Cardiovascular System Part 2

AAA (Abdominal aortic aneurysm)

when localized dilation of abdominal aorta exceeds normal diameter by 50%

AED (automatic external defibrillator)

portable computerized device that analyzes the patient's heart rhythm and delivers an electrical shock to stimulate a heart in cardiac arrest

AICD (automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator)

surgically implanted electrical device that continuously monitors and corrects potentially fatal arrhythmias by delivering low-energy shocks to the heart
(aka. ICD - implantable cardioverter defibrillator)

Aneurysm

abnormal widening (ballooning) of a portion of an artery as a result of weakness in its wall or it may be present at birth (congenital) -- the larger, the great risk of rupture

Anticoagulants

prevent clotting or coagulation of blood

Apnea

temporary cessation of breathing

Beta blockers

slows heart rate and reduce the force with which the heart muscle contracts, lowering BP

BP

blood pressure

CABG (coronary artery bypass graft)

bypass surgery where peripheral veins are removed and each end of vein is sutured onto the coronary artery to create new routes around narrowed and blocked arteries, allowing sufficient blood flow to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.

Cardioversion

restoration of normal heart rhythm by applying an electrical countershock to the chest using a device (defibrillator)

(aka. defibrillation)

Dyspnea

difficult breathing

(ECHO) Echocardiography

ultrasound technique used to image the heart and evaluate how heart's chambers and valves are working to diagnose and detect pathological conditions

HDL

high-density lipoprotein

HTN

Hypertension ; higher than normal BP

MI (myocardial infarction)

necrosis of portion of cardiac muscle caused by partial or complete occlusion of one or more coronary arteries

Nitrates

relieve chest pain associated with angina and ease symptoms of heart failure (HF)

Sclerotherapy

chemical injection into a varicose vein that causes inflammation and formation of fibrous tissue which closes the vein

Statins

reduces cholesterol levels in blood and block production of enzyme in liver that makes cholesterol

Syncope

fainting

Thrombolytics

dissolves blood clot during thrombolysis

Troponin

blood test that measures protein released into blood by damaged heart muscle and is highly sensitive, specific indicator of recent MI