A-B
| C-D | E-F
| G-H |
I-J | K-L | M-N
| O-P | Q-R
| S-T | U-V
ACE inhibitors
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. They
help to inhibit the production of chemicals in the body
which constrict blood vessels, and are commonly used in
the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure.
Adrenaline
A hormone which is secreted by the adrenal medulla
in response to stress and which increases the heart rate,
pulse rate, and blood pressure.
Angina
Short for angina pectoris. Pain in the chest
caused by insufficient blood flow to heart muscle.
Angiocardiography
Another term for coronary angiography. A method
of detecting whether a person’s coronary arteries
are narrowed or blocked. A dye is first introduced into
the patient’s coronary arteries and heart through
a catheter. X-rays are then taken as the dye moves through
the heart and coronary arteries.
Angioplasty
Short for percutaneous transluminal coronary
angioplasty (PTCA); also referred to as “coronary
angioplasty” or “balloon angioplasty”.
A procedure used to widen a blocked coronary artery at
the point of narrowing by means of a small balloon attached
to the tip of a catheter.
Anti-arrhythmic drugs
Medicines used to treat heart rhythm disorders.
Anticoagulant
An agent which retards the clotting of blood,
but which does not dissolve existing clots. It tends to
prevent new clots from forming and existing clots from
becoming larger.
Antioxidant
A substance which prevents or delays the deterioration
of an object, by the action of oxygen in the air.
Anti-platelet drugs
Drugs which reduce the tendency of blood to clot.
They act by reducing the “stickiness” of the
platelets in blood.
Aorta
The largest artery in the body; also the artery
which carries oxygenated blood out of the heart for distribution
to other parts of the body.
Aortic stenosis
Abnormal narrowing of the aortic valve. It may
arise as a congenital heart defect.
Aortic valve
The valve separating the aorta from the left
ventricle of the heart.
Arrhythmia
An irregular heart rhythm.
Artery
A vessel which conveys blood away from the heart
to other parts of the body. It generally carries blood
which is rich in oxygen. The exception in humans is the
pulmonary artery which transports deoxygenated blood from
the right side of the heart to the lungs.
Atherosclerosis
The accumulation of fatty deposits on the walls
of arteries.
Atria (sg. atrium)
The upper cavities of the heart. They receive
blood that is being returned to the heart. The left atrium
contains oxygen-rich blood flowing back from the lungs,
while the right atrium contains deoxygenated blood from
other parts of the body.
Atrial fibrillation
An irregular heartbeat caused by the atria failing
to contract as they should. In patients with this condition,
the atria merely “flutter” instead of contracting.
Atrial septal defect
A congenital heart defect in the form of a hole
between the two atria.
Balloon angioplasty
Colloquial term for percutaneous transluminal
coronary angioplasty (PTCA), a procedure used to widen
a narrowed coronary artery by means of a small balloon
attached to the tip of a catheter.
Beta-blockers
Compounds which block the action of adrenaline
at the beta-receptors on heart muscle cells. They reduce
the heart rate, the force of heart muscle contractions,
and the heart’s oxygen needs such that the heart
is able to pump blood around the body more efficiently.
They are often used to treat high blood pressure, angina,
heart failure, and arrhythmias.
Bicuspid
valve
The heart valve which separates the left atrium
from the left ventricle. Also known as the mitral valve.
Blood cholesterol
The total amount of cholesterol in the bloodstream.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
The standard adopted by the World Health Organization
for the classification of body weight categories. BMI,
which measures a person’s weight in relation to
his height, is calculated using the formula:
BMI = weight (in kg) divided by [square of height (in
m)]
Bradycardia
A heart rate that is unusually slow.
Bronchitis
Inflammation of the bronchial tubes characterized
by coughing and breathing difficulties. |
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