Cardiovascular Disease Glossary

Umbrella term for conditions caused by sudden reduction in blood flow to the heart muscle.

The resistance against which the heart must work to eject blood during systole.

Absence of wall motion in a segment of the heart muscle.

Chest pain or discomfort caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle.

Imaging technique using contrast dye to visualize blood vessels and assess for blockages or abnormalities.

Medication that prevents blood clot formation by interfering with the clotting process.

A life-threatening condition where blood separates the layers of the aortic wall through an intimal tear.

Backward flow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle due to incomplete closure of the aortic valve.

Any deviation from the normal heart rhythm, including irregular, fast, or slow heartbeats.

Common heart rhythm disorder characterized by rapid, irregular electrical activity in the heart's upper chambers.

Direct thrombin inhibitor anticoagulant used during percutaneous coronary interventions as an alternative to heparin plu...

B-type natriuretic peptide - a hormone biomarker used to diagnose and monitor heart failure.

Abnormally slow heart rate, typically defined as fewer than 60 beats per minute in adults.

Delay or blockage in electrical conduction through the heart's bundle branches.

Acronym for coronary artery bypass grafting, surgical procedure to reroute blood around blocked arteries.

Blood proteins released when heart muscle is damaged, used to diagnose and monitor acute coronary syndromes.

Severe weight loss and muscle wasting that occurs in advanced heart failure patients.

Invasive procedure using catheters to diagnose and treat coronary artery and heart valve diseases.

The volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute, calculated as heart rate × stroke volume.

Life-threatening compression of the heart due to fluid accumulation in the pericardial space, impeding cardiac filling.

Disease of the heart muscle that affects the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.

Emergency procedure combining chest compressions and rescue breathing to maintain circulation during cardiac arrest.

Procedure to restore normal heart rhythm using electrical shock or medications.

Medical procedure involving insertion of a catheter into blood vessels to diagnose or treat heart conditions.