemia: High blood cholesterol. This can be sporadic (occurring with no fami...

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.

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

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

Iodine: An element in the diet that is essential for the manufacture of hormones by the th...

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...

Kidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The kid...

Laboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures, and for preparing chemicals a...

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

Lateral: 1. In anatomy, the side of the body or a body part that is farther from th...

LDL cholesterol: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, commonly referred to as 'bad' choles...

Left atrium: The upper right chamber of the heart. The left atrium receives oxygenated blo...

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...

Lipid: Another word for "fat." (Please see the various meanings of Fat.) A lipid is more f...

Lipid profile: A pattern of lipids in the blood. A lipid profile usually includes the leve...

Lipids: Another word for "fats." (Please see the various meanings of Fat.) Lipids can be m...

Lipitor: See: Atorvastatin.

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

Lipoproteins: Complexes of lipid and protein, the way lipids travel in the blood.

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

Low blood pressure: Any blood pressure that is below the normal expected for an individua...

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

Menopause: The time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop; it is also...

Mitral valve: A valve in the heart that is situated between the left atrium and the left v...

Mitral valve prolapse: A common heart valve anomaly affecting 5'10 percent of people that ...

MPH: Master of public health, a degree designating successful training in analyzing past, ...

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

Myocardial infarction: A heart attack. Abbreviated MI.

Myocardium: The heart muscle.

National Cholesterol Education Program: NCEP. A program designed to reduce illness and dea...

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

NCEP: The National Cholesterol Education Program. See: National Cholesterol Education Prog...

NHLBI: Stands for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, one of the National Insti...

Obesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight.

Obstruction: Blockage of a passageway. See, for example: Airway obstruction; Intestinal o...

Off-pump: Not on the pump, usually meaning not on the heart-lung machine. See also: Off-pu...

Omega-3 fatty acids: A class of fatty acids found in fish oils, especially from salmon and...

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, ...

Overweight: The term "overweight" is used in two different ways. In one sense it is a way ...

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

Oxygenation: The addition of oxygen to any system, including the human body. Oxygenation m...

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

Palpitations: Unpleasant sensations of irregular and/or forceful beating of the heart. In ...

Passive smoking: Inhalation of smoke that comes from someone else smoking. Passive smoking...

Percutaneous: Through the skin. For example, a percutaneous biopsy is a biopsy that is obt...

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

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

Polygenic: Pertaining to two or more genes. As opposed to monogenic.

Primary care: A patient's main source for regular medical care, ideally providing continui...

Primary care provider: In insurance parlance, a physician who is chosen by or assigned to ...

Progressive: Increasing in scope or severity, advancing, or going forward. For example, a ...

PTCA: Percutaneous transluminal coronary 'angioplasty.

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

1. Pe...

Radiation: 1. Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X-rays are two of the types of energy ...

Radioactive: Emitting energy waves due to decaying atomic nuclei. Radioactive substances a...

Radioactive tracer: A radioactive molecule that can be sent through the body's circulatory...

Radionuclide: An unstable form of a chemical element that radioactively decays, resulting ...

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

Restenosis: Renarrowing, as in restenosis of a coronary artery after angioplasty. From the...

Right atrium: The right upper chamber of the heart. The right atrium receives deoxygenated...

Right ventricle: The lower right chamber of the heart that receives deoxygenated blood fro...

Risk factor: Something that increases a person's chances of developing a disease. For exam...

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

Saphenous vein: The saphenous veins -- there are two, the great and the small saphenous ve...

Saturated fat: A fat that contains only saturated fatty acids, is solid at room temperatur...

Scaffold: 1. In genetics, the chromosome structure consisting entirely of nonhiston...

Scan: As a noun, the data or image obtained from the examination of organs or regions of...

Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming...

Serum: The clear liquid that can be separated from clotted blood. Serum differs from plas...

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...

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

SPECT: An acronym that stands for Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography, a nuclear me...

Statins: A class of drugs that lower cholesterol.

Stenosis: A narrowing. For example, aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve in ...

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

Strain: 1. An injury to a tendon or muscle resulting from overuse or trauma. 2. A heredita...

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

Stress echocardiography: A supplement to the routine exercise cardiac stress test. During ...

Stroke: The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood...

Substance: 1. Material with particular features.
2. The material that...

Sudden cardiac arrest: A medical emergency with absent or inadequate contraction of the le...

Surgeon: A physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity via operative or manual meth...

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...

Therapeutic: Relating to therapeutics, the branch of medicine that is concerned specifical...

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

TMR: Stands for transmyocardial laser revascularization, a procedure by which a physician ...

Tobacco: A South American herb (Nicotiana tabacum) whose leaves contain 2 to 8 percent nic...

Tomography: The process for generating a tomogram, a two-dimensional image of a slice or s...

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

Tooth: One of the structures within the mouth that allow for biting and chewing. Teeth hav...

Transmyocardial laser revascularization: A procedure by which a physician uses a laser to...

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

Triglycerides: The major form of fat stored by the body. A triglyceride consists of three ...

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 ...

Ventricular: Pertaining to the ventricles, the lower chambers of the heart, as in ventricu...

Vessel: A tube in the body that carries fluids. Examples of vessels are blood vessels and ...

Vitamins: The word "vitamin" was coined in 1911 by the Warsaw-born biochemist Casimir Funk...

Weight loss: Weight loss is a decrease in body weight resulting from either voluntary (die...

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

Yogurt: A common dish made of milk curdled and fermented with a culture of Lactobacillus (...