Lesson 3: The Cardiovascular System Chapter 4: Testing and Treatment of the Cardiovascular System

Angiography

radiographic (x-ray) examination of blood vessels after injection of a contrast medium into the bloodstream

cardiac catheterization

inserts a thin, hollow tube into a large blood vessel that leads to the heart to determine how well the heart is functioning

doppler ultrasound

uses sound waves to measure blood flow in vessels

echocardiography

uses sound waves to produce images of heart

electrocardiography

records the electrical activity of the heart

holter monitor

compact ECG, records abnormal heart rhythms over a 24-hour period

anticoagulants; blood-thinners

slow blood coagulation to prevent new clots from forming

antiarrhythmics

drugs used to suppress abnormal heart rhythms 

antihypertensives

class of drugs used to treat hypertension

cholesterol-lowering drugs

drugs that reduce undesirable cholesterol levels in blood 

diuretics; water pills

treats hypertension and heart failure by increasing the excretion of water from the body

thrombolytics

drugs that are administered to some patients having a heart attack or stroke to dissolve clots quickly and restore blood flow

angioplasty

involves inserting a balloon-tipped catheter into a blocked blood vessel, then inflating the balloon to open the vessel and restore blood flow

cardiac ablaton

threads a flexible catheter through blood vessels into the heart to destroy (ablate) abnormal tissue that triggers arrhythmias

carotid endarterectomy

a procedure to remove a plaque deposit that is clogging a carotid artery

coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

also called bypass surgery, a segment of healthy blood vessel from another part of the body is connected to a coronary artery to make a detour around a blockage

pacemaker

a device that is implanted under the skin to shock the heart electronically into a regular rhythm