Glossary

A

Aldosterone antagonists: Also called aldosterone-receptor blockers, this medication is used to treat heart failure. Aldosterone antagonists are a type of diuretic that blocks the hormone aldosterone, which helps the body retain sodium and excrete potassium. They work like other diuretics by increasing urination and ridding the body of sodium, but they retain potassium, which helps lower blood pressure and improves the heart's efficiency.

Alpha blockers: These medications block nerve impulses that tighten blood vessels. (ex: Cardura, Minipress, Hytrin)

Alpha-beta blockers: These medications block nerve impulses that tighten blood vessels. They also help the heart beat slower and less forcefully. (ex: Coreg, Normodyne, Trandate)

Aneurysm: A ballooning or an outpouching of a weakened region of a blood vessel.

Angina: Another term for chest pain, usually in reference to chest pain associated with coronary heart disease.

Angiogram: A type of X-ray that uses a dye injected through a catheter to show how well blood is circulating through vessels. It's often used to detect narrow arteries and blood clots.

Angioplasty: A surgery that opens blocked arteries by inflating a small balloon in the artery, allowing for better blood flow.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: ??

Angiotensin II receptor blockers: These medications help blood vessels relax and widen. (ex: Avapro, Cozaar, Diovan)

apoA-1 Milano: This is a synthetic form of HDL cholesterol. Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic have discovered that giving apoA-1Milano intravenously can actually remove plaque from coronary arteries. While this breakthrough could have an enormous payoff for patients, the drug is still considered experimental and is several years away from widespread use. Cleveland Clinic plans another study to confirm its initial findings. Currently, Pfizer is developing the drug under the name ETC-16.

Arrhythmia: An irregular heartbeat or heart rate. A normal heart beats about 60 times per minute. A heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute is called tachycardia. A heart rate less than 60 beats per minute is called bradycardia.

Artery: A blood vessel that generally carries oxygen-rich blood away from the heart.

Atherosclerosis: A hardening of the artery due to excess plaque accumulation.

Atrial fibrillation: A disorder in which the heart flutters rapidly rather than beating steadily. It is caused by misfiring electrical signals in the heart. Also known as afib.

Automated external defibrillator (AED): A simpler version of the defibrillator cart found in a hospital setting. Its purpose is to shock the heart into a normal rhythm following cardiac arrest.

B

Beta-blocker: A prescription medication used to treat hypertension, angina, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, and occasionally heart attack. Beta-blockers work by preventing (blocking) adrenaline from having an effect on beta receptors in the heart (responsible for heart rate, heartbeat strength, and smooth muscle control), which helps the heart beat slower and less forcefully.

Blood clot: When a blood vessel is injured (for instance, when plaque lining the walls of an artery ruptures), a blood clot forms to help seal the wound.

Blood pressure: When your heart beats, blood is pumped through your arteries. As the blood pushes through your arteries, it exerts pressure on the artery walls. That blood pressure is measured when the heart beats (systolic pressure) as well as between beats (diastolic pressure). It is expressed as a fraction, such as 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury).

Body mass index (BMI): A mathematical assessment of your body weight relative to your height, Body Mass Index (BMI) is often used to estimate a person’s body fat. To calculate your BMI, multiply your weight in pounds by 703, divide by height in inches (5 feet=60 inches), then divide again by height in inches.

Bypass: A surgery that redirects (bypasses) blood flow around clogged arteries to the heart.

C

Calcium channel blockers: These medications prevent calcium from entering the muscle cells of your heart and blood vessels, which helps them relax. (ex: Norvasc, Cardizem CD, Plendil)

Cardiac arrest: Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. It happens without warning. Treatment, such as CPR or defibrillation, must be started immediately to get the heart beating again. A person who has suffered cardiac arrest does not have a pulse, is not breathing, and will not respond to any stimulus.

Cardiology: The study of the heart and blood vessels.

Cardio MPO Test: This is a test for an enzyme, myeloperoxidase (MPO), found in while blood cells. The test was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005 after Cleveland Clinic researchers discovered that when MPO is present at elevated levels in people with heart disease, it indicates an imminent danger of heart attack or death. In a study involving 604 patients who came to the emergency room with chest pain, tests for MPO increased each doctor's ability to predict the risk of heart attack or death over the next 30 days to six months from 50 percent to 95 percent.

Cardiomyopathy: Disease of the heart muscle.

Cardiovascular: Refers to the heart (cardio) and blood vessels (vascular).

Cardiovascular disease: Refers to diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Chest pain: In reference to heart disease, chest pain is also called angina and is often caused by decreased blood flow to the heart.

Cholesterol: A fatty, waxlike substance that is always present in the bloodstream. It's necessary for cell formation, but having too much in your system is a risk factor for heart disease.

Congestive heart failure: Occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's demands. It occurs because the heart cannot pump all the blood it receives, causing blood to back up (congest) in the lungs and other parts of the body.

Coronary artery disease: Refers to problems with the arteries that lead to the heart (often includes narrow or blocked arteries).

CP-HSP60 Test: This is an inflammatory protein in the blood. It appears to spike during heart attacks and episodes of chest pain known as unstable angina and to drop when the heart is stabilized. In Italian studies, 99 percent of people having a heart attack or angina tested positive for the protein. Now that they know the protein is associated with heart attacks and angina, researchers suggest that tests for its presence may someday help identify people at risk of heart disease before it happens.

C-Reactive protein blood test (CRP): Measures C-reactive protein, a substance produced in the liver in response to inflammation in the body. The inflammation may be caused by an injury or an infection and chronic conditions such as high blood pressure. Some doctors now believe that inflammation may be even more important than LDL ("bad") cholesterol in predicting heart disease.

D

Defibrillator: An electronic device that shocks the heart back into a normal rhythm.

Depression: A mental illness that negatively affects how you feel, think, and act. Your emotions interfere with everyday life, and the feeling lasts. Doctors can diagnose depression as mild, moderate, or severe.

Diastolic pressure: Refers to the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart is relaxed and the ventricles are dilated and filled with blood. In a blood pressure reading, diastolic pressure is usually the second number. For example, in a reading of 120/80 mmHg, the diastolic pressure is 80 mmHg.

Digoxin: Also referred to as digitalis, digoxin medication makes the heart beat with more force, allowing it to pump more blood at a slower rate. It's often used to treat heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

E

Echocardiogram: A painless ultrasound test that uses sound waves to display an image of your heart in motion. Cardiologists often use this test, also called an echo, to detect and study irregular heartbeats, problematic valves, heart size and structure, and damaged heart muscle.

Embolism: A blood clot or a fatty deposit that breaks off a larger clot or deposit and floats in the bloodstream.

Electrocardiogram: Also called an EKG or ECG, an electrocardiogram is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart. Each time the heart beats, an electrical impulse is sent through the heart; the electrocardiogram reads these impulses, or "waves." It detects damaged heart muscle, an abnormal heartbeat, the severity of a heart attack, and the progress of heart disease.

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Gastric bypass surgery: A weight-loss surgery in which the stomach is made smaller and part of the small intestine is bypassed, reducing the amount of food a person can eat as well as the amount of calories that can be absorbed.

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HDL cholesterol: High-density lipoprotein, known as "good" cholesterol, transports extra cholesterol from the blood to the liver. HDL cholesterol should be 60 mg/dL or higher.

Heart attack: Occurs when the blood vessels to the heart become blocked by fatty deposits, reducing or halting the blood supply.

Heart disease: An umbrella term for a collection of heart maladies. Any disease or condition that affects the heart falls under heart disease.

Heart failure: Also known as congestive heart failure, heart failure occurs when your heart cannot pump enough blood to meet your body’s demands.

Heart murmur: When the heart beats normally, it makes a "lub-DUB" noise, which is the sound of valves closing. When there's murmur, the noise sounds more like a whooshing or swishing. This is usually the result of the valves not closing properly so some blood regurgitates backward through the valve.

High blood pressure: A risk factor for heart disease, primarily caused by diet, family history, and lifestyle. A blood pressure reading greater than 120/80 is considered prehypertension. More than 140/90 is termed hypertension.

High cholesterol: A risk factor for heart disease, primarily caused by diet and family history. High cholesterol is defined as a measurement greater than 200 mg/dL. LDL cholesterol levels greater than 130 mg/dL and HDL cholesterol levels less than 60 mg/dL are considered high.

Hyperlipidemia: A term for elevated levels of lipids (such as cholesterol and triglycerides) in the bloodstream.

Hypertension: Another term for high blood pressure. A blood pressure reading greater than 120/80 is considered prehypertension. More than 140/90 is termed hypertension.

I

Irregular heartbeat: Also known as arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat is defined as a heart rate above or below the normal rate of 60 beats per minute.

Ischemia: The loss of blood flow to an organ, frequently due to a blocked blood vessel.

Ischemic heart disease: Cardiac ischemia, also called coronary artery disease, occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is completely or partially blocked. This can result in a heart attack or arrhythmia.

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LDL cholesterol: Low-density lipoprotein, or "bad" cholesterol, may lay down fatty deposits on the walls of blood vessels. LDL cholesterol should be less than 130 mg/dL.

Lipid: An organic compound found in cells that helps shape, protect, and insulate the cell. It also provides an energy source. Lipids are generally fats and fat-related substances.

Lipid profile: A blood test that measures total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol.

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Macrovascular disease: A disease that affects large arteries, as in the legs and heart.

Menopause: A gradual process that happens when a woman's ovaries make less estrogen and progesterone and her lifetime supply of eggs is depleted. A woman is considered to have reached menopause when she hasn't menstruated for 12 months. Natural menopause typically occurs between ages 41-59.

Microvascular disease: A disease that affects small arteries, as in the kidneys and eyes.

Murmur: Often caused by heart valves that don't close properly, a murmur occurs when blood leaks backward in the heart when the valve should be closed.

Myocardial infarction: Another name for a heart attack, myocardial infarction is a literal reference to what occurs during a heart attack-tissue death resulting from loss of oxygen (infarction) to the heart muscle (myocardium).

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O

Obesity: An excess of body weight and fat, obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30.0 or greater or about 30 pounds or more overweight.

Open-heart surgery: Refers to any type of heart surgery where the chest is opened.

P

Pacemaker: A battery-powered device implanted in the chest that electrically stimulates the heart to contract. It controls heartbeat as well as heart rate.

Painless pen test: Still in the research phase, this test uses a small, penlike device, called an arterial tonometer, to measure a person's aortic pulse wave, which is the pressure generated when the heart pumps blood into vessels. The pressure-sensing device is placed on the carotid (neck) artery, then the femoral (thigh) artery. Someday it may be used to painlessly screen people for heart disease. The stiffer a person's arteries are-a sign of calcium buildup-the faster his or her pulse wave is; the more elastic and healthy arteries are, the slower the wave.

Pericarditis: Inflammation of the pericardium, the sac that surrounds the heart.

PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE: Blocked arteries or veins in the extremities, most often in the legs and feet.

Plaque: A fatty deposit that accumulates in blood vessels.

Polypill: This is a proposed combination of a statin, aspirin, folic acid (a B vitamin that may lower blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid associated with a higher risk of heart disease), and low doses of three blood pressure drugs into one pill. While controversial, the proposal, made by British researchers, has generated some medical support. The idea continues to be under investigation to see if it is safe and effective.

Power foods: The editors of Heart-Healthy LivingT define power foods as those that are packed with heart-healthy nutritive qualities. Examples of power foods include salmon (thanks to its omega-3 fatty acids) and blueberries (thanks to their high levels of antioxidants).

Pulmonary embolism: A blood clot in the lung. This is a life-threatening condition.

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R

Risk factor: A trait or behavior that increases the risk of heart disease. For example, smoking is considered a risk factor.

S

Shunt: A tube placed in the brain that diverts excess cerebrospinal fluid to another part of the body (frequently the abdomen) where it can be absorbed. A shunt is used to relieve pressure on the brain due to fluid buildup.

Silent heart attack: A heart attack without recognized or easily recognizable symptoms. Occasionally there are no symptoms at all. The heart attack is discovered when an electrocardiogram shows damaged heart muscle.

Sleep apnea: A disorder that causes a person to temporarily stop breathing while he/she sleeps.

Statins: A prescription medication used to reduce cholesterol levels in the body by reducing the body's production of cholesterol and increasing the liver's ability to remove LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream.

Stent: A wire-mesh tube inserted into an artery to help keep it open. It's usually inserted during angioplasty.

Stress test: Used to detect how well your heart functions when stressed by exercise, a stress test involves walking on a treadmill or pedaling a stationary bicycle while wearing a blood pressure cuff and electrodes on your chest, arms, and legs. The electrodes record your heart's activity, and the cuff takes your blood pressure. As the test progresses, the speed of the treadmill or the resistance on the bicycle is gradually increased.

Stroke: Occurs when blood supply to the brain is interrupted and tissue is damaged. Strokes can range from mild to severe, depending on where they occur and the extent of damage.

Sudden cardiac arrest: Also called sudden cardiac death, sudden cardiac arrest is when a malfunction in the heart's electrical system causes the heart to stop beating. Patients die from a lack of oxygen to the brain unless emergency treatment is given immediately. Sudden cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack, which occurs when a blocked artery results in damage to the heart muscle by keeping blood and oxygen from flowing to it.

Sudden cardiac death: Also called sudden cardiac arrest, SCD happens when the heart unexpectedly stops working and the person stops breathing. Patients die unless emergency treatment is given immediately.

Syncope: A temporary loss of consciousness due to a sudden decrease in blood flow to the brain. Often a result of low blood pressure, syncope is also known as passing out or fainting.

Systolic pressure: The pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts and the left ventricle actively pushes blood into the arteries. In a blood pressure reading, systolic pressure is usually the first, higher number. For instance, in a reading of 120/80 mmHg, the systolic pressure is 120 mmHg.

T

Torcetrapib: This drug blocks the action of CETP (cholesteryl ester transfer protein), a protein that lowers HDL ("good") cholesterol levels. Pfizer is developing it in combination with the statin drug Lipitor. It is in the final phase of clinical trials and could reach the market this year.

Triglycerides: A common blood fat that triggers the liver to create more cholesterol. If blood glucose is high, triglycerides are usually high.

U

Ultrasound screening: A painless test that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the body, an ultrasound screening might produce images of the heart for evaluation or images of arteries to detect plaque buildup.

V

Valve: Valves in the heart open and close to allow blood to flow in one direction. There are four valves in the heart: the tricuspid (between right atrium and right ventricle), the mitral (between left atrium and ventricle), the pulmonary (between right ventricle and pulmonary artery), and the aortic (between left ventricle and aorta). Some valves have two flaps (also known as leaflets or cusps), while others have three.

Varicose veins: Occurs when veins become twisted and enlarged.

Vasculitis: An inflammation of the blood vessels.

Veins: Blood vessels that take blood from the body to the heart.

Venous incompetence: Occurs when blood flows the wrong way in the veins.

Venous thrombosis: A blood clot in the veins.

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