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amino acid:

        result of body's breakdown of protein, used for body recycling; excess is converted to energy or fat

angina:

        pressure or pain, mild to severe, in the chest area from blood-starved heart muscles

anxiety:

        feeling of tension or uneasiness, distress

aorta:

        largest artery, (+ or - 1" diameter) funnels blood from the heart (left ventricle) to smaller arteries to the rest of body.

arterioles:

        smallest arteries passing blood to capillaries

arterioclerosis:

        artery walls thicken and lose flexibility (see atherosclerosis), commonly called hardening of the arteries

atheroma:

        collection of fatty plaque in the arteries

atherosclerosis:

        a type of arteriosclerosis from fatty plaque deposits on artery walls that block the flow of blood

atrium (atria):

        upper chamber of the heart receiving blood from the body and lungs and passing it to the ventricles

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blood pressure:

measured force on the walls of the arteries as it is pumped from the heart. (see systolic, diastolic)

bradycardia:

too low heart beat rate, usually less than 60

bruit:

a murmur caused by a narrowed blood vessel

capillaries:

smallest branches of blood vessels, whose thin wall oxygen and carbon dioxide pass through

cardiac arrest:

stopped heart beat, usually with loss of consciousness; usually from ventricular fibrillation

cardiologist/cardiology:

physician/study of the heart and blood vessels, and related disorders and treatments

Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR):

restoration of blood circulation to prevent death and brain damage, using mouth-to-mouth breathing and heart muscle compression

cardiovascular:

concerned with the heart and blood vessels

catheter:

flexible tube inserted in blood vessels or body duct to deliver medication, drain fluids, diagnose or repair

cerebral embolism:

a stroke caused by a clot traveling to the brain, usually originating elsewhere

cerebral thrombosis:

a stroke caused by a clot in an artery leading to the brain

cholesterol:

a white, fatty matter manufactured by the body; essential for cells, hormone production and other functions; only found in animals and their by products. High levels lead to plaque formations and to coronary heart disease

collateral circulation:

blood vessels that join to take over some of the circulation of blocked vessels; natural by-pass congestive heart failure: decline of heart's ability to pump, causing fluid accumulation in lungs, stomach and legs

coronary arteries:

vessels supplying blood to the heart's muscles; name comes from corona, Latin for crown

coronary by-pass surgery:

procedure to graft new vessels around blocked arteries to increase flow to heart's muscles

coronary heart disease:

decreased blood flow to the heart's muscles from narrowing or blockage of coronary arteries

cyanosis:

poorly oxygenated blood causing blue skin in lips and fingernails

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diabetes:

inability of the body to process glucose (blood sugar); in Type I, juvenile onset, no insulin is produced, in Type II, adult onset, insulin is not effectively utilized

diastolic:

relaxing phase of the heartbeat, second number of blood pressure measurement (systolic/diastolic)

diuretic:

matter that rids the body of excess water and salts

edema:

swelling of parts of the body due to fluid retention

electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG):

chart of heart's electrical impulses; used as a diagnostic tool

embolism (embolus):

a clot or particle carried in the bloodstream that blocks the passage of blood

endocardium:

the inner lining of the heart

fiber:

roughage; type of carbohydrate not broken down in digestion; rarely found in animal products

fibrin:

protein-based fibers that form clots to block wounds

glucose:

a sugar found in many foods; the body's primary fuel

heart attack (myocardial infarction):

death of heart muscle resulting from reduction or stoppage of blood flow

hemoglobin:

substance found in red blood cells; combines with oxygen and carries it to cells

HDL (high density lipoproteins):

carry cholesterol away from artery walls and help prevent it from depositing there

hormones:

chemicals which control almost every body function, released into the blood by endocrine glands

hyperglycemia:

very high level of glucose (blood sugar)

hypercholestemia:

very high level of cholesterol

hypertension:

medical name for high blood pressure

hypertrophy:

enlarged muscle due to increased work load

hypoglycemia:

very low level of glucose (blood sugar), most often caused by an overdose of insulin by diabetics

hypoxia:

lack of sufficient oxygen in body tissue

inferior vena cava:

major vein in the lower body that carries oxygen depleted blood to the heart

invasive techniques/procedures:

diagnosis or treatment that enters the body by surgery, catheter or needle puncture

ischemia:

lack of oxygen in an organ from artery blockage

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LDL (low density lipoproteins):

carry cholesterol from the liver to body cells; often called bad cholesterol

lipoproteins:

carry cholesterol and other lipids in the body

metabolism:

chemical changes and physical processes to utilize nutrients and needed to sustain life

monosaturated fats:

fatty acids capable of accepting more hydrogen atoms; remain liquid or soft at room temperature

multivessel disease:

when more than one vein or artery (usually coronary) is impaired or blocked

myocardial infarction:

see heart attack

myocardium:

heart tissue

noninvasive procedure/technique:

does not require surgery, insertion of a catheter or needle puncture

open heart surgery:

when the heart's protective sac is opened and a heart-lung machine takes over circulation

palliative therapy:

treatment to relieve symptoms without attempting to cure the cause

pericarditis:

inflammation of the heart's protective sac

pericardium:

Heart's outer protective sac (membrane); fluid between this sac and the heart lubricates as it pumps

phlebitis:

inflammation of veins, usually in the legs

plaque:

deposits on the inner lining of arteries built up from cholesterol, fats, calcium and other waste in the blood

platelets:

small cells in the blood which allow clotting

polyunsaturated fats:

fatty acids holding the fewest hydrogen atoms; liquid at rooms temperature

pulmonary embolism:

blockage of the pulmonary artery or its branches by a clot (embolus)

pulmonary stenosis:

partial or full blockage of the pulmonary artery or valve

pulse:

movement of a blood vessel coinciding with the heart beat

red blood cells:

cells with hemoglobin that carry oxygen

restenosis:

return of blood vessel blockages after treatment

renin:

substance causes blood vessels to contract, regulating blood pressure, made primarily in the kidneys

risk factor:

any behavior or condition (past, present and inherited) increasing the chance of disease or injury

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saturated fats:

fatty acids containing the highest possible number of hydrogen atoms; solid at room temperature

septum:

strong tissue wall that separates the left and right sides (atria and ventricles) of the heart

shock:

insufficient blood in vital parts of the body which temporarily stop functioning, if untreated can lead to brain damage or death; often a reaction to injury

stasis:

limited or stopped flow

stenosis:

narrowing of any blood vessel, valve or passage

stents:

wire scaffold to hold a tube, such as an artery, open

stroke:

stoppage of flow of blood to the brain, usually from a clot or rupture of a blood vessel

superior vena cava:

major vein in the upper body that carries oxygen depleted blood to the heart

systolic:

contraction phase of the heartbeat, first number of blood pressure measurement (systolic/diastolic)

tachycardia:

too fast heart beat rate, usually more than 100

thrombosis:

clot

TIA (transient ischemic attack):

very slight stroke, due to a temporary blockage of a blood vessel in the brain

triglycerides:

fatty substances (lipids) in the blood and adipose (fatty) tissues, high levels may lead to heart disease

vasospasm:

sudden involuntary contraction of a blood vessel; abnormal

vasovagal response:

fainting or light headedness due to sudden reduction of heartbeat or blood pressure

vegan:

strict vegetarian: using no animal products, dairy or eggs; animal derived products (leather, silk, etc.) not used.

vein:

vessel that returns oxygen poor blood to the heart venous

thrombosis:

blood clots in the arteries

ventricles:

two lower chambers that pump blood to the body (left) and to the lungs (right)

white blood cells (corpuscles):

cells in the blood that destroy harmful bacteria and other foreign substances

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©1994, 1996, 2002 Dr. Neal Pinckney

Healing Heart Foundation       www.kumu.org