Cardiology

AED

a portable, easy-to-use device that checks a person's heart rhythm during a suspected cardiac arrest

Heart Valves

one-way doors within the heart that open to let blood move forward and shut tightly to prevent backward flow

Arteries

carries blood away from the heart (high pressure), while veins return it (low pressure)

Laminar Flow

a type of fluid motion where the liquid or gas moves in smooth, parallel layers (or streamlines) that do not mix or break apart

The Hearts Conduction System

built-in electrical wiring, consisting of specialized cells that generate and send signals to control the rhythm and pace of the heartbeat

CPR

an emergency life-saving procedure that is done when someone's breathing or heartbeat has stopped

Chest pain

discomfort or pain in the chest, felt as pressure, tightness, squeezing, or burning, often radiating to the arms, neck, jaw, or back

Myocardial Infraction (MI)

caused by decreased or complete cessation of blood flow to a portion of the myocardium

Atypical Myocardial Infarction (AMI)

involves heart attack symptoms that deviate from classic chest pain, often appearing as indigestion, shortness of breath (dyspnea), fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sweating, back/jaw pain, or stomach discomfort

Coronary Artery Disease

a common heart condition where the arteries supplying blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked by plaque buildup

Angina

chest pain, discomfort, or pressure that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood, typically caused by narrowed coronary arteries

Aneurysm

an abnormal bulge, "ballooning," or weakening in the wall of an artery

Stroke

a "brain attack" that occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked (ischemic) or a blood vessel bursts (hemorrhagic), depriving brain cells of oxygen

Embolism

a sudden blockage of a blood vessel by a traveling particle

Thrombus

a blood clot that forms inside a blood vessel or chamber of the heart and remains attached to that spot

Hypertension (HTN)

when the force of blood against your artery walls is consistently too high, making your heart work harder to pump blood, which can damage arteries and lead to serious issues like heart attacks or strokes

Hypertension

medical term for low blood pressure

Syncope

the medical term for fainting, a brief, temporary loss of consciousness and posture due to a sudden, temporary drop in blood flow to the brain, causing the person to collapse but quickly regain alertness

Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC)

the moment a patient’s heart starts beating on its own again with a pulse and blood flow after cardiac arrest

CHF

a chronic condition where the heart can't pump enough blood, oxygen, and nutrients to meet the body's needs, causing fluid to back up (congest) in the lungs, legs, and other areas, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling

Shock

a life-threatening medical emergency where the body’s tissues and organs do not receive enough oxygen-rich blood, causing them to fail

Basic Life Support (BLS)

a set of emergency, non-invasive procedures used to sustain life, keep blood flowing, and oxygenate the brain during cardiac arrest or breathing failure

Ischemia

lack of oxygen

Myocardium

heart muscle

Infarction

tissue death

bradycardia

unusually slow heart rhythm, less than 60 beats/mins

Arrhythmia

abnormal heart rhythm

Asystole

Absence of heart electrical activity

Tachycardia

rapid heart rhythm, greater than 100 beats/mins

Atherosclerosis

calcium and cholesterol buildup inside blood vessels

aorta

bodys main artery

Coronary arteries

blood vessels that supply blood to the myocardium

Automaticity

allows a cardiac muscle cell to contract spontaneously without a stimulus from a new source

Left ventricle

where the aorta receives its blood supply from

Capillaries

tiny blood vessels that are approximately one cell thick