Scroll through the page to find a particular word, or clickon a letter below to see words that begin with that letter. Theglossary is cross-referenced, so clicking on an underlined word willbring you to its definition.

This glossary is intended for informational purposes only.Please see your health care provider with any questions about yourhealth or your treatment.

A

Angina pectoris (angina): Commonly called “chest pain.” Angina is marked by spasms ofintense pain in the chest area and a feeling ofsuffocation.

Aorta:One of the largest blood vessels ofthe heart. The aorta is the trunk from which the arterial system branches out, carryingblood away from the heart to the entire body.

Arrhythmia:An abnormal heartbeat rhythm. There are severaltypes of arrhythmias,such as bradycardia, fibrillation, flutter and tachycardia.

Arteriosclerosis: Adisease in which the body’s arteriesbecome thicker and harder, losing their elasticity and flexibility.Arteriosclerosis often leads to hypertension.

Artery:A blood vessel that carries bloodaway from the heart to the rest of the body. Also see aorta.

Atherosclerosis:A type of arteriosclerosis.Fatty substances called plaques build upon the inner walls of the arteries, making them hard andnarrow.

Atrium (pl.atria): One of two chambers(left and right) in the upper half of the heart. The atria take inblood from the veins and pump it downto the ventricles. 

B

Bloodvessel: One of a network oftubelike structures that carry blood throughout the body. Seeartery, capillary or vein.

Bradycardia:An abnormally slow heartbeat. Bradycardia is a type of arrhythmia.      

C

Cardiacarrest: Any instance in whichthe heart stops beating, temporarily orpermanently.

Cardiomyopathy:A general term describing diseases of the heart muscle, such as dilatation or hypertrophy.

Chamber:One of four compartments of the heart that holds and pumps blood. Seeatrium or ventricle.

Cholesterol:A chemical in the cells and body fluids of animals. Too muchcholesterol in the blood can causearteriosclerosis. Also see plaque, HDL,LDL and triglyceride.

Congestiveheart failure: See heartfailure.

Coronary artery disease (CAD, coronary heart disease): A common form ofheart disease in which theheart’sblood vessels are blocked, such asbyatherosclerosis or thrombosis. The blockage results in reducedflow through the blood vessels.

Coronary bypass (CABG): A surgical procedure to divert blood flow around ablockage in the heart or its vessels.Usually, a vein is borrowed fromthepatient’s leg and used to create a“shortcut” from one area of the heart toanother

D

Dilatation:A type of cardiomyopathy that leads toenlarged heart chambers and thinningheart walls   

E

Embolism:A blood vessel blockage created by aforeign particle circulating throughout the body. The particle iscalled anembolus (pl.emboli).     

F

Fibrillation: A very fast, irregularheartbeat (compare to flutter).Fibrillation is a type of arrhythmiaand may occur in either the atria or theventricles.

Flutter:A very fast, regular heartbeat (compare to fibrillation). Flutter is a type of arrhythmia and may occur in either the atria or the ventricles.

H

HDL (high-densitylipoprotein): Commonly called “good cholesterol.” Normal HDL levels in the bloodindicate less likelihood of developingatherosclerosis. Also see cholesterol, LDLand triglyceride.

Heartfailure: A condition in whichthe heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. In congestive heartfailure(CHF), a common type of heart failure, the heart cannot pump incomingblood from the veins back out quicklyenough. Symptoms of CHF usually include hypertension and edema.

Hypercholesterolemia:Commonly called “highcholesterol.”Hypercholesterolemia may indicate abnormal levels of HDL, LDL ortriglycerides in theblood.

Hypertension:Commonly called “high bloodpressure.” Hypertension is a conditiondiagnosed by chronic high blood pressurein thearteries. It can be due tofamily history, highstress or poor diet.

Hypertrophy:A type of cardiomyopathy in which theheart muscle, particularly the ventricle wall, thickens and grows abnormallylarge.  

I

Infarction:Death of body tissues or organs when a thrombus or embolus blocks blood flow. Also see myocardial infarction.

Ischemia:Lack of adequate blood flow to a specific area of tissue. In the heart,ischemia may cause angina.

L

LDL (low-densitylipoprotein): Commonly called “bad cholesterol.” High LDL levels in the bloodindicate an increased likelihood of developingatherosclerosis. Also see cholesterol, HDLand triglyceride.

M

Myocardial infarction (MI): Commonly called “heart attack.” MI is the permanent death of anarea of heart muscle. When arteries are blocked (byatherosclerosis,emboli or thrombi), not enough blood can get to some areas of theheart; the cells in these areas die from lack ofoxygen.

Myocardium:The heart muscle.       

P

Plaque: Akind of embolus that results from thecrystallization andbuildup of cholesterol on the interior wall of an artery. Plaque is associated withatherosclerosis and may warn ofpotentially serious heart disease.

T

Tachycardia:An abnormally fast heartbeat. Tachycardia is a type of arrhythmia.

Thrombosis:The blockage of a blood vessel by aclot that forms in its interior. Athrombus (pl. thrombi) is a clot thatremains in the vessel where it formed. If part of the clot breaks offand blocks another vessel, it is called athromboembolism. Also seeembolism.

Triglyceride:A type of fat produced and stored by animals when they digestcarbohydrates, such as grain products. It is present in the compoundsHDL and LDL and is part of your overall cholesterol level.

Ventricle:One of two chambers (left and right) inthe lower half of the heart. The ventricles take in blood from theatria and pump it into thearteries to be carried throughout thebody.