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Heart-Care Dictionary

Angina
Usually chest pain that radiates to the shoulders, arms, neck and lower jaw. It can feel like pressing or squeezing, and is often perceived as discomfort rather than pain. Angina usually lasts one to 10 minutes, and can be caused by meals, exertion and/or emotional stress.
Angioplasty
See Coronary angioplasty
Aorta
The large artery that receives blood from the heart's left ventricle and distributes it to the body.
Arrhythmia
An abnormal rhythm of the heart.
Arteriosclerosis
Commonly called hardening of the arteries; includes a variety of conditions that cause artery walls to thicken and lose elasticity.
Artery
Any one of a series of blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the various parts of the body. Arteries have thick, elastic walls that can expand as blood flows through them.
Cardiac catheterization
The procedure itself involves threading a thin, flexible tube into the heart and coronary arteries. This is most often diagnostic in nature, answering questions about any blocked arteries and how many. Once that information is determined, the cardiac team evaluates appropriate treatment, such as angioplasty (which may be performed at the same time) or surgery.
Cardiac resynchronization therapy
This is a new treatment where physicians use a cardiac pacemaker in a novel way, to pace both heart ventricles simultaneously to "resynchronize" the contractions of the heart. The cardiologist also inserts an implantable defibrillator because heart-failure patients are at increased risk for sudden cardiac death due to ventricle arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat).
Cholesterol
A fat-like substance found in animal tissue and present only in foods from animal sources, such as whole milk dairy products, meat, fish, poultry, animal fats and egg yolks.
Congestive heart failure
When the muscle of the heart is damaged (most commonly, from a heart attack), the strength of the muscle wall of the heart decreases. The heart's pumping power cannot keep up with the body's needs. Blood flow from the heart to muscles and organs becomes weaker, causing patients to feel tired and run-down. Fluid can seep out of the veins and build up in the lungs and other parts of the body, causing swelling (edema).
Coronary angioplasty
This is a catheterization procedure performed in the "cath" lab by a cardiologist. A thin, flexible tube is inserted into the heart and coronary arteries. A tiny balloon-like device can be inflated to push the blocking plaque against the wall of the artery to improve blood flow. Stents are also commonly used during coronary angioplasty. In this procedure, a mesh tube is expanded to the exact shape of the artery to free up blood flow.
Coronary artery bypass graft
Open heart surgery may be necessary when the cardiac team determines that the blockages are not treatable by catheterization lab procedures. Cardiothoracic surgeons bypass the blockages by taking pieces of vein or artery from a leg or arm and attaching this healthy vessel above and below the blockage.
Heart-valve surgery
If a heart valve is not functioning correctly, it needs to be replaced or repaired by a cardiac surgeon. Most commonly, this open heart surgery involves replacing the damaged valve with an artificial valve.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
A carrier of cholesterol believed to transport cholesterol away from the tissues and to the liver, where it can be removed from the bloodstream.
Implantable defibrillator
This is a very small, automatic defibrillator inserted on the collarbone of patients that can correct life-threatening irregular heartbeat problems, called arrhythmia. An electric shock delivered through tiny electrodes on the heart help correct the rhythm. More on arrhythmia.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
The main carrier of "harmful" cholesterol in the blood.
Maze procedure
This procedure uses radiofrequency on open-heart patients suffering from atrial fibrillation (a disturbance in the heart's normal rhythm). The procedure blocks atrial fibrillation through tiny incisions that create a path, or "maze," that channels the normal electrical impulses in one direction from the top of the heart to the bottom.
Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
An M.I., or heart attack, can begin with the same feelings as angina (see above), but the pain episodes last longer, from 20 minutes to several hours. A heart attack causes irreversible muscle damage to the heart because blood cannot flow properly, robbing the heart muscle cells of oxygen. Heart Attack Warning Signs
Pacemaker
This commonly implanted device is very helpful for older adults and can prevent congestive heart failure by helping the heart beat at a regular, even rate.