HEART HEALTH GLOSSARY

ACE (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme) Inhibitor:

A type of medication that relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure, often used in heart failure and hypertension.

AED (Automated External Defibrillator):

A portable device that shocks the heart to restore normal rhythm during cardiac arrest.

Ablation:

A procedure that uses heat or cold energy to destroy small areas of heart tissue causing irregular heartbeats.

Aneurysm:

A bulge or weak spot in a blood vessel wall that can burst and cause serious harm.

Angina:

Chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.

Angiography:

An imaging test that uses dye and X-rays to view the inside of blood vessels, especially the coronary arteries.

Angioplasty:

A procedure to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels of the heart, often involving a balloon and sometimes a stent.

Arrhythmia:

An irregular heartbeat—too fast, too slow, or uneven.

Arteriosclerosis:

Hardening or thickening of the artery walls, often due to aging or high blood pressure.

Arteries:

Blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart.

Atherosclerosis:

Buildup of plaque in the arteries that can block blood flow.

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib):

A common type of irregular heartbeat that starts in the upper chambers of the heart.

Atrium:

One of the two upper chambers of the heart that receive blood returning to the heart.

Aorta:

The largest artery in the body, carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

Aortic Valve:

The valve that controls blood flow from the left ventricle into the aorta.

Beta Blockers:

Medications that reduce heart rate and blood pressure.

Bicuspid Valve:

Another name for the mitral valve, between the left atrium and left ventricle.

Blood Pressure:

The force of blood pushing against artery walls.

Bradycardia:

A slower than normal heart rate.

Calcium Score Test:

See Coronary Artery Calcium Scan (cross-referenced for clarity).

Capillaries:

Tiny blood vessels where oxygen and nutrients pass to body tissues.

Cardiac Arrest:

When the heart suddenly stops beating.

Cardiac Output:

The amount of blood the heart pumps in one minute; an important measure of heart function.

Cardiologist:

A doctor who specializes in heart diseases.

Cardiomyopathy:

A disease that weakens the heart muscle.

Cardiovascular Disease:

Any condition affecting the heart and blood vessels.

Cholesterol:

A fatty substance in the blood that can build up in arteries.

Circulatory System:

The system of the heart and blood vessels that moves blood around the body.

Clinical Trial:

A research study that tests how well new medical approaches, such as drugs or procedures, work in people.

Congenital Heart Defect:

A heart problem present at birth.

Congestive Heart Failure:

A condition where the heart can’t pump blood effectively.

Coronary Arteries:

The blood vessels that supply the heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood.

Coronary Artery Calcium Scan:

A CT scan that measures calcium buildup in the coronary arteries to assess heart disease risk.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD):

Narrowing of coronary arteries due to plaque buildup.

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation):

Emergency technique to keep blood flowing when the heart stops.

Defibrillator:

A device that delivers a shock to reset a heart’s rhythm.

Diastolic Pressure:

The bottom number in a blood pressure reading; pressure when the heart relaxes.

Diuretics:

Water pills that help reduce fluid buildup in the body.

Dyspnea:

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

Echocardiogram:

A heart ultrasound that shows how the heart moves and pumps.

Edema:

Swelling, often in the legs or ankles, from fluid buildup.

Ejection Fraction (EF):

A measure of how much blood the heart pumps out with each beat.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG):

A test that checks the heart’s electrical activity.

Embolism:

A blockage in a blood vessel, often caused by a blood clot.

Endocarditis:

An infection or inflammation of the inner lining of the heart, often affecting the valves.

Familial Hypercholesterolemia:

A genetic disorder that causes high cholesterol levels.

Fibrillation:

Rapid, irregular heartbeats that can cause poor blood flow.

Flutter:

A fast but regular heartbeat, often from the upper chambers.

Heart Attack:

A medical emergency that happens when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked, causing heart muscle damage (also called a myocardial infarction).

Heart Block:

A problem with the electrical signals in the heart.

Heart Failure:

A chronic condition where the heart can’t pump blood as well as it should, leading to fatigue and fluid buildup.

Heart Murmur:

An extra or unusual sound during a heartbeat.

Heart Rate:

The number of times the heart beats per minute.

Heart Valve:

A part of the heart that keeps blood flowing in one direction.

Heart Valve Disease:

Any condition where one or more of the heart valves don’t work properly, affecting blood flow through the heart.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension):

When the force of blood in the arteries is too high.

Holter Monitor:

A portable device worn to monitor the heart’s rhythm over time.

Homocysteine:

An amino acid; high levels may raise the risk of heart disease.

Hypertension:

Medical term for high blood pressure.

Hypotension:

Low blood pressure, which may cause dizziness or fainting.

Ischemia:

A lack of blood supply to a part of the body, often the heart.

Left Atrium:

The upper left chamber of the heart that receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs.

Left Ventricle:

The lower left chamber of the heart that pumps blood to the body.

Leaky Valve:

When a heart valve doesn’t close properly and blood leaks backward.

Lipid:

A general term for fats, including cholesterol and triglycerides, in the blood.

Lipid Panel:

A blood test that measures cholesterol and triglycerides.

Lipoproteins:

Molecules that carry cholesterol through the blood.

Lifestyle Changes:

Healthy habits, like exercise and better diet, to improve heart health.

Loop Diuretics:

Strong water pills that help the body get rid of extra fluid.

Lp(a) [Lipoprotein(a)]:

A type of cholesterol that’s largely inherited and raises heart risk.

Lumen:

The inside space of a blood vessel.

Magnesium:

A mineral important for normal heart rhythm.

Mitral Valve:

The valve between the left atrium and left ventricle.

Murmur:

An abnormal sound heard with a heartbeat, often from turbulent blood flow.

Myocardial Infarction:

Medical term for a heart attack.

Myocarditis:

Inflammation of the heart muscle.

Myocardium:

The thick muscular layer of the heart wall.

Nitroglycerin:

A medication that relaxes blood vessels and relieves chest pain.

Nitrates:

A group of drugs used to widen blood vessels and reduce chest pain.

Obesity:

Having too much body fat, which increases the risk of heart disease.

Oxygenated Blood:

Blood that carries oxygen from the lungs to the body.

Pacemaker:

A device implanted to regulate abnormal heart rhythms.

Palpitations:

Feeling like the heart is racing or skipping beats.

Pericarditis:

Inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart.

Pericardium:

The thin, protective membrane around the heart.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI):

A procedure to open blocked heart arteries.

Plaque:

Fatty buildup in arteries that can lead to heart attacks.

Pulmonary Artery:

The blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the lungs.

Pulmonary Vein:

Carries oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart.

Pulse:

The beat you feel in your arteries as your heart pumps blood.

QT Interval:

A part of the heart’s electrical cycle, measured in an ECG.

Radial Artery:

An artery in the wrist used to check pulse or insert catheters.

Rheumatic Heart Disease:

Heart damage from untreated strep throat or rheumatic fever.

Right Atrium:

The upper right chamber of the heart that receives blood from the body.

Right Ventricle:

The lower right chamber that pumps blood to the lungs.

Right-Sided Heart Failure:

When the right side of the heart struggles to pump blood.

Risk Factor:

Anything that increases your chance of heart disease (like smoking, obesity, or high cholesterol).

Saturated Fat:

A type of fat that can raise bad cholesterol levels.

Septal Defect:

A hole in the wall (septum) between the heart’s chambers, often present at birth.

Septum:

The wall that separates the left and right sides of the heart.

Shock:

A dangerous drop in blood flow, often from heart failure or injury.

Sinus Rhythm:

The normal, steady rhythm of the heart.

Statins:

Medications that lower cholesterol levels.

Stent:

A tiny tube placed in an artery to keep it open.

Stress Test:

A test that shows how the heart works during physical activity.

Stroke:

A sudden loss of brain function caused by a blocked or burst blood vessel in the brain.

Superior Vena Cava:

A large vein that carries blood from the upper body back to the heart.

Systolic Pressure:

The top number in a blood pressure reading; pressure when the heart beats.

Tachycardia:

A fast heart rate, usually over 100 beats per minute.

Thrombosis:

The formation of a blood clot in a blood vessel.

Triglycerides:

A type of fat in the blood that can raise heart disease risk.

Troponin:

A protein released when the heart muscle is damaged.

Trans Fat:

An unhealthy fat that raises bad cholesterol and lowers good cholesterol.

Treadmill Test:

Another name for a stress test that measures heart activity during exercise.

Valve:

A part of the heart that opens and closes to control blood flow.

Vasodilator:

A drug that widens blood vessels.

Vein:

A blood vessel that carries blood back to the heart.

Ventricles:

The two lower chambers of the heart.

Ventricular Fibrillation:

A life-threatening heart rhythm that causes the heart to quiver instead of pumping.

Ventricular Tachycardia:

A fast heart rhythm from the ventricles that may lead to cardiac arrest.

Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL):

A type of lipoprotein that carries triglycerides in the blood.

Vital Signs:

Basic measures of body function, including heart rate and blood pressure.

Vitamin D:

A nutrient linked to heart and bone health.

Weight Management:

Controlling body weight to support heart health.

White Coat Hypertension:

High blood pressure readings caused by anxiety at the doctor’s office.

X-ray (Chest):

A basic imaging test to see the heart and lungs.

Zoll Monitor:

A device used in hospitals to monitor and shock the heart.