Cardiovascular Disorders

Atherosclerosis

Buildup of fatty deposits on arterial walls

Coronary artery disease

Atherosclerosis affecting coronary arteries

Ischemic heart disease

Reduced blood supply to heart muscle

Angina pectoris

Chest pain from inadequate oxygen supply to heart muscle

Acute Coronary Syndrome

Sudden reduced blood flow to heart

Silent myocardial infarction

Heart attack without typical symptoms

Hypertension

Persistently elevated blood pressure

Primary hypertension

High blood pressure with no identifiable cause

Secondary hypertension

High blood pressure from underlying condition

Orthostatic hypotension

Low blood pressure upon standing up

Aneurism

Abnormal bulge in blood vessel wall

Thrombus

Blood clot in blood vessel or heart

Embolism

The blockage of a blood vessel by a clot or other substance that has traveled through the bloodstream.

Varicose veins

Enlarged, twisted veins, usually in the legs, caused by weakened valves and vein walls.

Chronic venous insufficiency

A condition where the veins cannot pump enough blood back to the heart, leading to blood pooling in the legs.

Stasis ulcer

A sore that develops on the skin due to poor blood flow, often occurring in the legs as a result of chronic venous insufficiency.

Deep venous thrombosis

The formation of a blood clot in a deep vein, typically in the legs, which can cause pain and swelling.

Pericarditis

Inflammation of the pericardium, the thin sac-like membrane surrounding the heart.

Cardiomyopathy

A disease of the heart muscle that affects its ability to pump blood effectively.

Valvular dysfunction

Abnormal functioning of one or more of the heart valves, leading to disrupted blood flow.

Heart murmur

An unusual sound heard between heartbeats, often indicative of turbulent blood flow within the heart.

Dysrhythmia

An abnormal heart rhythm.

Arrhythmia

Another term for an abnormal heart rhythm, used interchangeably with dysrhythmia.

Sinus rhythm

The normal, regular rhythm of the heart set by the natural pacemaker, the sinoatrial node.

Brachycardia

An abnormally slow heart rate, typically below 60 beats per minute.

Tachycardia

An abnormally fast heart rate, typically above 100 beats per minute.

Sinus arrhythmia

A natural variation in heart rate during the breathing cycle.

Atrial fibrillation

A common type of arrhythmia where the atria beat irregularly and rapidly.

Heart block

A condition where the electrical signals in the heart are partially or completely blocked, affecting heart rhythm.

Ventricular fibrillation

A severe arrhythmia where the ventricles quiver instead of contracting properly, leading to sudden cardiac arrest if not treated immediately.

Asystole

A state of no electrical activity in the heart, resulting in no contractions and no blood flow, also known as cardiac arrest.

Heart failure

A condition where the heart is unable to pump sufficient blood to meet the body's needs.

Preload

The degree of stretch of the heart muscle fibers at the end of diastole, just before contraction.

Frank-Starling Law of the Heart

The principle that the stroke volume of the heart increases in response to an increase in the volume of blood filling the heart.

Afterload

The resistance the heart must overcome to eject blood during systole.

Contractility

The inherent strength and vigour of the heart's contraction during systole.

Inotropy

The force of heart muscle contraction.

Systolic heart failure

A type of heart failure where the heart muscle cannot contract forcefully enough during systole.

Diastolic heart

A type of heart failure where the heart muscle cannot relax properly during diastole, leading to inadequate filling of the heart.

Left heart failure

Heart failure that primarily affects the left side of the heart, leading to pulmonary congestion and reduced cardiac output.

Congive heart failure

A condition where the heart's function as a pump is inadequate to meet the body's needs, causing fluid buildup in tissues.

Right heart failure

Heart failure that primarily affects the right side of the heart, leading to systemic congestion and edema.

Cor pulmonale

Right heart failure due to chronic lung disease causing increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries.

Decompensated heart failure

Worsening heart failure symptoms despite treatment, indicating the heart is unable to maintain adequate circulation.

Dyspnea

Difficulty or labored breathing.

Orthopnea

Difficulty breathing when lying flat.

Edema

Swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in the body's tissues.

Shock

A life-threatening condition where blood flow is insufficient to meet the body's needs, leading to cellular and tissue hypoxia.

Cardiogenic shock

Shock resulting from the heart's inability to pump sufficient blood, usually due to severe heart damage.

Hypovolemic shock

Shock caused by significant loss of blood or fluid, leading to inadequate blood volume.

Obstructive shock

Shock due to a physical obstruction in the circulatory system, such as a pulmonary embolism.

Distributive shock

Shock due to widespread vasodilation, leading to a relative reduction in blood volume.

Neurogenic shock

A type of distributive shock caused by the loss of sympathetic nervous system control over blood vessel tone.

Anaphylactic shock

A severe allergic reaction causing widespread vasodilation and increased vascular permeability.

Septic shock

A type of distributive shock caused by a severe infection leading to an overwhelming inflammatory response.