Glossary

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Ablation Therapy – Ablation therapy uses energyb sources, such as radio frequency, or microwave energy to correct an irregular heartbeat. Various types of ablation are used depending on the type of arrhythmia experienced by the patient.

Acute Pulmonary Edema – sudden, abnormal accumulation of fluid in the lungs

ACE Inhibitors - medications that work by inhibiting the formation of a hormone called Angiotensin II. Angiotensin II causes the arteries to constrict or narrow. The ACE Inhibitors cause the arteries to relax, which causes the blood pressure to decrease.

Adrenal Gland - small glandular organs located near the kidneys that produce a variety of compounds with diverse functions, such as regulating blood pressure, responding to stress and helping with sexual development

Adrenaline - A hormone secreted by the adrenal glands. It helps the liver release glucose (sugar) and limit the release of insulin. It also makes the heart beat faster and can raise blood pressure.

Advanced chronic heart failure – a progressive condition where the heart is not able to pump blood in an efficient manner

Aldosteronism - a disorder of the adrenal gland which symptoms may include muscle weakness, periodic paralysis and/or muscle cramps

Alpha Blockers - medications that work by reducing the nerve impulses to blood vessels. These reduce the tone of the blood vessels, causing blood to easily pass through to decrease blood pressure.

Angina – chest pains caused by a reduction of the oxygen supply to the heart

Angina Pectoris - chest pains caused by a reduction of the oxygen supply to the heart

Angiogram - a procedure in which a contrast material that can be seen using X-ray equipment is injected through a catheter into one of the arteries, allowing your health care provider to view the vessel and heart as the heart pumps. Also called an arteriogram.

Angioplasty – a cardiology procedure that can be used to open blocked coronary arteries. In this procedure, a fine tube, or catheter, is threaded through an artery into the narrowed heart vessel. In balloon angioplasty, the catheter has a tiny balloon at its tip. The balloon is repeatedly inflated and deflated to open and stretch the artery, improving the flow of blood. The balloon is then deflated, and the tube is removed.

Angiotensin – a chemical whose production is stimulated by the presence of renin. It causes the arteries to narrow which in turn raises the blood pressure.

Angiotension II Receptor Blockers - a type of blood pressure medication that shields the blood vessels from the effects of Angiotensin II (blood vessel constrictor). As a result the blood vessels dilate or widen to make the blood pressure go down.

Annuloplasty – Another type of valve repair. This technique is aimed at repairing the ring of fibrous tissue at the base of the heart valve, called the annulus. Sometimes, the annulus becomes enlarged, which causes blood to back up into the atrium. To repair this, sutures are sewn around the ring to make the opening smaller. This creates a purse string effect around the base of the valve and helps the leaflets meet again when the valve closes.

Antihypertensives - medications that help lower high blood pressure

Aorta - the body’s main artery, which leads from the heart running down the back of the heart to the abdomen

Aortic valve – the valve that opens the way for oxygen-rich blood to pass from the left ventricle into the aorta, your body’s largest artery. From the aorta, blood is delivered to the rest of your body.

Arrhythmia - irregular heart beat

Arteries - the largest blood vessels leading away from your heart and toward your body

Arteriogram - a procedure in which a contrast material that can be seen using X-ray equipment is injected through a catheter into one of the arteries, allowing your health care provider to view the vessel and heart as the heart pumps. Also called an angiogram.

Arterioles - peripheral blood vessels. Arterioles have smooth muscle in their walls and when they squeeze down, your blood pressure rises.

Arteriosclerosis - a general term for the thickening and hardening of arteries. Arteriosclerosis in the coronary arteries reduces the amount of blood that reaches and nourishes the muscle of the heart.

Atherectomy - an artery enlarging procedure used in conjunction with angioplasty. The catheter used in an atherectomy has a hollow cylinder on the tip with an open window on one side and a balloon on the other. When the catheter is inserted into the narrowed artery, the balloon is inflated, pushing the window against the plaque build-up. A sharp blade inside the cylinder rotates and shaves off part of the plaque. The shavings are caught in a cylinder, and removed with the catheter.

Atherosclerosis - a type of arteriosclerosis that involves deposits of plaque in the inner lining of large and medium sized arteries

Atherosclerotic Lesions - an abnormal change in structure of an organ or part due to atherosclerosis. The deposits may contain fatty, fibro fatty, fibrotic and calcified material.

Atria - the upper chambers of the heart. Atria receive blood that is being returned to the heart. The right atrium receives blood with little oxygen because the blood has already circulated throughout your body delivering oxygen and nutrients. The left atrium fills with newly oxygenated blood returning from your lungs. When the atria pump, they push the blood through valves into the relaxed ventricles.

Atrial Fibrillation – a type of arrhythmia, characterized by very rapid contractions of the heart’s atria.

Atrioventricular or AV Node – a small mass of tissue that is situated in the wall of the right atrium adjacent to the septum between the atria. The AV node passes impulses received from the sinoatrial (SA) node to the ventricles by way of the bundle of His. In some pathological states, the AV node replaces the sinoatrial node as pacemaker of the heart.

Atrium - one of the two upper chambers of the heart. Also known as the Atria. (See Above)

Balloon Angioplasty – during angioplasty, a specially designed catheter with a small balloon tip is guided to the point of narrowing in the artery. Once in place, the balloon is inflated to compress the fatty matter into the artery wall and stretch the artery open to increase blood flow to the heart.

Baselines - reference points

Beating Heart Surgery - this surgery is performed when only a single vessel needs to be bypassed. A small incision, approximately three inches long, is made between the patient’s ribs in either the right or left chest, under the breast. The heart maintains its own heartbeat so the heart-lung bypass machine is not needed during this type of bypass surgery.

Beta-Blockers - medications that work by blocking the effects of adrenaline or nerve impulses to the heart and blood vessels that speed up the heart rate and pumping action. Beta-blockers make the heart beat slower and less forcefully.

Bile Acid Sequestrants/Bile Resins - medications that bind to cholesterol in the gut, prevent its reabsorption, and lead to its removal in the stool.

Biventricular Pacemaker – a relatively new form of pacemaker that works to synchronize the pumping of both the left and right ventricles by sending tiny electrical impulses to the heart.

Blood Glucose Level - a blood test to evaluate your blood sugar level

Blood Pressure - the force that your heart creates in order to push blood to the organs of your body. Blood pressure results from two forces. One is created by the heart as it pumps blood into the arteries and through the circulatory system. The other is the force of the arteries as they resist the blood flow.

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) - a by-product of energy metabolism. This means that muscle cells utilize glucose for energy, and in the process BUN is produced. This is typically excreted in the urine as a waste product.

Blood Vessels - a tube or canal (i.e. artery or vein) in which blood is contained and conveyed or circulated

BNP Blood Test – This test checks the level of a hormone called BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) that increases in heart failure. The ventricles of the heart produce extra BNP when they can't pump enough blood to meet the body's demands. Therefore, an elevated BNP level can indicate heart failure. The higher the BNP level is at diagnosis, the worse the degree heart failure is likely to be.

Body Mass Index (BMI) - a measurement to determine if someone is overweight. BMI relates weight to height. It gives an approximation of total body fat — and that’s what increases the risk of obesity-related diseases. Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25 to 29.9; obesity is defined as a BMI equal to or more than 30.

Bradycardia – a type of arrhythmia, a very slow heartbeat

Bundle branches – the parts of the bundle of His passing respectively to the right and left ventricles

Calcium Channel Blockers – medications that inhibit the flow of calcium ions across the membranes of smooth muscles cells. By reducing the calcium flow, smooth muscles relax and your blood pressure goes down.

Capillaries - any of the smallest blood vessels connecting arterioles with venules and forming networks throughout the body

Captopril Test - a test to diagnose reno-vascular hypertension. In this test, the baseline level of renin in the blood is determined by drawing blood. Then an oral dose of captopril is given and, after a period of time, the plasma renin level is determined again. Because captopril blocks the activity of one of the proteins that renin works on, the blood pressure should fall. Both kidneys detect this decrease in blood pressure, but especially the one that has a blocked blood supply. This kidney responds by secreting a large amount of renin. Thus, an exaggerated renin response after a dose of captopril is suggestive of a renal cause for hypertension.

Cardiac Blood Pool Scan – also called radionuclide ventriculography. This test is a nuclear scan that uses radiation-detecting cameras to provide an image of a patient’s heart in order to determine how well blood flows to the heart muscle.

Cardiac Catherization - a specialized procedure used in both the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease. During the procedure, a long, flexible tube called a catheter is inserted into a vein in the patient’s arm or leg. The tube is then guided into the chambers of the heart or the coronary arteries. This allows the provider to take a close look at the inside of the heart muscle, to measure blood pressure within the heart, and to determine how much oxygen is in the blood.

Cardiac Rehabilitation – are designed by the patient’s provider, usually a cardiologist, to meet the specific needs of the individual patient. The goal of the program is to significantly reduce the risk of future heart attacks, and to facilitate the overall recovery of the patient. Whether the patient is recovering from a heart attack, heart surgery, or the diagnosis of heart disease, the provider will custom tailor a program, and then oversee that program along with a team of other health care professionals.

Cardiologist – a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

Cardiomyopathy – diseases of the heart muscles.

Catheter - a long, flexible tube inserted into a vein in the patient’s arm or leg.

Chest X-Ray - a preliminary test used to look at the heart in order to evaluate such conditions as an enlarged heart or fluid buildup around the heart.

Cholesterol - a soft, waxy substance found among the lipids (fats) in the bloodstream and in all your body’s cells. It’s an important part of a healthy body because it’s used to form cell membranes, some hormones and is needed for other functions. Cholesterol becomes a problem when there is too much of it, or it has accumulated in the wrong places.

Chronic Heart Failure – the condition where the heart can't pump enough blood, or pump blood fast enough, to meet the body's needs.

Chylomicrons - small lipid droplets that contain cholesterol and triglycerides and are manufactured by epithelial cells in the small intestine.

Circulatory System - the heart and the blood vessels (arteries, arterioles and capillaries), which are responsible for keeping blood flowing throughout the body.

Claudication - pain in the extremities (arms or legs) that occurs as a result of an insufficient supply of oxygen from the blood. This is typically the result of atherosclerotic plaques in the main arteries and arterioles that supply the limbs with blood. It typically occurs with exertion or increased movement of the limbs, but can occur at rest when the disease has progressed.

Combined Alpha-Beta-Blockers - as the name suggests, these medications combine the actions of both alpha and beta-blockers to reduce nerve impulses to the blood vessels and slow the heart rate. Both actions lower blood pressure.

Commissures – fused leaflets

Commissuratomy – a special kind of valvuloplasty required when the leaflets of the valve become stiff and actually fuse together at the base, or ring portion, of the valve.

Congenital Heart Problems – happens when the heart, heart valves, and/or blood vessels near the heart do not develop correctly in babies when they are in the womb. This can weaken the heart muscle and lead to heart failure. Some of these include a birth defect, arrhythmias, which are abnormal heartbeats, and pericardial disease, which affects the membrane surrounding the heart.

Congestive Heart Failure - a common form of heart failure that is caused by the enlargement and weakening of the walls of the heart. It results in a patient retaining excessive fluid, often leading to swelling of the legs and ankles and congestion in the lungs.

Constriction - the process of becoming narrower, squeezing or compressing

Contrast media – a dye that is injected into the blood vessel and shows up on X-ray.

Coronary Angiography - sometimes called arteriography, is a test used to explore the coronary arteries.

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery – a procedure that involves removing a blood vessel from one area of the body, and grafting it around the area of narrowing in the coronary artery to "bypass" it and restore blood flow to the heart muscle.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) - a condition caused by thickening of the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. When these arteries become blocked, the heart is deprived of oxygen and can become damaged. Severe cases can result in heart attack.

Coronary Heart Disease - a condition (as sclerosis or thrombosis) that reduces the blood flow through the coronary arteries to the heart muscle—also called coronary disease, coronary artery disease

Cortisol Measurements - the measurement of cortisol levels in urine collected over 24-hours used to diagnose Cushing’s Syndrome

Creatinine - a by-product of energy metabolism. This means that muscle cells utilize glucose for energy, and in the process creatinine is produced. Creatinine is typically excreted in the urine.

Cushing’s Syndrome - Over-production of cortisol by the adrenal glands can result in hypertension, along with many other signs and symptoms, including changes in the distribution of fat and hair, and changes in your skin. Collectively, these changes are called Cushing’s Syndrome and it can be caused by anything that makes the adrenal glands produce more cortisol.

Defibrillator - an electronic device used to stimulate a heart by applying an electric shock to it. An implanted defibrillator will monitor the heart's rhythm and, when necessary deliver an electric shock to regulate the beat of the heart.

Dexamethasone Suppression Test - A specific test to measure the cortisol level and diagnose Cushing’s Syndrome. In a normal situation, dexamethasone suppresses cortisol production by the adrenal glands. To do the test, the patient is given a dose of dexamethasone at bedtime. In the morning, blood is drawn to determine the plasma cortisol level. In the absence of Cushing’s syndrome, the plasma cortisol will be suppressed to below a certain level. If Cushing’s syndrome is present, no such suppression will be seen. This test can be administered in a variety of ways that help determine why the adrenal glands are producing too much cortisol.

Diabetes - a condition marked by elevated blood sugar that results from either a lack of insulin (a hormone that helps the body handle blood sugar properly and lower the blood sugar) or a lack of proper response to the insulin that is produced. Diabetes is a very serious disease that predisposes to heart disease, kidney disease, vision problems, nerve problems (loss of sensation in the feet), and poor wound healing.

Diabetic Nephropathy - damage to the kidneys that develops as the result of diabetes

Dialysis - the process of cleansing the blood by passing it through a special machine. Dialysis is necessary when the kidneys are not able to filter the blood. Dialysis allows patients with kidney failure a chance to live productive lives.

Diastolic Blood Pressure - the blood pressure when your heart is resting between beats. It is the number on the bottom of your blood pressure reading.

Diastolic Heart Failure – Diastolic heart failure occurs when the left ventricle does not relax properly, which affects its ability to fill with enough blood.

Digoxin – A medication prescribed to make the heart beat stronger and pump more blood.

Diuretics - sometimes called “water pills.” These medications work on the kidneys to promote the formation and excretion of urine to rid the body of excess water and sodium.

Dyslipidemia - unhealthy level of lipids, such as cholesterol or triglycerides in your bloodstream.

Echocardiogram – a painless test that uses sound waves to image the heart and evaluate its function

Edema – when blood becomes backed up in the bloodstream, causing fluid to accumulate in the body.

Ejection Fraction – the proportion or fraction of blood pumped out of the heart with each beat.

Electrocardiogram - a test used by providers to determine if your heart has sustained any damage due to untreated hypertension. During the course of beating, your heart emits weak electrical signals. An electrocardiogram records these signals, and gives your provider an overall picture of your heart from a functional standpoint. (sometimes referred to as an ECG or an EKG)

Electrode Catheters – flexible, insulated wires with metal electrode tips

Electron Beam Ultrafast CT – Using X-ray beams that move in a circle around the body, the Ultrafast CT takes multiple images of the heart during a single heartbeat. This allows many different views of the heart, and provides excellent detail.

Electrophysiology (EP) Testing - a test that records the electrical activity and measures the electrical pathways of your heart. This test is used to determine the cause of heart rhythm disturbance, and to help the provider develop a treatment plan for that arrhythmia.

Emphysema - a local or generalized condition of the lung marked by distension, progressive loss of elasticity, and eventual rupture of the alveoli and accompanied by labored breathing, a husky cough, and frequently by impairment of heart action

Epinephrine - a heart stimulant, as a vasoconstrictor in controlling hemorrhages of the skin and in prolonging the effects of local anesthetics, and as a muscle relaxant in bronchial asthma—also called adrenaline

Essential Hypertension - abnormally high systolic and diastolic blood pressure occurring in the absence of any evident cause—also called primary hypertension

Fasting State - without food for at least 8-12 hours

Femoral Artery - The main artery of the thigh, supplying blood to the groin and lower extremity

Fibrates - Fibric Acid Derivatives and Fibrate medications lower LDL cholesterol, though generally to a lesser extent than the statins. They work by both decreasing cholesterol made in the liver and by increasing its removal through bile.

Fibrin - a clotting material in the blood

Fibrous Cap - the thin outer shell of an atherosclerotic plaque

Fixed Risk Factors - factors that we have no personal control over

Glomerulus - a small ball of capillaries. Millions of these are found in the kidneys.

Glucose - the sugar that is the chief source of energy. Glucose is considered a simple sugar. Found in the blood, it is the main sugar that the body manufactures. The body makes glucose from all three elements of food (protein, fat and carbohydrates) but in largest part from carbohydrates. Glucose serves as the major source of energy for living cells. It is carried to each cell through the bloodstream. Cells, however, cannot use glucose without the help of insulin. Glucose is also known as dextrose.

Graft - a piece of living tissue or an organ that is transplanted to a part of a patient’s body, either from a donor or another part of the patient’s body. Grafts are used in bypass surgery to redirect the flow of blood.

Heart Attack - death of a portion of the heart muscle caused by a sudden decrease in blood supply to that area. Also known as myocardial infarction or MI.

Heart Block – interruption of the heart’s conduction pathway

Heart Failure – a condition where the heart simply doesn’t function very well. Either it can’t contract or “squeeze,” causing blood to flow into the arterial system, or it can’t relax, allowing the chamber to fill with blood from the venous system. In either case, the blood simply backs up and causes problems, notably in the lungs.

Heart Pump – a device surgically implanted to assist the heart. There are different kinds of heart pumps, differentiated by the length of time that the pump stays in the patient's body.

Heart Transplant – When all other treatment options have been exhausted, the provider may recommend a heart transplant. During heart transplant surgery, the patient's heart is replaced by the heart of an organ-donor.

Heart Valve Replacement – a procedure that replaces a patient's heart valve with an artificial, or synthetic, valve.

Hematuria - the presence of blood or blood cells in the urine

Hemoglobin – a protein in red blood cells that combines with oxygen and transports it from the lungs to body tissues

Hemorrhagic Stroke - a type of stroke that is caused by ruptured blood vessels within the brain

Heredity – the characteristics passed on genetically to an individual by their ancestors

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) - referred to as “good” cholesterol, HDL collects excess cholesterol from the body and returns it to your liver, where it can be eliminated. It’s important to note that this process is the only way that cholesterol is removed from your body.

Holter Monitor - a device worn by a patient that allows the provider to monitor the heart’s rhythm or electrical appearance over an extended period of time.

Hospice – a facility or program designed to provide a caring environment for supplying the physical and emotional needs of the terminally ill

Hydrogenation - a process that forms a type of unsaturated fat called "trans" fat that appears to raise blood cholesterol more than other unsaturated fats but not as much as saturated fats.

Hyperlipidemia - a type of Dyslipidemia, when your lipid level is too high.

Hyperparathyroidism - the presence of excess parathyroid hormone in the body resulting in disturbance of calcium metabolism with increase in serum calcium and decrease in inorganic phosphorus, loss of calcium from bone, and renal damage with frequent kidney-stone formation

Hypothyroidism - a condition in which secretion (release into the bloodstream) of thyroid hormone is inadequate

Hypogonadism - a condition in which secretion (release into the bloodstream) of sex hormones is inadequate

Hypertension - the medical term for abnormally high blood pressure

ICD’s or Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators – work like pacemakers as they continuously monitor the patient's heart and provide electrical shocks to stimulate the heart when necessary. These devices can be particularly effective for heart failure patients who are at high risk for ventricular fibrillation, which is a dangerous heart rhythm disorder. also called ICDs, are like pacemakers in that they continuously monitor the rhythm of the heart. When the ICD detects a dangerous heart rhythm, it delivers a shock in order to correct that rhythm.

Immune Factors - the body’s immune system releases chemicals, called immune factors, to protect the damaged walls of the artery.

Intravenous - administered by entering a vein

Inotropic infusions – introducing a solution into a vein relating to or influencing the force of muscular contractions

Ischemic Heart Disease – a condition caused by thickening of the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. When these arteries become blocked, the heart is deprived of oxygen and can become damaged. Severe cases can result in heart attack. Also known as coronary artery disease

Ischemic Stroke - the most common type of a stroke where a blood clot blocks an artery into the brain

Kidney Failure (Renal Failure) - a gradual and progressive loss of the ability of the kidneys to excrete wastes, concentrate urine, and conserve electrolytes

Leaflets – flaps of the valves

Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH) – a condition where the left ventricle of the heart becomes more muscular due to working harder to pump against a higher pressure. LVH develops initially as a protective response, designed to make sure that the heart pumps out enough blood to all the organs of the body despite the higher opposing pressure. Eventually, however, the increased thickness of the heart’s walls becomes detrimental to proper function. A ventricular wall that is thick and muscular is stiff and doesn’t expand easily. This causes a reduced volume in the chamber and smaller amounts of blood pumped out to the body. If high blood pressure goes untreated, this condition may lead to heart failure.

Lipids - fats associated with cholesterol, fatty substances including cholesterol and triglycerides found in your blood and body tissues

Lipoprotein - a type of protein that coats cholesterol to help cholesterol to travel through the bloodstream.

Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) – known as “bad” cholesterol, since this is the cholesterol molecule that cells take up to form cholesterol plaques. Reducing fat and cholesterol in the diet can reduce LDL.

Left Ventricular Assist Devices or LVAD’s – devices used to increase the pumping action of the heart. The LVAD is primarily used to provide temporary assistance for patients with severe chronic heart failure who are waiting for a heart transplant. It's interesting to note that researchers have found that using an LVAD often improves the heart's condition after months of use, sometimes actually eliminating the need for the transplant.

Left-sided failure – when the left side of the heart is affected, the left ventricle often cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the organs, including the heart itself.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of a large magnet, radio frequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.

Menopause - the period of natural cessation of menstruation occurring usually between the ages of 45 and 50

Metanephrines – the form in which epinephrine is excreted through the kidneys

Minimally Invasive Bypass – a procedure where the surgeon performs a bypass through a small incision (about 3 inches) in the chest. The benefits of minimally invasive bypass surgery include a shorter hospital stay after the surgery, a shorter recovery time, and of course, a smaller scar after the patient has recovered.

Mitral Valve – lets oxygen-rich blood from your lungs pass from the left atrium into the left ventricle.

Modifiable Risk Factors - factors that can be changed or modified. Factors we can control.

Multiple Gated Acquisition or MUGA – a type of nuclear scan that measures the pumping action of the heart. The MUGA test measures how much blood the heart pumps, or "ejects," with each contraction and how quickly that blood is ejected.

Myocytes - heart muscle cells

Nephrotic Syndrome - a disorder of the kidney resulting from damage to the glomeruli (microscopic filters in the kidney). It results in loss of protein, among other factors, into the urine.

Nervous System Inhibitors – medications that control the nerve impulses to the blood vessels allowing them to relax and widen, which will cause the blood pressure to decrease

Nitrates – drugs that relax blood vessels and help relieve chest pain. Also referred to as nitroglycerin.

Niacin - Niacin, or nicotinic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that in large doses has favorable effects on the lipid profile. Niacin reduces levels of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Its main effect, however, is increasing the level of HDL cholesterol.

Nuclear Scanning - a test to diagnose damaged areas of the heart. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into a vein, usually in the arm. A scanning camera records the reaction of the heart to the nuclear material, helping to determine which parts of the heart are damaged.

Obesity - is defined simply as too much body fat. Obesity is defined as a BMI equal to or more than 30.

Organ Donor – someone who has recently died who donates their organs to people in need.

Osteoporosis - a condition that affects especially older women and is characterized by decrease in bone mass with decreased density and enlargement of bone spaces producing porosity and fragility.

Overweight - Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25 to 29.9. A BMI of 30 or mire is considered obesity.

Oxidation - a chemical reaction with oxygen that involves the transfer of electrons. Rusting and food spoilage are two common examples of oxidation.

Pacemaker – an electrical device placed under the skin. A lead extends from the device to the right side of the heart, where it is permanently anchored. A pacemaker is used when the heart's natural pacemaker is not working properly or the heart’s own electrical pathway is blocked

Pancreatitis - an inflammation of the pancreas, an organ responsible for making digestive juices and insulin, as well as several other hormones.

Parathyroid - small bean-shaped pieces of glandular tissue embedded in the thyroid gland. It secretes a hormone involved in calcium regulation.

Potassium – an electolyte that works with sodium to regulate the body’s waste balance and normalize heart rhythms; aids in clear thinking by sending oxygen to the brain; preserves proper alkalinity of body fluids; stimulates the kidneys to eliminate poisonous body wastes; assists in reducing high blood pressure; promotes healthy skin

Pericardial Disease – disease of the pericardium, the membrane that encloses the heart like a sac.

Pericardium - A membrane that encloses the heart like a sac.

Peripheral Blood Vessels - also known as arterioles. Arterioles have smooth muscle in their walls and when they squeeze down, your blood pressure rises.

Pheochromocytoma - a tumor of the adrenal gland

Plant Sterol/Stanols Esters - These are compounds found in plants (the cholesterol of plants) that we consume in our diets, and are found in larger amounts in the diets of vegetarians.

Plaque - a substance that builds up consisting of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, and calcium

Plasma - the liquid part of the blood and lymphatic fluid. Plasma is devoid of cells and, unlike serum, has not clotted. Blood plasma contains antibodies and other proteins.

Port Access Surgery – a technique used when more than one coronary artery needs bypass. During this procedure, the heart is stopped and the patient is connected to the heart-lung bypass machine by a tube placed in the groin and threaded to the femoral artery. The heart-lung bypass machine allows for the circulation of blood throughout the body while the surgeon performs the bypass operation.

Post-menopausal - occurring after menopause

Potassium - an electolyte that works with sodium to regulate the body’s waste balance and normalize heart rhythms; aids in clear thinking by sending oxygen to the brain; preserves proper alkalinity of body fluids; stimulates the kidneys to eliminate body waste products; assists in reducing high blood pressure; promotes healthy skin

Prehypertension - A person is considered “prehypertensive” if their systolic blood pressure measures 120 – 139 millimeter of mercury, AND their diastolic blood pressure measures 80 – 89 mmHG. If someone is diagnosed as “prehypertensive,” they have a substantially higher risk of developing hypertension.

Primary Hypertension - abnormally high systolic and diastolic blood pressure occurring in the absence of any evident cause—also called essential hypertension

Progressive Condition – gets worse over time.

Pulmonary Arteries – carry blood to your lungs to pick up oxygen.

Pulmonary Edema - involves fluid accumulation in the lungs

Pulmonary System – the body’s respiratory system

Pulmonary Valve - a valve consisting of three semi-lunar cusps separating the pulmonary vascular system from the right ventricle of the heart

Radial Arteries - arteries found in the lower part of the arm

Renal Arteriography/Angiography - the roentgenographic visualization of an artery after injection of a radiopaque substance primarily in the kidney

Renal Epithelial Cells - cells from the kidney

Renal Failure (Kidney Failure) - a gradual and progressive loss of the ability of the kidneys to excrete wastes, concentrate urine, and conserve electrolytes

Renin - a hormone that is released when the kidneys work to regulate your blood pressure. Renin can stimulate the production of angiotensin, a potent constrictor of blood vessels.

Renovascular Disease - a disease in the blood vessels that leads to and from the kidney

Renovascular Hypertension - hypertension that is caused by narrowed blood vessels to the kidneys resulting in the inappropriate release of chemicals to raise the blood pressure

Right-sided failure – Blood may also back up in the right ventricle, causing a condition known as right-sided failure. During right-sided failure, blood becomes backed up in the bloodstream, causing fluid to accumulate in the body. This condition is referred to as edema.

Saphenous Veins - either of two major veins in the leg that run from the foot to the thigh near the surface of the skin.

Saturated Fat - a form of fat found in various types of foods (particularly animal products) that is readily converted into cholesterol in the body.

Secondary Hypertension – hypertension that is caused by another physical condition, for example a problem with a patient’s heart or kidneys

Self-monitoring - when your provider asks you to check your own blood pressure at home in order to determine how you are responding to a medication or lifestyle change. Self-monitoring allows you to check your blood pressure several times each day, and to keep track of it over a specific period of time.

Septum – a wall of muscle that separates the left and right atria and the left and right ventricles of the heart.

Serum Calcium – a test that determines the level of calcium in a person’s blood

Serum Potassium - a test that determines the level of potassium in a person’s blood

Shunt – a device used to provide an alternate route for blood flow around the blocked area of an artery

Sinoatrial Node - a small mass of tissue found in the right atrium that originates the impulses stimulating the heartbeat. Also called S-A node, sinus node

Sphygmomanometer – commonly known as a blood pressure cuff

Statins - a medication that lowers cholesterol by blocking the enzyme b-hydroxymethyl-b-glutaryl Coenzyme A (HMG CoA) Reductase, an important early step in making cholesterol in the liver.

Stenosis - a narrowing or constriction of a blood vessel or artery, often the result of atherosclerosis

Stent - a small wire mesh tube that serves as a frame to support the inside of a coronary artery after angioplasty

Sternum – a compound ventral bone or cartilage that lies in the median central part of the body. The sternum is about seven inches (18 centimeters) long, consists in the adult of three parts, and connects with the clavicles and the cartilages of the upper seven pairs of ribs -- called also breastbone

Stethoscope - an instrument used to detect and study sounds produced in the body that are conveyed to the ears of the listener through rubber tubing connected with a usually cup-shaped piece placed upon the area to be examined

Stress Echocardiogram – a combination of a treadmill stress test and an echocardiogram. The echocardiogram is performed before and after the patient runs on the treadmill. This test can indicate a patient’s overall cardiac conditioning, and tell the provider how quickly the heart recovers after exercise.

Stroke – an interruption of the blood flow to the brain, which leads to permanent damage and/or persistent symptoms

Systolic Blood Pressure - the force that your heart generates while the muscle is squeezing down, or the pressure when your heart is beating. It is the number on the top of your blood pressure reading.

Systolic Heart Failure – Systolic heart failure occurs when the left ventricle doesn't contract strongly enough to pump blood out to the body.

Thallium Scan – a test used to determine how well blood flows to the heart muscle. A thallium scan can give a provider information about the causes of chest pain, the extent of blockage to a coronary artery, or the prognosis of a patient who has had a heart attack. Thallium scans are also used to determine the level of exercise that is safe for a heart patient.

Thoracic Artery – an artery found in the chest that is commonly used for coronary bypass grafts

Thrombolytic Drugs - also called "clot busting drugs", thrombolytics are given during a heart attack to break up a blood clot in a coronary artery in order to restore blood flow.

Thrombus - a blood clot

Transesophageal Echocardiogram or TEE – allows the provider to view the internal structures of the heart and the heart's major vessels by passing a probe through the patient’s mouth into the esophagus. This alternate view can help the provider evaluate congenital heart defects, heart valve disease, or heart muscle disease. The provider may also be able to determine if an artificial valve is functioning properly, or if there are any blood clots within the heart.

Trans Fats - Trans fats are unsaturated fats that result when vegetable oils are made solid or hydrogenated.

Tricuspid Valve – regulates the flow of blood between the right atrium and right ventricle.

Triglycerides - another kind of lipid or “fat.” The chemical form taken by most fat in the foods you eat.

Tumor - an abnormal benign or malignant mass of tissue that is not inflammatory, arises without obvious cause from cells of preexistent tissue, and possesses no physiological function

Ultrasound - a noninvasive technique involving the formation of a two-dimensional image used for the examination and measurement of internal body structures and the detection of bodily abnormalities—also called echocardiography, sonography, ultrasonography

Uric Acid - a normal by-product of cell metabolism that is normally excreted through the kidneys

Urinalysis – the analysis of the physical, chemical, and microbiological properties of urine, carried out to help diagnose disease, monitor treatment, or detect the presence of a specific substance

Valves - structures that open and close in order to control the movement of blood between the heart chambers and within the veins

Valvuloplasty – plastic surgery performed on a heart valve.

Vasodilators – medications that work by causing the muscles in the walls of the blood vessels to relax. When relaxed, the vessels widen causing the blood pressure to go down.

Venous – relating to or involving the veins; used to describe blood in the veins, which is returning to the heart, as opposed to blood in the arteries, which is leaving the heart

Ventricle - one of the two lower chambers of the heart that receive blood from the atria (upper chambers). The right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs and the left ventricle pumps blood to the rest of the body.

Ventricular Fibrillation – a dangerous heart rhythm disorder.

Ventricular Wall – wall of a ventricle

Very Low Density Lipoproteins (VLDL) - a lipoprotein composed mostly of cholesterol, with little protein. VLDL is often called "bad cholesterol" because it deposits cholesterol on the walls of arteries. Increased levels of VLDL are associated with atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.