Site Index

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI): Damage or death to a part of the heart muscle due to an insufficient supply of blood. (See Heart Attack) The term “Acute” implies that the myocardial infarction is in the process of occurring.

Angina Pectoris: Chest pain or discomfort resulting from the inability of coronary arteries to provide enough blood (which carries oxygen and nutrients) to the heart muscle.

Angiogram: The image of coronary arteries produced during coronary catheterization using a dye visible with X-rays.

Angioplasty: A surgical technique that widens narrowed arteries, usually by a balloon that, when deflated, is threaded into the affected area, then inflated to expand the hole through which the blood flows through the artery.

Anticoagulant: A drug that thins the blood to reduce the risk of developing a clot.

Antihypertensive: A class of drugs used to lower a patient’s blood pressure.

Arteriosclerosis: Commonly referred to as hardening of the arteries. This includes a number of conditions where the artery walls thicken and loose elasticity. (See Atherosclerosis)

Atherosclerosis: A type of arteriosclerosis where deposits of fat, cholesterol and other substances form a plaque, which lines the walls of the artery and reduces the amount of blood flowing through the area.

B
Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (ßhCG): A laboratory test to help determine if a patient is pregnant.

Biochemical Markers: Proteins released into the bloodstream by cells, which can be used to detect the presence or absence of a disease.

Blood Clot: A gelatin-like mass of blood components resulting when a vein or artery is injured or if blood flow is impaired. These can cause a heart attack.

Blood Pressure: The force exerted on the artery walls by the blood as it is being pumped through the arteries.

Body Mass Index (BMI): A calculation that is arrived at by dividing a patient’s weight (in kilograms) by height (in meters squared) to determine and correlate with body fat.

B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP): A test that detects a key marker indicative of congestive heart failure. (See NT-proBNP)

C
Cardiac: Relating to the heart.

Cardiac Arrest: The stopping of the heart beat. (See Heart Attack or Myocardial Infarction)

Cardiac Catheterization: The technique of examining the heart via a catheter (a thin, narrow tube).

Cardiology: The study of the heart and its functions.

C-Reactive Protein: A molecule produced by the body’s immune system during inflammation.

Cardiac Markers: Proteins released into the bloodstream by damaged, dying, or dead heart muscle cells, which can be used to detect the presence of a myocardial infarction.

Cardiovascular: Relating to the heart and blood vessels.

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD): A medical condition relating to the heart and the blood vessels or circulation.

Catheterization: The threading of a small tube into an artery or other passageway in the body.

CHF (Also referred to as Heart Failure): A chronic inability of the heart to maintain an adequete output of blood from one or both ventricles resulting in manifest congestion and overdistension of certain veins and organs with blood, and in an inadequate blood supply to the body.

Cholesterol: A type of lipid (fat-like substance) that forms part of cell membranes and is used in a number of biochemical processes. Cholesterol is vitally important to the body, but an excess of certain types of cholesterol in the blood can lead to atherosclerosis.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF, also referred to as Heart Failure): The chronic inability of the heart to pump out all of the blood, as it returns. This results in a back up of the blood in the veins and potential fluid build up throughout the body.

Coronary Arteries: The two main arteries and related blood vessels that nourish the heart muscle.

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A surgical technique in which areas of diseased arteries are removed and replaced by sections of healthy blood vessels from elsewhere in the body to help ensure an adequate supply of blood to the heart.

C (continued)
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Narrowing and hardening (atherosclerosis) of the coronary arteries that reduces the flow of blood to the heart muscle.

Coronary Thrombosis: The formation of a clot in an artery that feeds blood to the heart; Occlussion of a coronary vessel by a blood clot.

Creatine Kinase: An enzyme (a type of protein) used as a cardiac marker; all cells in the body have creatine kinase, but the type used as a cardiac marker is found mostly in the heart.

Cardiac Troponin I (cTnI): A specific form of protein found in heart muscles. (See Troponin) Blood tests with high levels of cTnI can help detect a heart muscle injury.

D
D-Dimer: A degradation product of fibrin from a clot. This product is measured to help rule out a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): A blood clot that forms in the larger veins of the body, most commonly in the leg.

E
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): A technique for measuring and recording the electrical activity of the heart muscle. Changes in the ECG pattern may indicate damage to the heart muscle or other heart problem.

Embolism: A blood clot that develops in one part of the body and travels to another. (See Pulmonary Embolism); Obstruction of a blood vessel by the impaction of a solid body (eg., thrombi, fat globules, tumor cells) or an air bubble.

Enzyme: A type of protein that accelerates biochemical processes within the body.

F
Fibrinolysis: The dissolution of fibrin from a blood clot.

G

H
HDL Cholesterol: Often considered a good type of cholesterol because high levels are associated with a level of protection against heart attack.

Heart Attack: Damage or death to a part of the heart muscle due to an insufficient supply of blood. (See Acute Myocardial Infarction)

HF: A chronic inability of the heart to maintain an adequete output of blood from one or both ventricles resulting in manifest congestion and overdistension of certain veins and organs with blood, and in an inadequate blood supply to the body. Also known as Congestive Heart Failure.

Heart Failure: The chronic inability of the heart to pump out all of the blood, as it returns. This results in a back up of the blood in the veins and potential fluid build up throughout the body. Also known as Congestive Heart Failure.

Hemostasis: The arrest or stoppage of bleeding.

High Blood Pressure: A sustained level of blood pressure above the range considered normal.

Hypertension: High blood pressure.

I
Inflammation: Part of the body’s response to injury or disease in which cells and molecules of the immune system attempt to attack the causes of disease or injury, and repair damage.

Insulin: A pancreatic hormone that enables the body to metabolize glucose (a type of sugar) properly.

Ischemia: Insufficient blood supply to part of the body, such as the heart, because of partial or complete blockage of one or more blood vessels.

J

K

L
Lipid: A fatty substance in the blood.

M
Myocardial Infarction (MI): Synonymous with “heart attack”; an area of dead or dying tissue in the heart muscle (myocardium) resulting from insufficient or absent blood flow. “Acute” myocardial infarction describes a heart attack that is in the process of occurring.

Myocardial Ischemia: A condition caused by an insufficient flow of blood to the heart.

Myocardium: The wall of the heart, which is made up of muscle used to pump blood out of the heart.

Myoglobin: An oxygen-transporting muscle protein.

N
Natriuretic Peptide: A substance that increases urinary excretion of sodium, usually a result of decreased tubular reabsorption of sodium ions in the kidney (See BNP or NT-proBNP).

Necrosis: Death of cells or tissues (adj. necrotic).

N-terminal prohormone Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP)*: A test that detects a key marker indicative of congestive heart failure. (See BNP)

O
Obesity: The condition of being significantly overweight and defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 or greater, or approximately 30 pounds or more over ideal body weight.

Occluded Artery: An artery that has restricted blood flow due to a blockage.

P
Perfusion: To introduce a liquid into tissue or an organ by circulation; The forcing of blood, through arteries, into specific regions of the body.

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A surgical procedure that widens narrowed arteries, usually by a balloon that, when deflated, is threaded into the affected area, then inflated to expand the hole through which the blood flows through the artery. (See Angioplasty)

Plaque: A deposit consisting of fatty substances that adheres to the walls of an artery and can build up and block the flow of blood.

Platelets: A blood component that aids in the first stage of clotting. (See Hemostasis)

POCT1-A: A standard established by NCCLS to ensure seamless communications between point-of-care instrument and a laboratory’s or hospital’s information system.

Pulmonary: Relating to the lungs.

Pulmonary Embolism: Blockage of a pulmonary (lung) blood vessel caused by the lodging of a clot from elsewhere in the body.

Q

Q-waves: The first downward deflection after the p.wave and/or preceding the first upright deflection. The type of abnormality can help determine the type of injury to the heart; A specific part of the pattern generated by an electrocardiogram. Q-waves are often changed as the result of myocardial infarction.

R
Reperfusion: One or more techniques that are used to restore the blood supply by removing or dissolving blockages caused by clots or narrowed arteries. The techniques include thrombolytics, angioplasty and / or surgery.

Revascularization: Reestablishment of blood flow to a part of the body. The regrowth of blood vessels into a tissue or organ after interruption of its normal blood supply.

Risk Factors: Health condition(s) or behavior(s) that are associated with an increased risk of developing a particular disease (such as coronary artery disease).

Risk Stratification: The assessment of risk for a disease or outcome in a patient.

S
Silent Ischemia: A condition of insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle that does not cause any outward symptoms such as the pain or pressure that causes Angina Pectoris.

Stable Angina: Chest discomfort that is predictable and usually occurs during exertion or when undergoing mental or emotional stress.

Stroke: Any event related to impairment of blood flow to and within the brain, usually lasting more than 24 hours.

Sudden Cardiac Death: An abrupt loss of heart function and death due to a thrombus that blocks a significant coronary artery.

T
Thromboembolism: The obstruction of a blood vessel by a thrombus (clot) that has become detached from obstruction or occlusion of an artery or vein from a clot in the vascular system.

Thrombolytic: Clot-dissolving or breaking up of a clot.

Thrombus: A blood clot that forms inside a blood vessel or chamber of the heart.

Triage: The initial assessment of patient’s condition to rapidly enable appropriate treatment.

Troponin: A type of protein that helps muscles contract (work). Different forms of troponin are found in different muscles in the body. The types found in the heart are specific to heart muscle and make good cardiac markers.

U
Ultrasound: Production of a visible image from a high frequency sound used in medical diagnosis that is inaudible to human ears because it is too high in frequency (pitch).

Unstable Angina: Unexpected chest pain or discomfort that may occur while at rest.

V
Vascular: Referring to blood vessels.

Venous Thromboembolism (VTE): Obstruction or occlusion of a vein from a clot in the vascular system.

W

X

Y

Z

* In development.