ACE INHIBITORS: (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) – Drugs which
block the formation of angiotensin-a natural substance which causes
narrowing of blood vessels, especially in the kidney. These drugs are used
to treat high blood pressure or heart failure.
ANEURYSM-Ballooning out from a weak spot in the arterial wall or
the heart wall.
ANGINA-Literally means a choking sensation in the chest which is
caused by insufficient blood getting to the heart. The pain is usually in the
front of the chest but may radiate into either arm or into neck or jaw.
ANGIOCARDIOGRAPHY-This is an X-ray examination of the heart
and coronary arteries, a liquid which shows up on X-rays is injected through
a catheter into the heart.
The
ANGIOPLASTY-A new method of introducing an inflatable balloon
into a coronary or other arterial narrowing under X-ray guidance.
precisely shaped balloon is blown up to give a controlled stretch of the
narrowed area. The angioplasty balloon can be placed by an ordinary
cardiac catheter from an artery in the groin, without the need to expose the
heart by an operation. It is also possible to bore a hole through a solid clot
by heating the end of the catheter with a laser beam transmitted down the
catheter by optical fibres.
ANTICOAGULANT-A substance (e.g., Heparin or Warfarin) which
reduces the normal tendency of the blood to clot.
AORTA-the large artery leading out of the left heart and feeding the
whole body.
AORTIC VALVE-Exit valve between left ventricle of the heart and
aorta. (See diagram).
ARRHYTHMIA-Abnormal rhythm of heart-beats.
ARTERY-a main blood-vessel carrying blood under high pressure from
the heart to the rest of the body.
ATHEROMA-A disease process whereby the inner layer of the arteries
becomes thickened and deposits of fat are laid down.
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION-See fibrillation, affecting only the atria.
ATRIUM-Left and right: the two upper chambers of the heart receiving
blood on the right side from the body, and left side from the lungs. They
act as collecting chambers to fill the ventricles.
BETA BLOCKER-A drug which dampens down the body’s response to
adrenaline-used to treat angina or high blood pressure. ‘BLUE BABIES’- Babies whose circulating blood has too little
oxygen-due usually to blood bypassing the lungs because of a hole in the heart.
BRADYCARDIA-a slow heart rate.
BLOOD PRESSURE-the pressure in the arteries.
C.A.B.G-Coronary artery bypass grafting (slang = cabbage). The
technique of bringing blood past an obstruction by a bypass channel using the
patient’s own veins (the saphenous or leg vein) or an artery on the inside of the
chest wall (the internal mammary artery).
CALCIUM/CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKING AGENTS-Electrically
charged calcium molecules or ‘ions’ are necessary to regulate the electrical and
muscular contraction of the heart and arteries. Calcium channel blockers are
drugs which slow down the entry of calcium into the cells-used in the treatment
of high blood pressure, angina and rhythm disturbances.
CAPILLARIES-The smallest of the blood vessels joining the small
arteries to the small veins.
CARDIAC-Pertaining to the heart.
CARDIAC ARREST-The heart stops beating, the circulation ceases, and
death rapidly follows unless the condition is corrected.
CARDIOMYOPATHY-Disease, usually of unknown cause, which
weakens the heart muscle.
CARDIOPLEGIA-A method whereby the heart is temporarily paralysed
so that it can be operated upon more easily.
CARDIOVASCULAR-Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels.
CATHETERISATION-The passing of a very small tube through an artery
or vein in order to measure the pressure, or the amount of oxygen, or to inject
X-ray opaque liquid. (See angiocardiography.)
CEREBRAL THROMBOSIS-See Cerebrovascular accident.
CEREBROVASCULAR ACCIDENT-A sudden alteration in the
circulation to the brain resulting from a clot (thrombosis) in one of the blood
vessels of the brain or a burst blood vessel (hemorrhage).
CHOLESTEROL-One of the fatty substances normally present in the
blood of all mammals.
CINE-ANGIOGRAPHY-Tacking moving pictures of the heart and blood
vessels after X-ray opaque dye has been injected.
COARCTATION OF THE AORTA-Congenital localised constriction in
the aorta.
COLLATERAL CIRCULATION-The development of new small
arteries which naturally bypass a blocked artery. 1870 CONGENITAL DEFECTS-Structural malformations of the heart or
blood vessels present at birth.
CORONARY ARTERIES-Arteries arising from the beginning of the
aorta and feeding the heart muscle with blood.
CORONARY (or CARDIAC) CARE UNIT-A specialised hospital unit
equipped with trained staff and special equipment for treating patients
suffering from acute cardiac emergencies.
CORONARY OCCLUSION-An obstruction of one of the coronary
arteries which stops the blood flow to part of the heart muscle (See Heart
Attack.)
CORONARY BYPASS GRAFT (CABG)-See C.A.B.G.
CORONARY THROMBOSIS-A clot of blood in a coronary artery.
by CPR (CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION)-See resuscitation.
quid CYANOSIS-Blueness of the skin resulting from lack of oxygen in the
blood.
DEFIBRILLATOR-Equipment designed to give an electric shock to the
fibrillating heart in order to restore normal rhythm.
DIABETES (MELLITUS)-A disease due to excess sugar in the blood
caused by a lack of insulin.
DIASTOLIC PRESSURE-The lower blood pressure in the artery at the
time just before the heart pumps again.
DIGITALIS/DIGOXIN-A drug which strengthens contraction of the
heart and can slow its rate.
DIURETIC-A drug which increases the production of urine by the
kidney.
DOPPLER ULTRASOUND-A method of investigating the speed and
direction of blood flow in the heart and blood vessels by high frequency
sound waves.
ECHOCARDIOGRAM-Recording of sound wave echoes reflected
from different parts of the heart to provide pictures of the heart structure and
movement.
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG)-Recording of electrical impulses
produced by the heart.
ELECTRODE-Electrical connection, e.g., between a pacemaker
generator or (‘box’) and the heart by means of an electrode catheter.
EMBOLUS-Clot of blood which starts in one part of the body, flies off
into the circulation and ends up lodged somewhere else.
bus ENDOCARDITIS-Infection of a heart valve or the interior wall of the
heart. EXERCISE (STRESS) TEST-A test of exercise capability
FIBRILLATION-Disorganised contractions rippling
the collecting chambers are involved, giving an irregular heart-beat from
around the heart, so reducing effective pumping. In atrial fibrillatio
pump (ventricle). If the ventricles fibrillate effective pumping of the he
stops and death follows unless defibrillation is carried out.
FIBRIN-Strands of fibre which enmesh red blood cells and
form a clot.
platelets
HAEMORRHAGE-Bleeding. The escape of blood cells and platele
HEART-LUNG MACHINE-A machine through which blood i
to form a clot.
HEART ATTACK-Myocardial infarction.
operated on.
HEART FAILURE-When the heart fails to keep up with the circulation
needs of the body and there is a slowing of the circulation with consequent
HEART MURMUR-Sound of blood flowing. Often a normal finding
accumulation of fluid in various parts of the body.
but may be due to abnormal valve.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE-See Hyptertension.
HOMOGRAFT (ALLOGRAFT)-The graft of tissue taken from one
HYPERCHOLESTEROLAEMIA-Excessive amount of cholesterol in
body and put into another, e.g., heart valve or heart.
the blood.
HYPERLIPIDAEMIA-Excessive amount of fats in the blood.
HYPERTENSION-Higher blood pressure than normal (See earlier
section on blood pressure.)
HYPOXIA-Lack of oxygen.
INCOMPETENCE (REGURGITATION)-Leaking valve.
INOTROPE-A substance or drug which stimulates the force of the
heart beat, e.g., derivatives of adrenalin.
ISCHAEMIA-Inadequate blood supply.
ISCHAEMIC HEART DISEASE-Inadequate blood flow through the
coronary arteries to the heart.
LIPID-A technical term for fat of which there are many varieties.
MARFAN SYNDROME-An inherited disorder of connective tissue
which may affect many parts of the body including bones, eyes, lungs and
heart. MITRAL VALVE-Valve between left atrium and left ventricle. (See
diagram.)
MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE-A condition where the two flap-like
leaflets of the mitral valve are not fully tethered by the strings (chordae) so that
during cardiac contraction the mitral valve bulges back (prolapses) and is
sometimes leaky.
MOBILE CORONARY CARE-Emergency care and defibrillation
delivered by ambulance.
MURMUR-See Heart Murmur.
MYOCARDIAL INFARCT(ION)-The process where a part of the heart
muscle dies from lack of blood supply.
MYOCARDIUM-Heart muscle.
Another
OCCLUDED ARTERY-One in which blood flow has been blocked.
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE(NMR) – A new technique
where the body is put into a strong magnetic field which lines up the nuclei of
certain atoms such as phosphorus or hydrogen in regular manner.
pulsed magnetic field is then introduced to disturb this alignment temporarily.
Computer processed information can be obtained which will give images of the
body (magnetic resonance imaging MRI) or information about the biochemical
processes occurring in the body (magnetic resonance spectroscopy – MRS).
OEDEMA- Swelling due to abnormally large amount of fluid in the body
tissues.
OPEN HEART SURGERY – Surgery on the opened heart while the
circulation is diverted through a heart lung machine.
PACEMAKER – An electrical instrument for stimulating contraction of
the heart.
PALPITATIONS – Uncomfortable awareness of the heart-beat.
PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS A congenital defect when the
opening between the aorta and the pulmonary artery has not closed at birth. The
ductus is important during pregnancy; it diverts blood to bypass the lungs,
which are obviously unable to provide oxygen from the air at this time.
heart.
PERICARDIUM – Lubricating fibrous membrane surrounding the whole
PLATELETS – The smallest particles in the blood which aggregate
together to help form clots.z to
PROPHYLAXIS – Prevention.
PROSTHESIS – Artificial organ such as plastic metal heart valves.
PULMONARY – Relating to the lungs RADIOISOTOPE Substance emitting very tiny (safe) amount of
radioactivity that can be measured and localised from outside the body to
RESUSCITATION – The process of reversing death either by
provide diagnostic information.
defibrillation and/or mouth to mouth ventilation (“kiss of life”).
of stimulant drugs or fluids.
or by the use
following a streptococcal infection sometimes producing deformation of the
RHEUMATIC FEVER – An acute disease occurring in childhood
heart valves later.
RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE-As above.
RISK FACTOR – Feature known to be associated with greater
possibility of future cardiovascular disease.
RUBELLA- German measles.
SATURATED FAT-A type of fat predominantly found in food from
animal sources.
UNSATURATED FAT – A type of fat predominantly found in
vegetable matter; however, some vegetable oils (e.g.. coconut) are saturated,
SEPTUM A muscular wall dividing two chambers of the heart,
SPHYGMOMANOMETER – An instrument for measuring blood
pressure.
body.
STENOSIS – Constriction, as with valve which does not fully open.
STETHOSCOPE – An instrument for listening to sounds within the
SYNCOPE – Sudden loss of consciousness as in fainting or in
Stoke-Adams’ attacks. See below.
STOKE-ADAMS ATTACKS – Sudden loss of consciousness due to
the heart’s stopping – generally cured by a pacemaker.
STROKE-See Cerebrovascular Accident.
SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE – The pressure in the heart or arteries
at the time of contraction of the heart.
TACHYCARDIA – A fast heart rate.
THROMBOSIS-Formation of a blood vessel clot (thrombus) inside a
blood vessel or a cavity of the heart.
THROMBOLYSIS – The process of dissolving
(usually recent) clot
in a blood vessel, e.g., by the injection of streptokinase, which is obtained
from specialised bacteria. Newe and potentially safer substances produced
by genetic engineering are now under trial. The most common, uses of
thrombolysis are in the first few hours of a coronary thrombosis and in the
treatment of thrombosis in the leg veins. TRANSPLANT (CARDIAC) – Operation to replace entire heart with
one from someone else.
VASCULAR – Pertaining to the blood vessels.
VEIN – A vessel carrying blood back at low pressure from various
parts of the body to the heart.
heart.
VENTRICLE – Left and right; the two main pumping chambers of the
VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION See fibrillation, affecting the
ventricles, causing circulation to cease; death ensues unless defibrillation is
carried out.