Term
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Definition
Condition in which there is severe pain with a sensation of constriction around the heart. Caused by a deficiency of oxygen to the heart muscle.
(Chest pain and tightness caused by lack of oxygen to heart muscle) |
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Term
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Definition
Irregularity in the heartbeat or action. Comes in many different forms; some are not serious, while others are life threatening.
(Irregular heartbeat) |
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Term
| bundle branch block (BBB) |
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Definition
Occurs when the electrical impulse is blocked from traveling down the bundle of His or bundle branches. Results in the ventricles beating at a different rate than the atria. Also called a heart block.
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Term
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Definition
| Complete stopping of heart activity. |
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Term
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Definition
General term for a disease of the myocardium. Can be caused by alcohol abuse, parasites, viral infection, and congestive heart failure. One of the most common reasons a patient may require a heart transplant.
(Heart Disease of any kind) |
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Term
| congenital septal defect (CSD) |
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Definition
| A hole, present at birth, in the septum between two heart chambers; results in a mixture of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. There can be an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) and a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). |
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Term
| congestive heart failure (CHF) |
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Definition
| Pathological condition of the heart in which there is a reduced outflow of blood from the left side of the heart because the left ventricle myocardium has become to weak to efficiently pump blood. Results in weakness, breathlessness, and edema. |
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Term
| coronary artery disease (CAD) |
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Definition
| Insufficient blood supply to the heart muscle due to an obstruction of one or more coronary arteries. May be caused by atherosclerosis and may cause angina pectoris and myocardial infarction. |
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Term
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Definition
| Inflammation of the lining membranes of the heart. May be due to baceria or to an abnormal immunological response. In bacterial endocarditis, the mass of bacteria that forms is referred to as vegetation. |
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Term
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Definition
| An extremely serious arrhythmia characterized by an abnormal quivering or contraction of heart fibers. When this occurs in the ventricles, cardiac arrest and death can occur. Emergency equipment to defibrillate, or convert the heart to a normal beat, is necessary. |
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Term
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Definition
| An arrhythmia in which the atria beat too rapidly, but in a regular pattern. |
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Term
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Definition
Condition in which the cusps or flaps of the heart valve are too loose and fail to shut tightly, allowing blood to flow backward through the valve when the heart chamber contracts. Most commonly occurs in the mitral valve, but may affect any of the heart valves.
(leaky valve) |
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Term
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Definition
The cusps or flaps of the heart valve are too stiff. Therefore, they are unable to fully open, making it difficult for blood to flow through, or shut tightly, allowing blood to flow backward. This condition may affect any of the heart valves.
(stiff valves) |
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Term
| myocardial infarction (MI) |
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Definition
| Condition caused by the partial or complete occlusion or closing of one or more of the coronary arteries. Symptoms include a squeezing pain or heavy pressure in the middle of the chest (angina pectoris). A delay in treatment could result in death. Also referred to as a heart attack. |
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Term
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Definition
| Inflammation of the muscle layer of the heart wall. |
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Term
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Definition
| Inflammation of the pericardial sac around the heart. |
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Term
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Definition
| Combination of four congenital anomalies: pulmonary stenosis, and interventricular septal defect, improper placement of the aorta, and hypertrophy of the right ventricle. Needs immediate surgery to correct. |
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Term
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Definition
| Weakness in the wall of an artery resulting in localized widening of the artery. Although an aneurysm may develop in any artery, common sites include the aorta in the abdomen and the cerebral arteries in the brain. |
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Term
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Definition
| Thickening, hardening, and loss of elasticity of the walls of the arteries. Most often due to atherosclerosis. |
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Term
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Definition
| The most common form of arteriosclerosis. Caused by the formation of yellowish plaques of cholesterol on the inner walls of arteries. |
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Term
| coarctation of the aorta (CoA) |
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Definition
| Severe congenital narrowing of the aorta. |
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Term
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Definition
| The obstruction of a blood vessel by a blood clot that has broken off from a thrombus somewhere else in the body and traveled to the point of obstruction. If it occurs in a coronary aartery, it may result in a myocardial infarction. |
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Term
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Definition
| Vericose veins in the anal region. |
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Term
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Definition
| Blood pressure above the normal range. Essential or primary hypertension occurs directly from cardiovascular disease. |
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Term
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Definition
| Decrease in blood pressure. Can occur in shock, infection, cancer, anemia, or as death approaches. |
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Term
| patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) |
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Definition
| Congenital heart anomaly in which the fetal connection between the pulmonary artery and the aorta fails to close at birth. This condition requires sergery. |
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Term
| peripheral vascular disease (PVD) |
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Definition
| Any abnormal condition affecting blood vessels outside the heart. Symptoms may include pain, pallor, numbness, and loss of circulation and pulses. |
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Term
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Definition
| Inflammation of several arteries. |
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Term
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Definition
| Periodic ischemic attacks affecting the extremities of the body, especially the fingers, toes, ears, and nose. The affected extremities become cyanotic and very painful. These attacks are brought on by arterial constriction due to extreme cold or emotional stress. |
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Term
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Definition
| Inflammation of a vein resulting in the formation of blood clots within the vein. |
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Term
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Definition
| A blood clot forming within a blood vessel. May partially or completely occlude the blood vessel. |
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Term
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Definition
| Swollen and distended veins, usually in the legs. |
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