Cardiovascular Lecture Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, diseases, diagnostics, and treatments from the cardiovascular hypertension and related lecture notes.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM)

24-hour automated measurement of blood pressure; hypertension is diagnosed if the 24-hour average BP is ≥125/75 mm Hg or daytime average ≥130/80 mm Hg.

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring (HBPM)

Patient-performed BP readings taken over several days at home; hypertension is diagnosed if the average is ≥130/80 mm Hg.

Stage 1 Hypertension

Average office blood pressure of 130-139 mm Hg systolic or 80-89 mm Hg diastolic.

Stage 2 Hypertension

Average office blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg systolic or ≥90 mm Hg diastolic.

Hypertensive Urgency

BP >180/120 mm Hg without acute target-organ damage; treat with gradual oral BP reduction over 24-48 h.

Hypertensive Emergency

BP >180/120 mm Hg with acute target-organ damage; treat with IV antihypertensives to lower MAP ≤25 % in the first hour.

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH)

Thickening of the left ventricular wall due to chronic pressure overload; detected by ECG voltage criteria or echocardiogram.

Hypertensive Retinopathy

Retinal vascular damage from chronic high BP showing AV nicking, cotton-wool spots, hemorrhages, or papilledema.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Progressive loss of kidney function often accelerated by hypertension; presents with proteinuria and elevated creatinine.

Microalbuminuria

Urinary albumin excretion of 30-300 mg/day; early marker of hypertensive renal damage.

Primary Hypertension

Elevated blood pressure without identifiable secondary cause; accounts for most adult hypertension.

Secondary Hypertension

Elevated BP attributable to an underlying condition such as renal artery stenosis, endocrine disorder, or medication effect.

Renal Artery Stenosis

Narrowing of renal arteries causing decreased renal perfusion and secondary hypertension; diagnosed with Doppler, CTA, or MRA.

Primary Aldosteronism (Conn Syndrome)

Excess aldosterone secretion leading to hypertension, hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis; screened with aldosterone/renin ratio.

Pheochromocytoma

Catecholamine-secreting adrenal tumor causing episodic hypertension, headaches, and palpitations; diagnosed with plasma or 24-h metanephrines.

Cushing Syndrome

Hyper-cortisol state causing hypertension, centripetal obesity, and purple striae; evaluated with 24-h urinary cortisol or dexamethasone suppression test.

Coarctation of the Aorta

Congenital narrowing of the aorta producing upper-extremity hypertension and diminished femoral pulses; diagnosed by imaging (CT/MRI or echo).

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Recurrent airway obstruction during sleep leading to hypoxia-induced sympathetic activation and secondary hypertension; confirmed by polysomnography.

DASH Diet

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension emphasizing fruits, vegetables, and low sodium to lower BP up to ~11 mm Hg.

Thiazide Diuretics

First-line antihypertensives that inhibit Na-Cl symporter in the distal tubule; adverse effects: hypokalemia, hyperuricemia.

ACE Inhibitors

Block conversion of angiotensin I to II causing vasodilation; common adverse effects are cough and hyperkalemia.

Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)

Block AT₁ receptor to prevent vasoconstriction; used when ACE inhibitors are not tolerated.

Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs)

Inhibit L-type Ca²⁺ channels causing arterial relaxation; dihydropyridines lower BP, non-DHPs also slow HR.

Beta-Blockers

Decrease heart rate and renin release; adverse effects include bradycardia and masking hypoglycemia.

Combination Therapy

Use of two or more antihypertensive classes to reach target BP, often required in resistant hypertension.

Methyldopa

Centrally acting α-2 agonist considered safe for treating hypertension during pregnancy.

Labetalol

Combined α/β blocker commonly used for gestational hypertension and hypertensive emergencies.

Nifedipine

Dihydropyridine CCB effective for chronic and acute hypertension in pregnancy.

Aortic Dissection

Tear in the intimal layer of the aorta producing sudden tearing chest/back pain; managed with IV beta-blocker and surgery for type A.

Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI)

Ratio of ankle to brachial systolic BP; ≤0.90 indicates peripheral arterial disease.

Claudication

Exercise-induced leg pain relieved by rest, hallmark of peripheral artery disease.

Endarterectomy

Surgical removal of plaque from an artery; used for severe carotid or femoral disease.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Clot formation in a deep vein, usually leg; diagnosed with duplex ultrasound and treated with anticoagulation.

Wells Score

Clinical prediction rule estimating the probability of DVT or PE based on risk factors and symptoms.

Pulmonary Embolism

Obstruction of pulmonary artery by thrombus; presents with sudden dyspnea, chest pain, and hypoxia.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

Genetic thickening of ventricular septum causing outflow obstruction and sudden death; murmur increases with Valsalva.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Ventricular chamber enlargement and systolic dysfunction; causes include alcohol, viral myocarditis, doxorubicin.

Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Impaired ventricular filling with normal systolic function; etiologies include amyloidosis and sarcoidosis.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Stress-induced transient apical ballooning mimicking MI but with normal coronaries.

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

Heart failure with reduced EF developing in late pregnancy or postpartum; managed with standard HF therapy (no ACEi during pregnancy).

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia

Fibrofatty replacement of RV myocardium causing ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death in young athletes.

Eisenmenger Syndrome

Reversal of left-to-right shunt to right-to-left due to pulmonary hypertension, causing cyanosis.

Cardiac Tamponade

Pericardial fluid accumulation causing obstructive shock; presents with Beck triad and pulsus paradoxus; treat with pericardiocentesis.

Constrictive Pericarditis

Fibrous scarring of pericardium leading to diastolic dysfunction; Kussmaul sign and pericardial knock present.

Kawasaki Disease

Medium-vessel vasculitis in children with fever ≥5 days and mucocutaneous signs; treat with IVIG and aspirin to prevent coronary aneurysms.

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

Atherosclerotic occlusion of lower-extremity arteries causing claudication; managed with exercise, antiplatelets, statins, and possible revascularization.

Critical Limb Ischemia

Rest pain, non-healing ulcers, or gangrene due to severe PAD; urgent revascularization required.

Post-Thrombotic Syndrome

Chronic leg pain and swelling following DVT due to venous hypertension; compression stockings and exercise are mainstay therapy.

Superficial Thrombophlebitis

Inflammation and clot in a superficial vein presenting as painful cord; managed with NSAIDs and compression.

Lymphedema

Chronic swelling from lymphatic obstruction; treated with compression, manual drainage, and exercise.

Aortic Aneurysm Screening

One-time abdominal ultrasound for men aged 65-75 who have ever smoked.

Balloon Valvuloplasty

Catheter procedure to dilate stenotic heart valves, especially useful in congenital pulmonary stenosis.

Tetralogy of Fallot

Cyanotic CHD with VSD, pulmonary stenosis, overriding aorta, RV hypertrophy; repaired surgically in infancy.

Transposition of the Great Arteries

Aorta arises from RV and pulmonary artery from LV; survival depends on mixing via ASD/PDA; treat with prostaglandin then arterial switch.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

Persistent fetal connection between aorta and pulmonary artery; indomethacin closes, prostaglandin keeps open.

Coarctation of the Aorta

Narrowing of the aorta causing upper-extremity hypertension and leg claudication; treated surgically or with stent.

Sinus Bradycardia

HR <60 bpm with normal P waves; treat symptomatic cases with atropine or pacing.

Atrial Fibrillation

Irregularly irregular rhythm with absent P waves; requires rate/rhythm control and anticoagulation.

Atrial Flutter

Sawtooth flutter waves with regular ventricular response; treat with rate control and catheter ablation.

Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)

Narrow QRS tachycardia often due to AV nodal re-entrant circuit; terminate acutely with adenosine or vagal maneuvers.

Ventricular Tachycardia

Wide-complex regular rhythm originating below AV node; unstable VT requires synchronized cardioversion.

Torsades de Pointes

Polymorphic VT with long-QT; treat with IV magnesium and correct electrolytes.

Mobitz Type II Block

Intermittent non-conducted P waves without PR prolongation; usually requires pacemaker.

Third-Degree AV Block

Complete dissociation of atrial and ventricular activity; manage with pacemaker implantation.

Pulsus Paradoxus

Drop in SBP >10 mm Hg during inspiration, classically seen in cardiac tamponade.

Kussmaul Sign

Rise in JVP during inspiration indicating impaired RV filling (e.g., constrictive pericarditis).

Ankle-Brachial Index Categories

Normal 1.0-1.4; 0.91-0.99 borderline; 0.41-0.90 PAD; ≤0.40 severe ischemia.

Stent Thrombosis

Acute or subacute clot within coronary stent; prevented with dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin + P2Y12 inhibitor).

Statin Indications

Clinical ASCVD, LDL ≥190 mg/dL, diabetes aged 40-75 with LDL 70-189 mg/dL, or 10-year ASCVD risk ≥7.5 %.

PCSK9 Inhibitors

Monoclonal antibodies (alirocumab, evolocumab) that drastically lower LDL by increasing hepatic LDL receptor recycling.

Ezetimibe

Cholesterol absorption inhibitor used as add-on to statins for additional LDL reduction.

Coronary Artery Calcium Score

CT-derived measure of coronary plaque burden; higher scores correlate with increased CAD risk.

Nitroglycerin

Venodilator that relieves angina by decreasing preload; used sublingually for acute chest pain.

TIMI Score

Risk stratification tool for NSTEMI/unstable angina guiding invasive strategy and anticoagulation intensity.

Dressler Syndrome

Autoimmune pericarditis occurring weeks after MI presenting with fever and pleuritic chest pain; treat with NSAIDs and colchicine.

Ventricular Septal Rupture

Mechanical complication 3-5 days post-MI causing new harsh systolic murmur and cardiogenic shock; surgical repair required.

Left Ventricular Aneurysm

Late complication of transmural MI presenting with persistent ST elevation and risk of mural thrombus.

Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD)

Device preventing sudden death in patients with EF ≤35 % or prior sustained VT/VF.

Carotid Bruit

Turbulent flow sound over carotid artery indicating possible stenosis; warrants duplex ultrasound.

Murmur Grade IV

Loud murmur associated with a palpable thrill.

Tumor Plop

Early diastolic sound produced by atrial myxoma tumbling into the ventricle.

Beck Triad

Hypotension, muffled heart sounds, and elevated JVP indicating cardiac tamponade.

Water-Hammer Pulse

Bounding pulse with rapid rise and fall seen in aortic regurgitation.