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Heart Medical Terms
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Explanations of words used to discuss or describe heart illness. Words with capital letters are listed individually to allow further understanding.
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A - B - C - D - E - H - I - M - N - P - R - S - T - V
ACE—Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor
Medication given to reduce the workload of the Heart
AF—Atrial Fibrillation
Irregular Heart Rhythm
AMI—Acute Myocardial Infarction
Medical term for a Heart Attack
Angiogram
Procedure for examining the Coronary Arteries
Angioplasty
Procedure to stretch narrowed Coronary Arteries to improve the Blood Flow to the heart
Angina
Chest pain or breathlessness caused by lack of Blood Flow to the Heart.
Anti-arrhythmic
Medication given to treat an Arrythmia.
Anti-platelet
Medication which prevents the Blood clotting
Arrhythmia
Medical term for irregular Heart Rhythms
ASA—Aspirin
Anti-platelet medication
ASD—Atrial Septal Defect
Small hole in the top part of the heart
Atheroma
Build up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels which restricts blood flow
Atherosclerosis
Build up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels which restricts blood flow
B-B—Beta-Blocker
Medication given to control the Heart Rate and Rhythm
BNP—Brain N Peptide
Blood enzyme which can be measured to diagnose Heart Failure (HF)
BP—Blood Pressure
Measurement of the pressure within the Arteries
Bradycardia
When the Heart Rate (HR) is slow (< 60 beats per minute)
CA—Coronary Artery
Blood vessel which supplies blood to the tissues of the heart.
CABG—Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts
Surgical treatment for severe heart disease
CAD—Coronary Artery Disease
Narrowing of the coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart
Cardiac
Medical term for all things to do with the Heart
Cardiac Arrest
Emergency where the Heart stops beating
Cardiac Enzymes
Found in a blood test to diagnose a heart attack
Cardiology
Medical term for all Heart care
Cardiomyopathy
Disease of the Heart muscle which can impair its movement
CCU—Coronary Care Unit
Ward of a hospital where you would be taken with an emergency heart problem
CHD—Coronary Heart Disease
Narrowing of the coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart
CHF—Chronic Heart Failure
Condition when the heart muscle is weakened and less efficient at pumping blood around the heart
Cholesterol
Fat which leads to fatty deposits in the Arteries
CK—Creatinine Kinase
A Cardiac Enzyme used to diagnose a Heart Attack
CVD—Cardiovascular Disease
Disease affecting the Heart and its circulation
CVP—Central Venous Pressure
A measure of the pressure in the internal Vessels in the body
CVS—Cardiovascular System
Describes the heart and all the blood vessels in the body
Defibrillator
Machine used to deliver an electric shock to the heart to correct abnormal fast Heart Rhythm
Diuretic
Medication used to remove excess fluid from the body in Heart Failure (HF)
ECG—Electrocardiogram
A tracing on paper of the activity of the heart of the Heart Rate and Rhythm.
ECHO—Echocardiography
An ultrasound to look at the structure and movement of the heart muscle
Embolism
A clot in a Blood Vessel
EP Studies—Electrophysiological Studies
A detailed look at Heart Rhythm.
ETT—Electrocardiogram Treadmill Test
A recording of the Heart’s Rate and Rhythm while walking on a treadmill
Heart
Muscle which pumps Blood around the body, its Rate and Rhythm are controlled by electrical conduction
Heart Attack
Damage to the heart caused by a clot in the Coronary Arteries—requires emergency treatment in hospital
HB—Heart Block
Interruption of the electrical pathway causing a slowing of the heart rate
Heart Rhythm
The regulatory rhythm with which the Heart is beating
Heart Transplant
Operation which involves replacing diseased Heart with the healthy Heart of a donor
HBP—High Blood Pressure
When the pressure within the arteries is too high
HF—Heart Failure
Condition when the heart muscle is weakened and less efficient at pumping blood around the heart
HM—Heart Manual
A which details their cardiac rehabilitation programme after heart illness.
HR—Heart Rate
The speed at which the heart is beating
Hypertension
High Blood Pressure
Hypotension
Low Blood Pressure
ICD—Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
A device put inside the chest to correct Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) and Ventricular Fibrillation (VF).
Infarct
Area of tissue damaged by lack of blood and oxygen
IHD—Ischaemic Heart Disease
Narrowing of the coronary arteries which supply blood to the heart
MI—Myocardial Infarction
Medical term for a heart attack
Myocardium
The heart muscle
NSTEMI—Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction
A ‘smaller’ Heart Attack, not requiring Thrombolysis
Pacemaker
Small electrical device implanted surgically to correct an abnormal heart rhythm
Palpitation
Small bursts of fast Heart Rhythms
PCI—Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Term for any investigation or procedure which looks at the coronary arteries
PHT—Pre-Hospital Thrombolysis
Thrombolysis given by the Scottish Ambulance Service en route to hospital.
PTCA—Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty
Procedure to stretch narrowed coronary arteries to improve the blood flow to the heart
RACP(s)—Rapid Access Chest Pain Service
System of referral from Primary Care to Secondary Care for the assessment of chest pain
Septum
The area of the Heart which
Statin
Generic name for cholesterol lowering medications
STEMI—S-T Elevation Myocardial Infarction
A serious heart attack
Tachycardia
When the Heart Rate (HR) is fast (> 100 beats per minute)
Thrombolysis
A ‘clot busting’ drug used to dissolve a blood clot which is causing a heart attack
Thrombosis
Blockage in a blood vessel due to a blood clot
TOE—Trans-Oesphageal Endoscopy
A procedure to view the structure of the heart from the oesophagus (which leads into the stomach)
Tn I/T—Troponin I/T
A Cardiac Enzyme used to diagnose a heart attack
Valve
Controls the flow of Blood into and out of the Heart
VF—Ventricular Fibrillation
Life threatening irregular heart rhythm
VSD—Ventricular Septal Defect
in the bottom part of the heart
VT—Ventricular Tachycardia
Irregular heart rhythm (can be life threatening)
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