OT 200 Chapter 5

ACE inhibitor

medication administered to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure

anemia

a deficiency of red blood cells

aneurysm

the ballooning out of an artery wall at a point where it has grown weak

angina

chest pain due to inadequate blood flow to the myocardium

angioplasty

mechanically widening a blood vessel; surgically repairing

anticoagulant

medication that slows coagulation; stops formation of new blood clots

aplastic anemia

a conditioned characterized by failure of blood cell production

arrhythmia

a loss of the normal rhythm of the heartbeat

atherectomy

surgical removal of plaque buildup from the interior of an artery

atherosclerosis

hardening of arteries due to buildup of plaque

atrial fibrillation

rapid uncontrolled twitching of the muscular wall of the atria

automated external defibrillator

portable electronic equipment that externally shocks the heart to restore cardiac rhythm

beta-blocker

medication to reduce the workload of the heart; slows heart rate

bradycardia

abnormally slow resting heart rate; less than 60 beats per minute

cardiac arrest

when the heart abruptly stops beating or cannot pump blood effectively

cardiac catheterization

a diagnostic procedure in which a catheter is passed into a vein or artery and guided into the heart

cardiomyopathy

disease of the heart muscle

carotid endarterectomy

surgical removal of the lining of a portion of the carotid artery

cholesterol

a fatty substance that travels through the blood

chronic venous insufficiency

a condition in which venous circulation is inadequate due to partial vein blockage or leakage of venous valves

coronary thrombosis

damage to the heart muscle caused by a thrombus

defibrillation

the emergency use of electrical shock to restore the heart’s normal rhythm

diuretic

medication that tends to increase the secretion of urine

electrocardiogram

a record of the electrical activity of the myocardium

embolism

the sudden blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus

embolus

a foreign object that is circulating in the blood

endocarditis

inflammation of the inner lining of the heart

hemoglobin

oxygen-carrying blood protein in erythrocytes

hemolytic anemia

condition characterized by an inadequate number of erythrocytes due to bursting

hemostasis

to stop or control bleeding

leukemia

cancer characterized by an increase in abnormal white blood cells

leukocytes

white blood cells

leukopenia

a decrease in the number of white blood cells

megaloblastic anemia

a blood disorder characterized by abnormally large red blood cells

myelodysplastic syndrome

cancer characterized by insufficient production of blood cells due to bone marrow dysfunction

myocardial infarction

heart attack; occlusion of one or more coronary arteries caused by plaque buildup

orthostatic hypotension

low blood pressure that occurs upon standing up

pericardium

a double-walled membranous sac that surrounds the heart

pernicious anemia

anemia caused by inability to absorb vitamin B12 into the body

phlebitis

inflammation of a vein

Raynaud's disease

a peripheral arterial occlusive disease in which intermittent attacks are triggered by cold or stress

sepsis

infection that results from bacteria entering the bloodstream

sickle cell anemia

a genetic disorder in which erythrocytes take on an abnormal curved or sickle shape

tachycardia

abnormally rapid heartbeat; over 100 beats per minute

temporal arteritis

inflammation of the temporal arteries

thallium stress test

a nuclear imaging performed to evaluate how well blood flows through the coronary arteries of the heart muscle during exercise

thrombocytopenia

a condition characterized by an abnormally small number of platelets (cells that form clots) in the blood

thrombolytic

medication that dissolves or causes the thrombus to break up

thrombosis

abnormal condition of having a thrombus

thrombotic occlusion

the blocking of an artery by a thrombus

thrombus

a blood clot attached to the inerior wall of an artery or vein

transfusion reaction

transferring blood from one person to another

varicose veins

abnormally swollen veins

ventricular fibrillation

rapid, irregular, and useless contractions of the ventricles

ventricular tachycardia

a very rapid heartbeat that begins within the ventricles

venous thromboembolism

a blood clot that originates in a vein

coronary artery diease

atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries that reduces the blood supply to the heart muscle

mitral valve prolapse

abnormal protrusion of a heart valve; valve flops backward